SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis swimming team opened the 2014 season with the Red-Gold meet on Tuesday. The Troubadours competed in five events including the 50-yard freestyle, 100y butterfly, 100y freestyle and 100y backstroke and 100y breaststroke.

“Our main goal is to get the team out together and get them swimming as a group,” said Head Coach Richard Levin. “It is important to have a good first experience before the Jesuit Invitational and have fun as a group.”

Freshman Taylor Koewler posted the top time in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.45, one of four Troubadours under 27 seconds including junior Isabella Smith (26.51), freshman Samantha Gates (26.77) and freshman Elizabeth Fugit (26.90).

Smith had the top time (57.74) in the 100y free followed by Koewler (57.82), Fugit (58.04) and freshman Tatum Roepke (58.85), who had the best time in te 100y butterfly in 1:04.09.

Fiona Dodson led the team in the backstroke, posting a time of 1:08.65. Laila Akhavi was the best in the breaststroke, clocking 1:19.77 over 100 yards.
The team participates in the two-day Jesuit Invitational Feb. 28 and March 1.

“We want to swim fast and have a good showing against good local competition,” said Levin. “It is good to see where we stand.”

The meet includes defending Sac-Joaquin Section champs Davis Senior. St. Francis was fourth overall last season, a three place improvement.

Levin returns three college-bound seniors including AnnClaire McArt (Dartmouth), Alexis Martinez (Seattle) and Maddison Johnson (TCU).. He says juniors Kristen Lance and Erin Crooks will be major contributors as well as sophomore returnees Katie McIntee, Chloe Mitchell and Kelly Sharp. The Troubies also have a strong freshmen group.

“We are pretty strong with our underclassmen,” said Levin. “They are going to be the depth and strength of our team for the next few years. It is encouraging.”

The Jesuit Invitational will begin at 11 .a.m. on Friday and 8:30 Saturday. Live results will also be available via the Meet Mobile application.

Several Troubadour swimmers will be looking to meet Junior National cuts at a meet in Clovis and will not participate this weekend.