By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — LARAYO moved to 2-0 Thursday night, toppling host Belle Terre 435-103.

LARAYO stormed ahead from the start as the Barracudas outscored the Piranhas 87-21 in the freestyle event and rolled from there. LARAYO capped the night by sweeping the relay events.

“We had a lot of kids turn in their best times, and again I saw a lot of improvement and good things from our youngest swimmers,” said LARAYO coach Michelle Jensen.

“I was very, very pleased. I can definitely see progress across the board.”

The Barracudas’ Maggie Trepagnier, Emily Schexnayder, Maddie Murphy and Kelsie Williams had big nights, winning three events each.

Grace Schexnayder, Cody Schafer, Austin Matherne and Devin Watson each captured two first place finishes.

Ben Schiff, Francesca Puglia, Kaile Levatino, Devin Rodriguez, Nicholas Harrington, Jacob St. Pierre, Gavin Babish, Zoe Zaidain, Spencer Rodriguez, Kaitlyn Lowry, Nicholas LeBlanc, Ashley Hymel and Cameron Brady rounded out first place winners for LARAYO.

Belle Terre’s Colby Watkins swept his three individual events, leading the way for his team.

Gage Alleman, Carter Volion and Michael Boudreaux each captured two first place crowns.

Sophia Simon and Mallory Lloyd also took a first place finish each.

“As far as the things we work on in practice, especially in the younger groups, you don’t really see if it’s being applied until you see them in a race or two,” said Jensen. “I feel pretty good about how everyone is responding.”