As the Rockwood Swim Club packed up Sunday for its trip to Orlando, Fla., for the National Club Swimming Association Junior Nationals, coach Mary Liston was pretty frank about its outlook.
Liston's team is off to the land of sun to race against some of the nation's best.
The team is heading to nationals after 45 members traveled to Oklahoma City and finished second at the 2011 CSRVIII Speedo Championship Meet
"Team-wise, we're going to get run over," Liston said. "This will be liking moving from PeeWee to Pop Warner. But it will make them better."
Rockwood will be represented by 16 swimmers from eight area schools in Orlando.
In addition to taking second place overall against 38 teams in Oklahoma , the women placed second and the men's team placed third.
Among the notable showings at Oklahoma: Liza Poskin (Chesterfield), first place in the 200 breaststroke; Lauren Votava (Des Peres), first place in the 100 free, second place 200 free and third place 400 free; Jordan Stout (Wildwood), Tennyson Henry (St. Charles), Madison Reinker (St. Louis) and Votava, first place in the 400 medley relay; Patrick Vega (Wildwood), Nick Davis (Chesterfield), Sean Feher (Des Peres) and Garin Marlow (Ballwin). second place in the 800 free relay.
Look for Votava to make some waves this week. She is one of the few swimmers with big-meet experience.
"She knows what this meet is all about," Liston said.
