Sydney Ringwald set to shine at C1 State Swim Finals

Cape Central junior swimmer Sydney Ringwald finishes and claims the title in the 50 yard freestyle event at the recent SEMO Conference Swim Meet at the SEMO Rec Center.

Jacob Blassingame ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

There is no lowering the expectations for Cape Central High School junior swimmer Sydney Ringwald entering today’s MSHSAA Class 1 Swimming and Diving State Finals at the St. Peter’s Rec-Plex.

Ringwald is the top seed in four different events, as the Tigers pursue a team state championship after finishing in the top four places each of the past three seasons.

“Sydney is really talented,” veteran Tiger swim coach Dayna Powell said. “She has a nice, strong swimming body.”

A year ago, Ringwald won a pair of state titles, but they were in relays. She anchored the winning 200 free relay, as well as the 400 free relay, which Cape Central won in a state record time.

Sydney will join her younger sister (freshman) Kennedy, junior Bella Pattengill, and senior Emilie Dickson as the fastest seed in the 200 free relay while she joins another sister (Tiger senior Addison), Kennedy, and senior Marianne Dean as the top seed in the 400 free relay.

Like last year’s state finals, Powell is going to feel great if Sydney hits the water first of the anchor legs.

“No one is going to catch Sydney,” Powell said.

That is Sydney’s goal in her individual events, as well.

The Florida Gulf Coast recruit is the fastest seed in both the 50 and 100 free races.

Cape Central is hoping to win another state title in the diving competition, as senior Tommy-Anne Mariott vies for her second straight state title.

Joining Marriott is senior Lydia Cao, who took fifth in the meet a year ago.

Cape Central finished just one point out of second place last season and 33 points behind winner Westminster Christian.

“Hopefully, these girls can rise to the occasion,” Powell said.

The Tiger 200 medley relay of Addison Ringwald, Dean, Dickson, and Pattengill is seed fourth while other seeds include Kennedy Ringwald (100 free, 16th; 200 free, 11th), Addison Ringwald (100 back, 11th; 200 free 13th), Anne McDougal (200 free, 22nd), Dean (500 free, 7th; 200 IM, 8th), Pattengill (50 free, 12th; 100 free, 8th), and Dickson (100 breast, 10th; 100 fly, 3rd).

The Class 1 prelims are today at noon with the top 16 swimmers in each event moving on to the Finals on Friday at 10 a.m.

The Diving competition will be held today at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.

Jackson set to compete

The Jackson High School girl’s swim squad has several entries in the MSHSAA Class 2 meet, which will be held on Friday at 4:30 p.m. (prelims) and on Saturday at 3 p.m. (Finals).

Junior Ava Walters, who earned All-State honors last season, returns to compete in four events.

“This year,” Indian swim coach Cailin Rayburn said, “we have a freshman (Lynlee LaValle), who has accompanied (Walters) in training. Those two training together have been excellent. I don’t think that they saw that coming into this season, but they have really pushed each other.”

Walters will swim the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay, which is seeded 28th, while LaValle (breast), Emma Morris (fly), and Audrey Tuschhoff (free) will comprise the squad.

The same foursome will race in the 400 free relay, which is seeded 29th.

Walters is seeded 15th in the 200 IM after finishing 20th a year ago and is seeded 8th in the 100 back after finishing seventh as a sophomore.

LaValle is seeded 15th in the 500 free after winning the event at the recent SEMO Conference Meet, and she will also compete in the 200 free, in which she is seeded 32nd.