Villa Duchesne Swimmers Stay Unbeaten

Villa Duchesne swimmer Sarah Sutherlin had the thrill of winning a race at the state meet as a freshman last season.

Sutherlin won the consolation race of the 100-yard backstroke.

The sophomore hopes to be in the feature race in that event in two weeks. Sutherlin had another good day Thursday, winning the backstroke in helping Villa to a tight win in a tri-meet against Ladue and Visitation at Ladue.

The Saints finished with 117 points. Ladue was second with 104 and Visitation was third with 101.

"That keeps us undefeated," said Villa Duchesne Coach Corinne Murphy, whose team has another big test Monday against St. Joseph's Academy at Chaminade. "We knew this was going to be a real test and it was even harder for us in a tri-meet. One of our strengthes is our depth and we were not able to use that in a meet like this.

"Each swimmer and each relay had to touch out somebody today. I had one of the officials at one of our meets say to me that we finished events so well. We do know how to finish."

Villa also was helped by Audrianna Ebel's first place finish in the diving.

Sutherlin won the 100-yard backstroke Thursday with a time of 1:03.92. She also was a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team along with Meghan Reigel, Kailey Wagner and Morgan Mullenix which finished first. Sutherlin also met the state cut for the first time in the 100-yard freestyle where she finished a close second to Ladue's Etinosa Ogbevoen.

"The team did awesome today," Sutherlin said. "I was so excited since we lost to both of them last year. I was happy with the way I swam today. I feel I am right on track."

The state meet will be held in two weeks at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters. Sutherlin anticipates a busy meet.

"I will probably swim in the two relays along with the 100-back and another event," Sutherlin said.

The backstroke is her best event.

"I really don't look at the times of the other girls around the state," Sutherlin said. "I just want to get in the top eight and see how I can do."

Thursday's most exciting event came right off the bat as the Ladue 200-yard medley relay team of Riley Merdinian, Rebecca Schachtman, Maddie Wall and Ogbevoen nipped Villa's Ellie George, Mullenix, Sutherlin and Carly Zook by .03 of a second. Ladue won with a time of 1:58.03 while Villa had a 1:58.06.

Mullenix was the other Villa individual winner Thursday. She won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:04.47.

Zook made the state cut time in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing third with a time of 5:38.85.

Ogbevoen had a good day for Ladue, winning a pair of individual events as well as the relay. Ogbevoen won the 50-yard freestyle in 25.38 and the 100-yard freestyle in 55.80. She finished in the top four at state in both events last season.

Wall was very impressive in capturing the 200-yard IM for the Rams, winning by almost seven seconds with a time of 2:13.33.

Visitation was led by Madison Reinker, who won the 200-yard freestyle (2:01.68) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:25.81).