Coming off a strong conference win, the girl’s Swim & Dive team prepares for its final challenge of the season, the state competition at the St. Peter’s Rec Plex, starting with preliminaries on friday.

Events include 200 yard Medley Relay, 200 yard freestyle, 200 yard IM, 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard butterfly,  100 yard freestyle, 500 yard freestyle, 200 yard freestyle relay, 100 yard backstroke, 100 yard breaststroke, and the 400 yard freestyle relay along with diving.

The mustangs come in undefeated in the conference and with a 3rd place finish in the Parkway South Invite.

“We’re coming off a conference victory and we’re feeling confident and we’re ready to go,” coach Joe Schoedel said.

Marquette presents 15 swimmers and 3 divers for the state tournament, providing them a depth that adds to coach Schoedel’s confidence.

“I’m confident that our depth will help us score a lot of points,” he said “hopefully we can squeeze a bunch of girls in who can score a point or two here and there.

Adding to the depth of this team is a strong junior class, highlighted by junior swimmers Katiana Porporis and Alyssa Lemon and junior diver Ashley Yarbrough, which according to Schoedel has done a majority of the scoring throughout the season

“Me andKatiana(Porporis) are a big chunk of our top scorers and hopefully we can finish top 3 or 4,” Lemon said.

On the diving side, Ashley Yarbrough comes in holding the marquette scoring record for 6 dives, which she set in late 2015.

“We know we are extremely lucky to have such an amazing diver on our team,” Caylyn Powell, junior, said.

Also for the divers, making her first state appearance is freshman Madeline Kelsey.

“I worked hard all season and it’s what I wanted,” Kelsey said.

The tournament will begin at 3pm with the 200 yard Medley Relay.

“We’re all extremely excited this is the most girls we’ve had in state for a long time,” Powell said.