Team low on numbers sets goals high

NEVADA, Mo. -- The smallest team in the area, the Nevada Tigers swim team hopes to spend the season "increasing our performances each meet and hopefully getting some swimmers qualified for state," said head coach Becky Lowery.

This year, the team has increased its ranks from five to seven, with Kristen Badgeley rejoining the team after having taken last year off to play basketball and three returning swimmers -- senior Lindsey Webb, senior Abby Ruddick and sophomore Melanie Messick. In addition to the returning swimmers, three new athletes have joined the team this year -- sophomore Emily Watts, junior Stephanie Moshbrucker and senior Elizabeth Burlingame. Kory Lowery is manager this year.

In size, Coach Lowery said, the team compares closely to Lamar's team, which had about seven swimmers last year.

Although the size of the team creates a challenge in terms of winning meets, the goal is still to put out the best effort.

"Every team we swim against this year will have at least three or four times as many swimmers, which makes it very hard to score a lot of points," Coach Lowery said.

The team's first meet is Dec. 4, in Springfield.