Mullenix, Ebel Lead Villa To Tri Meet Title At Ladue

If you want to beat Villa’s Morgan Mullenix to the finish line in the pool then certainly don’t give her a head start. Mullenix single-handedly dominated a tri meet at Ladue with Visitation Academy, setting up the swimming Saints for the conference swim meet at Westminster Christian next week.

Mullenix is a sprinter and dominated the 50 and 100 yard free style events with first place times of 24.82 in the 50 and first in the 100 in 54.03. For good measure, she teamed up with Sarah Sutherlin, Meghan Riegel and Bentley Boldt to win the 200 free relay in 1:44.72 and to take first in the 400 freestyle relay with Riegel, Ellie George and Boldt in 3:48.13. By the time she launched as anchor, she had substantial leads over Viz and Ladue competitors.

“Actually, I swim better when I’m behind. I need that challenge,” said Mullenix who will take her talents to the swim program at University of Denver next year.

“So far, I’m very pleased how my season is going. Mullenix, who once picked up a stick to play field hockey concentrates on aquatic competition. “We have good swimmers on this team. I think we’ll do well in the state meet,” said Mullenix.

Corrine Murphy, their coach is cool with all of this. “We’ve been working our girls very hard, They’ve hardly had any time off. We’re looking for a really strong finish to the season.”

Villa is looking to be one of the serious contenders for the state title three week off.

One of the point getters just might be diminutive senior diver Audrianna Ebel. Ebel piled up 214.75 points to win in the six competitor field.

If Ebel tells you she stands five feet tall or weights 100 pounds, she may just be stretching the truth. "She’s tiny but mighty,” said her coach Julia Pierce.

When realizing Ebel had won the diving, Pierce gave her one gigantic bear hug.” She pulled everything together and this was her best performance of the year,” said Piece who has been united with the Villa diving program for just two years.

Ebel, who is undecided with her college choice and is looking over TCU, Auburn and Tulsa is looking forward to the state meet. She finished in 20th place in the gigantic field last year. She claimed her back dive with a 1 1/2 twist and her inner dive with a 1 1/2 twist were her best efforts.

Diving is a real challenge at Villa. They have just a 20 yard pool and no diving board. They practice diving at Westminster’s pool.

Pierce likes her chances going forward. “She was on fire at Ladue. She was hitting her dives. She will do well,” predicts her coach.

The Saints were strong overall, winning 8 of the 12 events. Murphy’s challenge is to get all of her swimmers on the same page and rack up the points in the state meet.

Villa won the meet with 146 points; Visitation had 98 and Ladue 86.