Larayo too much for Riverlands, 350.5-198.5
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 5, 2005
BY DAVID FOLSE II
Sports Editor
LaPlace-In a battle between the two top swimming teams of the area, a quick start by the Larayo Barracudas turned out to be the difference in their 350.5-198.5 victory over the Riverland Sting Rays Thursday night at Larayo Pool.
The Barracudas outscored Riverlands 69-39 in the first stroke of the contest, the biggest margin of victory in any stroke during the meet.
“We have a lot of very good swimmers,” Larayo Head Coach Michelle Jensen said after the meet. “Our depth plays a large role, but they are very good. We have the same amount of practice time and we try to develop just as many kids. We just had several very strong swims in the first heat.
“Believe it or not, this year we have done well in freestyle, but in years past that has been our weakest stroke. We really usually depend on the other strokes. This season after freestyle, we have always had a big lead. ”
After Riverlands cut into the Larayo lead, Jensen said she was happy to see her team pull away late.
“It’s a good thing,” Jensen said. “But you really can base a lot of it off the first event. You usually can tell if you are going to keep building the lead.”
Hailey Specht, Meredith Keating and Neil Schexnayder all had big meets for the Barracudas, taking home first place honors in three events.
Riverlands Head Coach Erin Fritscher said despite the loss she was extremely pleased wit her team’s effort.
“They are a much deeper team than we are,” Fritscher said after the meet. “One of our goals was to beat Larayo and I think that we really put up a good fight. Our 15-18 year old kids really stepped up this meet and made me take notice.
With the post-season beginning next weekend, Fritscher pointed to one major thing that her team must improve on.
“We really have to do well in the backstroke,” Fritscher said. “We have to do better and get faster.”
Marryn Guidry, Eric Anderson and Ross Brignac were three Sting Rays that had very successful meets, as they were able to come away with a pair of first place finishes against the tough Larayo squad.
