BY BOB LUDER

ST. PETERS, Mo. | For four years, Tarin Corwin and Abby Nelson have epitomized the talent and heart of the Blue Springs girls swimming and diving team.

So it was fitting that, on a day in which Blue Springs dominated the Missouri girls state meet, that Corwin and Nelson shined brightest.

It was equally fitting that, at the team awards ceremony following the finals Saturday at the St. Peters Rec-Plex, Corwin and Nelson joined senior Shaida Solimani atop the podium and gripped the championship trophy with the same ferocity they demonstrated in the water all afternoon.

“We came together and got what we deserved,” an elated Nelson said. “By far, this (title) means the most. After (losing to Lafayette) last year, to come back and win like this was just incredible.”

Blue Springs led from start to finish in winning its third state team title in the last four years. Corwin won individual titles in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. Nelson won the 100 butterfly. And the Wildcats swept all three relays.

That was good enough to give them 328 points, 121 1/2 more than runner-up Springfield Glendale’s 206 1/2. Defending champion Lafayette finished third with 193 points.

Lee’s Summit West, behind Jean Madison’s third place in the 100 breast stroke, was the only other Kansas City-area team to place in the top 10, finishing ninth.

“It was probably the best performance at state by a Blue Springs team since I’ve been here,” said co-coach Robert Sturman, in his ninth season leading the Wildcats.

“There were not a whole lot of ups and downs, just a lot of ups. Everybody swam well.”

No one turned in two more gutsy performances than Corwin, who came into the meet a five-time individual champion but had her perch threatened mightily by Amber Green of Eureka, who was an Illinois state champion last year. In fact, Corwin came into both the 50 and 100 finals seeded second behind Green.

Corwin out-touched Green in both, beating her in the 50 by 0.05 seconds and 0.04 in the 100. In doing so, she became the fourth swimmer in state history to sweep an event — the 50 free — in all four years of her high school career. Her seven total individual titles ranks her second all-time behind former teammate Molly Brammer’s eight.

“I think it all came down to heart, personally,” Corwin said. “The last 25 (of the 100) I felt like I had little nubs for arms and legs. I just went as hard as I could.”

Nelson regained the 100 fly crown she’d won as a freshman four years ago. She’d finished second each of the past two years.

“It wasn’t the time I was looking for, but a win’s a win,” she said.

Yes, a win’s a win. But even Nelson had to admit this team win, coming in such dominant fashion and in her — and Corwin’s and Solimani’s — final high school meet, meant a little — make that a lot — more.

“Nobody’s sleeping on the bus ride back this time,” she said. “Everybody slept last year.”

•DIVER DISAPPOINTED WITH THIRD: Molly Menefee got Blue Springs off to a good start earlier in the day by placing third in the one-meter diving competition for the second straight season.

It wasn’t a position she was happy with — considering the two divers who beat her: Laurie Shetley of Mehlville and Paige Meneses of Clayton.

“I beat both of those divers last year, which is what’s so upsetting about it,” said Menefee, a junior.

The killer for Menefee was her next-to-last dive. She came into round 10 a little more than one point behind leader Shetley but entered the water short on a backward 1 1/2 pike. She came out of the water 20 points back and finished 17 behind Shetley, six back of Meneses.

“That’s usually not the dive I mess up on,” Menefee said. “I wasn’t aggressive enough, not confident enough.

“I’m a little upset and disappointed. But it makes me more excited for next year.”

Meryll Pampolina, a Blue Springs sophomore, placed 12th, giving the Wildcats 21 points before swimming finals began.

Other divers from the Kansas City area who made all-state by placing in the top 16 were Emma Shankland of North Kansas City in seventh, Elissa Caudell of Truman in 10th, Mallory Smith of Park Hill South in 15th and Tamesha Peterson of Liberty in 16th.

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