~ Teams are behind schedule in preparation for the season.

Many members of the Central team did karaoke and other similar activities instead of actual swimming during the first two weeks of winter practice.

"We did karaoke, but not the singing kind," Tigers senior Amity Downing said, laughing. "So it is like this ..."

Downing then gave an example as she began to do an exercise in which she moved quickly horizontally, crossing her feet.

She stopped and then added: "We did that, we'd do push-ups, we'd do crunches [and other exercies]."

Installation of a new pump at the Central Municipal Pool forced the Tigers and other area programs to open the swimming season without a facility.

They instead were forced to take part in dry-land exercises on the track located behind the pool before finally practicing together in the water for the first time Saturday. They also worked out in the pool Monday and Tuesday.

And after just three days of practice, Central particpated in its first meet Wednesday.

Some members say they are not as prepared for the early season since they typically spend two or more weeks in the water before a meet.

"We swam for the first time Saturday, so honestly we're not ready," Central swimmer Abby Perdue said Monday. "We'd have to run every day. We'd have to do push-ups and sit-ups just to try to keep in a little bit of shape. This is my first day back [in the pool]. I wasn't here on Saturday, so it's pretty tough."

Central coach Dayna Powell said the new pump has been installed and the only thing she and others are concerned about now is the pool's water heater. The water temperature Saturday was approximately 76 degrees. The water tempature slightly increased toward the beginning of this week.

"We're worried about the water heater heating up with it and some of those things, but really now that we're in here, I feel like we're out of the woods," Powell said. "It may not be perfect, but we're back in business."

Central senior diver Brittney Thomas said it was difficult the first couple of weeks since she and the other divers had nowhere to practice because other local facilities do not have diving boards. She added that even though the water is chilly, she is happy the pool reopened.

"It's cold, but the feeling is great," she said. "We were ready to get in."

Central returns three state qualifers

The Central squad, which finished 12th at the state meet last year, returns three of its members who made the trip to St. Peters last winter.

The big loss comes in the graduation of Hannah Kinder, who won the 100 and 200 freestyle at state last year. In the process, she also set the state record in the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 50.37 seconds).

"It's a big loss because she's such a strong swimmer, but we've got some strong swimmers," Central's Betty Buhs said. "Our team is really motivated and everyone is willing to work, so I think we'll do fine."

Also missing from the roster is Susan Beth Scott, who finished 12th in the 500 freestyle as a freshman last year.

Juniors Jessica Baker and Annie Wolpers and sophomore Mary Catherine Ford return after serving as members of at least one of the three relay teams to make it to state last year (200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 200 individual medley).

Baker, Ford and Wolpers, who are year-round swimmers, said they would like to return to state not only in the three relays, but also as individual competitors.

Baker, who along with Ford swims for the SEALS, thinks she has a shot in the 100 breaststroke and the 50 freestyle.

Ford said she will concentrate on qualifying in the 50 freestyle, while Wolpers, who underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason causing her to miss much of the summer, will concentrate on the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke and possibly the 100 butterfly.

New kids on the block

The Jackson program enters its inaugural season with 29 swimmers on its roster.

Indians coach Casey Brennan said the Indians, like Central, lost a good amount of practice time in the water. She said the team first got into the pool last Thursday.

Brennan said she has three swimmers -- Cailin McGinnis, Sydney Stein and Allison Hobbs -- who already have state qualifying times in their individual events.

McGinnis, a sophomore and the daughter of SEALs swim coach Larry McGinnis, said she will look to compete in the 100 butterfly, the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley.

"I'm going to try to place at least top 16 in state in at least the 100 fly or the 100 back," she said. "I think everyone is doing well. They improved a lot even after the second day."

Hobbs, a freshman, said one race she'll contentrate on is the 500 freestyle.

"I'm going to try to get more state cuts, but I'm just going to try to do my best," Hobbs said.

Jackson competes at the LaDue Invitational on Saturday.

St. Vincent program headsinto third season

Indians coach John Esswein said St. Vincent does not return any state qualifers, but he added that some of his divers might have a chance this season.

His divers are Lizz Brueckner, Kristin Mattingly, Jennifer Teeter and Anna Esswein. Both Teeter and Esswein will also be swimming.

He thinks Maria Esswein and Sarah DeWilde could be two of his top swimmers.

Bulldogs return top two

The Notre Dame team has been in the water for a couple of weeks, scheduling some practices at Fitness Plus during weekends and also taking part in dry-land workouts.

The Bulldogs returned to Central Municipal Pool last Friday and will compete at the LaDue Invtitational on Saturday.

The top individual swimmers for the Bulldogs will be junior Brittany Menz and sophomore Lauren Castleman, the two top point-getters last winter.

Menz, a member of the SEALs, finished 11th in the 100 freestyle (54.79) and 15th in the 50 freestyle (25.60) as a sophomore last season.

That 11th-place finish in the 100 freestyle was worse than her freshman year at Notre Dame, when she finished 10th at state.

"I had an off season last year," she said. "I was fighting a sinus infection all season, so it was nice to place at state even though I was struggling most of the season with that."

Castleman, who trained with the Scott City Dolphins in the offseason and also ran cross country, swims the the same two races as Menz. She also qualfied for state last year in those individual races, but did not move on after the first day of competition.

"I just hope to do better than last year and do better as a relay," Castleman said.

Notre Dame again will look to return to state in all three relays, a feat it's accomplished in the last two years.

Members who swam on at least one of those relay teams last year and return this winter are Ava Andersson, Jackie Bader, Rachel Henson, Jenny Brant, Audrey Glover and Abbie Messmer.

Central Tigers

Coach: Dayna Powell

Roster: Ashley Kramer; Jessica Baker; Jill Bess; Katie Bowles; Betty Buhs; Kaley Childers; Amity Downing; Kelly Ennis; Mary Catherine Ford; Emily Gerlach; Cat Goeke; Hillary Caldwell, Jerica Moore, Abby Perdue; Tara Pickens; Rheagan Butler; Lilli Robinson, Melissa Smith; Emily Spriggs; Taniai Sumire; Syndey Ozbun; Brittney Thomas; Tara Volkersang; Rita Walter; Jennifer Willett, Annie Wolpers.

Jackson Indians

Coach: Casey Brennan

Roster: Jamie Brotherton; Hailey Buonaura; Caitlin Burress; Meagan Devenport; Alyssa Dittmer; Whitney Dittmer; Mackenzie Dorris; Jade Freeman; Abby Gerlach; Bri Gray; Meagan Hawley; Karly Hinkebein; Allison Hobbs; Kelly Jahn; Kaitlyn Karleskint; Alison Keiper; Mandy Kennedy; Melissa Krydynski; Sam Leirer; Shay Loughary; Cailin McGinnis; Aerial Minor; Courtney Norman; Cecily Ross; Casey Seabaugh; Kacey Shultz, Sydney Stein; Richa Sutaria; Kristine White.

Notre Dame Bulldogs

Coach: Lenny Kuper

Roster: Melissa Andersen, jr.; Ava Andersson, so.; Jackie Bader, so.; Jenny Brant, jr.; Lauren Castleman, so.; Katelyn Enderle, sr.; Kayla Essner, so.; Kelsie Gaines, sr.; Audrey Glover, so.; Rachel Henson, jr.; Brittany Menz, jr.; Abbie Messmer, jr.; Samantha Rellergert, jr.; Samantha Schaefer, jr.; Hilary Schulman, jr.; Jordan Seabaugh, sr., manager.

St. Vincent Indians

Coach: John Esswein

Roster: Lizz Brueckner, so.; Hannah DeWilde, fr.; Sarah DeWilde, jr.; Anna Esswein, fr.; Maria Esswein, sr.; Kyla Kiefer, fr.; Maria Lundy, jr.; Kristin Mattingly, so.; Alex Nardulli, so. Kristen Rice, sr.; Julia Schemel, sr.; Olivia Schemel, so.; Jennifer Teeter, sr.