ST. PETERS • Though the Fort Zumwalt West girls swimming and diving team won its Thursday dual rather easily, Francis Howell left the pool with plenty of confidence.
Zumwalt West won 10 of the 12 events to come away with a 115-72 victory.
But for Howell coach Mandy Chun there was something to cheer in the score.
"I never felt like we would be this close before," Chun said. "It's pretty exciting. Usually they beat us by a lot. Tonight it was good to see the matchups. My girls swam lights out."
Zumwalt West won all three relays, finished first and second in the 100 breastroke and 500 freestyle and diver Marissa Green continued a run of terrific showings with another victory.
"We're always a little bit nervous when we swim them," Zumwalt West coach Jeri LaBrot said. "We bring an aggressive lineup and get the girls pumped up and ready."
Zumwalt West's Courtney Coe won the 200 freestyle (2 minutes 3.44 seconds) and was a member of the winning 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays. Evyn Spencer and Kayla Grimm were double winners for the Jaguars. Spencer won the 50 freestyle (25.44) and 100 freestyle in (1:00.01), while Grimm was a winner in the 500 freestyle (5:33.45)and 100 backstroke (1:04.73). Liz Lay added a win in the 100 breaststroke (1:19.64).
For Howell, its only wins were posted by Maria Schroder, who won the 200 IM (2:13.03) and the butterfly (58.19).
"Maria in the 200 IM, she went all out there," Chun said. "I'm not sure what she is going to swim at conference because she has qualified in everything. My 200 free relay, I was a little disappointed we lost, but all we're going to do is work on finishes from here on out."
Zumwalt West finished third in the state last season and will be gunning for its third-straight conference title at the GAC meet on Feb 7-9.
"We try to keep high expectations," Labrot said. "We hope that they are going to reach those expectations."
