MANCHESTER • Parkway North earned the bulk of the individual wins on Friday, but it was Parkway South's depth that made all the difference.
South was too much for the rest of the district swim squads as it swam to a solid win at the Parkway Quad. South finished with 440 points. North was second with 375, followed by Central (334) and West (243).
"I knew it was going to be close, but I wasn't sure we would be able to take it," Parkway South coach Sara Gerth said. "I know Parkway North is going to be a contender at state to finish in the top three."
Annually, the meet showcases some of the best talent in the state. West finished fourth at the Parkway meet last season -- and then went on to win the state title.
"We always have one top 10 team in the state here and sometimes more than one," Central coach Kevin Mabie said. "It goes to show that there is a lot of good competition here. It's a real friendly, spirited rivalry, and you get a lot of good times here."
Parkway North standouts Taylor Voelker and Heather Lundstrom had big nights. They teamed with Dyana Schneider and Amanda Stadermann to give North a win in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1 minute, 56.39 seconds. Voelker also won the 200 freestyle (2:02.30) and the 100 backstroke (1:02.05).
"I went out knowing I had to win my races to help the team out," Voelker said. "South is stacked in every event."
Lundstrom swam virtually all by herself in her two individual events. She dusted the field in 200 IM. Her winning time (2:07.86) was nearly eight seconds ahead of Stadermann, who placed second. Lundstrom won by half-a-minute in the 500 freestyle. Her time of 5:03.41 put her well ahead of second-place finisher Ally Neumann of Central.
North's Stadermann and Schneider went one-two in a 100 butterfly, and those two teamed with Voelker and Lundstrom for a convincing win in the 400 freestyle relay.
North also took honors in diving where Natalie Grey won and West's Francesca Giganti was second.
"There is a little bit of bragging rights, and that is part of the fun for this meet," North coach Bart Prosser said. "Parkway South had a great meet tonight. We gave what we could tonight. When we look at the whole scheme of things, we're right where we need to be."
The Patriots were led by speedy Samm Crocker. Crocker won the 50 freestyle, was second in the 100 freestyle and with swam the anchor leg of the winning 200 freestyle relay. Mary McCain, Shannon Rempe and Hannah Schulte joined Crocker on the relay.
West's Kate Gately came back to win the 100 freestyle after finishing second in the 50 freestyle.
South senior Alissa Welker, who finished second in the 200 freestyle, knew the Patriots would have their work cut out for them.
"I thought North was going to win," she said. "We lost to them by eight points in a tri meet. When it's that close, every little point counts."
Neumann gave Parkway Central its only individual victory when she won the 100 breaststroke.
