Thanks to Kim McCarty for crafting this report on the Louisiana Girls’ Division 1 State Championships Meet.
Who says great swimming doesn’t come from small states? In the land of Mardi Gras and football most may have missed the impressive swimming that took place this past weekend at the 2012 LHSAA D1 (largest AAAA) State Championship held in Sulphur, LA.
Baton Rouge’s all girls St. Joseph’s Academy downed all 3 composite state relay records with AAC times on their way to dominating the meet, winning with 492 points. The next closest competitor, Northshore High School scored 288 points. Some great individual swims were also posted by Olympic Trial qualifier and LSU Signee, Kara Kopcso from Fontainebleau High School who broke her own 2 state records in the 200IM (2:03.73) and the 100 Fly (55.70).
SJA’s well balanced squad scored big early, winning the 200 Medley relay in 1:48.57 with the team of Caroline Beene (SO) 27.16, Cameron Balkom (SR) 30.51, Mary Katherine Miller (JR) 26.85, Lindsay Hagmann (JR) 24.05. Their AAC time broke last year’s composite state record.
SJA only won 2 individual events but, had some strong finishes in both A & B finals to rack up their 492 points. The 100 Free was won by Mary Claire Beaver (SO), in 52.22 edging 2X state champion Jonna Frantz (SR) from Mandeville High School 52.82. Beaver also came in 2nd in the 50 Free 24.22. Senior Cameron Balkom repeated her 2011 win by winning the 100 BR with a 1:05.96 and also finished 6th in the 200IM 2:18.19.
Other top 3 individual finishes for the SJA Redstickers were
200 FR – Katelyn Rodriguez (JR) 1:53.46 3rd
200 IM – Mary Katherine Miller (JR) 2:10.14 3rd
50FR – MC Beaver (SO) 24.22 2nd , Lindsay Hagmann (JR) 24.27 3rd
100FR – Caroline Beeene (SO) 53.17 3rd
500FR – Clayton Black (FR) 5:09.16 3rd
100BK – Victoria Padial (JR) 58.76 2nd, Caroline Beene 59.02 3rd
One of Louisiana’s most decorated high school swimmer, SR Kara Kopcso of Fontainebleu High School wrapping up her high school career with a 4 year sweep of the 200IM and the 100FL. Kopcso has chosen to stay close to home to swim with the LSU Tigers in the fall for Dave Geyer’s up and coming SEC swim team.
The SJA 200 Freestyle Relay team broke a 10 year old record set by their school in 2002 in a lighting fast AAC time of 1:37.13. MC Beaver brought her momentum from her sprint freestyle win to anchor with a 24.11. The finals relay consisted of Lindsay Hagmann (24.25), Victoria Padial (25.22), Caroline Beene (25.22), and Mary Claire Beaver.
With a huge lead and no pressure, the SJA 400 Free Relay blew out the last race of the meet downing theLouisiana composite record from 1991 with a AAC time of 3:32.81. Katelyn Rodriguez led off with a PB of 52.98, Clayton Black 53.63, MC Beaver 52.76, and Victoria Padial wrapped it up in a 53.44.
SJA is coached by 1st year coach Rebecca Barber.
Other notable wins:
200FR – Alyssa Dilldine (SR), Duthtown High School 1:52.37
50FR – Jonna Frantz (SR), Mandeville High School 23.93
500FR – Megan Loop (SO), Mandeville High School 5:01.56
100BK – Savannah Antonetz (SR), Barbe High School 57.27
