Burroughs and Viz Both Get Some Wins in the Pool

The Visitation Academy had a pretty good swim at Burroughs Tuesday. The host Bombers narrowly won in a duel meet, 96-88.

Senior Mary Murphy won two individual events for Viz while the Bombers were battling a good case of the flu.

Steady Morgan Rinder scratched from the meet and went home early. Freshman phnom Maddie Wessell, winners of two individual events (50 free, 25.51) and the 100 free (56.60) and anchor on two-first place relays (200 medley) and 400 free was sub par, health wise too.

But first to Murphy. “I thing it was a good meet. I swam my best time of the year,” said the swimmer who used to be on the Parkway Swim Club team. Still, she is not qualified for state in any events and running out of chances. “That’s ok, I was there the past two years,” she said.

Viz, struggling to get over .500 (5-6 in duels) did pretty well according to their coach Sean Dooley. “We had a very good meet. Our girls looked very strong. Some of our top swimmers reached some of their goals today.”

It is hard for Viz to compete at the top level. They don’t have a pool, so every meet is an away meet. “We are always a guest in someone else’s pool,” said Dooley.

“You have to have several swimmers to compete. You can’t just count on one or two girls to win meets,” said Dooley. “You have to have a full team that can put their best feet forward,” he said.

Murphy was first to touch in the 200 free style (2:18.12) and first in the distance 500 free  (6:09.79).

The 400 relay to close out the meet was a spirited event. Wessell moved from leadoff to anchor and trailed her opponent by a good 10 yards when she jumped into the pool. She had made up the difference, and some by the end of the first turn.

“That meet was a lot closer, I’m happy that we pulled out a win. In past years, they had beaten us,” said Burrough coach Leslie Kehr.

“It was a great battle and all the girls contributed, and I’m happy,” said their coach.

“I sent Morgan (Rinder) home sick and she would definitely have gotten us some points. She swims on all of our relays,” said Kehr. All three relay teams have qualified for the state meet.

Amanda Ziegler filled in admirably. She swam the 500 and "we needed her in that (400) relay,” said Kehr,

Burroughs now turns their attention to the state meet in just over two weeks. The Bombers might be one of the upstarts to turn some heads at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters this year.