The team is 8-0 and has plenty of talent, but that doesn't always assure a championship. Just ask Land O'Lakes.
By STEVE LEE
Published October 14, 2004
NEW PORT RICHEY - Two-time defending Sunshine Athletic Conference champion Gulf and perennial frontrunner Land O'Lakes have fallen back to the pack in girls swimming.
That leaves upstart Mitchell, coming off its first unbeaten season (8-0) in the school's five-year history, as the favorite to win the eighth annual SAC meet that begins at 10 a.m. Friday with the diving competition at the Trinity YMCA. Smimming races start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the New Port Richey pool.
"We have a lot of key swimmers that I can put anywhere," Mitchell coach Regina Drum said. "I'm real lucky in that aspect."
Talent may have more to do with it than luck since Alecia Polina holds the conference's highest point total (205.95) in diving and the relay teams composed primarily of Jillian McVeigh, Stephanie Long and the McCaffrey sisters (Meghan and Caitlin) rank among the county's best.
Before crowning the Mustangs, though, it should be noted that there are sleepers in the mix.
Long-forgotten River Ridge might be a contender for its first conference crown since 1998. And Wesley Chapel, which has never won a conference title, also has stong relay teams featuring Shelby Oliver, Alicia Thompson, Alyssa Bobo and Misty Webster.
"I think this will be our best performance of the season," River Ridge coach Scott Finney said.
Winning races is something the Royal Knights have become accustomed to this season. Winning meets, however, is another story. A lack of depth led to a 3-2 record.
"It's really hard. It kind of hurts your ego," River Ridge sophomore Emily Fregger said of her team's record.
Fregger, who went 4-1 in the 100-yard backstroke and 2-0 in the 200 individual medley, is among a group of promising freshmen and sophomores for the Knights.
"We have a good core," Finney said. "They're going to carry us for a couple of years."
Carrying the Knights this season are Stephanie Green, Theresa Purser, Alicia Montoya, Shelby Justus and Fregger. That group helped River Ridge defeat Gulf 80-73 and win eight of 12 events in a 96-84 loss to Mitchell.
Despite Mitchell's 8-0 season, no one knows more than the Land O'Lakes girls that an unbeaten record does not guarantee a championship. They had four undefeated seasons yet have not won a conference title.
"By the time you spread out the points (among nine schools) you're just not sure whose day it's going to be," Land O'Lakes coach Robin Hilgenberg said.
"Unfortunately, in swimming, if you go undefeated it doesn't mean you win your conference," Drum said, adding that this weekend's meet "is really a gamble at this point."
What may not be a gamble is the diving competition, which could be a Mitchell sweep since the Mustangs also boast the top boys diver in Gregg Strange (240.20 points).
