by Andy Rogers
Thisweek newspapers

In 2004, the Lakeville High School girls' swimming and diving team took third in the Class AA State Meet.

One year later things look a lot different, but still a little the same.

Seniors graduated, swimmers transferred and the team split in two.

Using a few swimmers from last year's team, Lakeville South went on to take third overall with 170 points in the Class A State Meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center Nov. 22-24.

"Going into the meet I felt we had a good chance of finishing as a top-five team,î Lakeville coach Rick Ringeisen said. "After scouting the meet program, I knew that our team would have to swim aggressively and focus on the team in front of us.

"Fortunately, the teams seeded in front of us were not as focused, and, as they say in coaching, ëchance met opportunity' and our competitors made a few mistakes that cleared the way for us.î

The team didn't have any state champions but Gillian Stepp came pretty close.

She took second in the 200-yard individual medley and second in the 500-yard freestyle. She was a little more than a second behind the first place finisher in each event.

"Gillian is a versatile swimmer who works extremely hard in practice. The harder I make the workout the faster she swims,î Ringeisen said. "This year, Gillian had a breakout meet. Her two second-place finishes paced our team and set the tone for the team to attack each and every swim.î

Stephanie Korba was also a big factor in the third-place finish.

She took third in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 59.88 seconds.

She also took eighth with a 2:19.00 in the 200 individual medley.

The relays scored points for South as well.

The 200-yard medley led by Korba, Stepp, Rachel Ringeisen and Wendy Consoer took fourth with a combined time of 1:54.11.

The 200-yard freestyle relay took fourth as well. Without them they wouldn't have come as close to the top.

"If a team does not qualify all three of their relays in the top eight for the finals, the team simply will not be a major contender,î Ringeisen said.

Melissa McMahon, Natalie Herrikel, Becky Newgren and Wendy Consoer ñ all untested underclassmen ñ combined for a 1:41.33 time, which was .01 away from third place.

McMahon, Consoer, Lindsey Hickman and Stepp led the 400-yard freestyle relay to a sixth-place finish.

Melissa McMahon also made it to the finals. She took seventh in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:16.75 and 14th in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:02.98.

Other finishes include Natasha Nack who took 19th in the 200-yard freestyle and 14th in the 100-yard backstroke.

Lindsey Hickman took 10th in the 100-yard backstroke.

Wendy Consoer took 22nd in the 50-yard freestyle. Rachel Ringeisen took 17th in the 100-yard butterfly.

It was a successful day for the South team.

"I know that the girls are very proud to be the first team in the history of the school to bring home a state level competition trophy back to Lakeville South,î Rick Ringeisen said.

Much of the success can be attributed to the swims early in the meet.

"The key to our team's third place finish was our team's confidence going into the preliminaries,î Ringeisen said.

The team took advantage of what other teams gave them.

"It is unusual for a team to finish as high as we did without a cast of veteran stars,î Ringeisen said. "It was truly a great accomplishment for our team to place third without any seniors.

"What is really wonderful is that beyond Gillian Stepp, Stephanie Korba, and Melissa McMahon we have so many kids that find a way to contribute to the team's success.î

Andy Rogers is at sportswriter.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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