Schools

St. Joe Dominates Neighbor Villa Duchesne in the Pool, 126-49

Junior Grace Steigemeyer wins the 50, 500; Grayson Ram wins in 2 individual events.

St. Joe swimmer Grace Stiegemeyer got to drink from the Holy Grail of the state swim meet last February. She and the other giddy members of the 200 meter freestyle relay got to stand on the top spot of the medal stand, winning gold medals for their stunning first-place performance.

Now this junior would like to do it again. Already, she’s a state qualifier in the 50 and 500 meter freestyle events.

Thursday, she touched first in four events and St. Joe took down swim rival Villa Duchesne in a duel, 126-49 at Chaminade.

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Villa is rebuilding. Their coach Corinne Murphy was home, sick in bed with the flu. Gone are their swim stars Morgan Mullnix and Bentley Boldt to graduation.

This all means, it might be St. Joe time to shine.

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Hearing from Grace Steigemeyer

The season for the Angels has been good. “We’re undefeated so far in duel meets. I’m not sure how many that is,” said Steigemeyer, moments after departing the Red Devils pool.

Steigemeyer recalls the prize performance at the Rec Plex in St. Peters as if it was yesterday. “That was really fun. We had two seniors on that team and they are gone.”

Steigemeyer, who swims for CSP (Clayton Shaw Park) is excited approaching another state meet.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” she said.

Coach is proud of the performance

Coach Khannie Dastgah is proud of her girls. Toting her young daughter in her arms, she said: “We are happy with the performance of her team. The girls swam great today.”

She too is very proud of Steigemeyer and the rest of the team. “We are looking forward to see how she will do in state this year. She is a strong, strong athlete.”

Realistically, Dastgah figures she will take six individuals and all three of her relays.

“It was incredible winning that relay (the 200 free) last year. After 13 years of coaching that was our first big win and was really neat, especially for the girls who swam it.”

Grayson Ram had a double for the Angels, winning the 200 individual medley (2:23.08) and the 100 freestyle in 58.03. 

Ashley Reichert picked up first in the 100 backstroke (1;05.43); Sarah Krug was first in the 100 butterfly (1:07.46) and Charlotte Cordova was the winner in the 100 meter breast stroke in 1:14.40.

The Angels won the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.

Mary O’ Leary of Villa won the won the 200 freestyle in 2:11.4.

Freshman Kaleigh Meek won diving.  However, she had no competition.


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