This year in the National Football League everyone talked about parity, how the teams were all strong and talented. That's also how the girls swimming coaches heading into the Warsaw Sectional feel ab

"A lot of the teams are much stronger than they were last year," said Warsaw coach Terry Aukeman.

"We swim in a very tough sectional," said Manchester coach Abby Zerkel. "Rochester has improved from last year, and they are very competitive. Warsaw and Wawasee are always tough, and Culver usually puts in a good team as well."

Just as they coaches agree that the sectional is competitive, they also have similar goals.

"We hope to do well overall in this tough sectional," said Tippecanoe Valley coach Steve Doerscher. "We've worked hard all year up until now, and hopefully it will pay off. You never know how it will turn out."

"We are hoping to improve our times," said Aukeman. "We could possibly break school records in the 200 fresstyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay."

"I'd like to see the girls drop as many seconds from their times as possible," said Zerkel. "It is possible. We'll just have to wait and see. We'd also like to get as many girls to the consolations and finals on Saturday as we can."

"We are a young team," said Karns. "We have only two seniors. We hope to gain good experience."

The coaches also agree on who some of the favorites in the meet will be -ÊPlymouth, Warsaw, Bremen, Huntington North and Tippecanoe Valley.

"Plymouth won last year, and Tippecanoe Valley is strong this year," said Aukeman. "Bremen is strong as well. They are in the tier of the top three teams."

"Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, Bremen and Huntington North are all tough," said Karns. "Most years you go in knowing that one team is the favorite, but this year that is not the case."

Wawasee will look to Jenna Rantz, Amber Lyon, Sarah Marty and the divers to lead the Warriors in the sectional, while Manchester will look to Abby McKenzie, Lindsay Hix, Tosha Hunter and Allison Ingold to lead the charge for the Squires.

Warsaw will look to Jaci Thallemer, Claire Beckett, Hillary Barlow and Becky Cook to fare well. Tippecanoe Valley is expecting strong showings from Amber Drudge and the Viking 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

NorthWood, the other area school with a swim team, will compete in the Concord sectional tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Dunlap.

The Warsaw Sectional kicks off today at 5:30 p.m.

WARSAW SECTIONAL

Thursday and Saturday in Warsaw

Prelims: 5:30 p.m. Thursday

Finals: Diving 9 a.m., Swimming 2 p.m.

Participating teams -ÊBremen (6-4), Culver Academy (9-3), Huntington North (8-3), Manchester (N/A), Plymouth (9-5), Rochester (N/A), Tippecanoe Valley (9-2), Wabash (one individual), Warsaw (6-7), Wawasee (5-8)

CONCORD SECTIONAL

Thursday and Saturday in Dunlap

Prelims: 5:30 p.m. Thursday

Finals: Diving 9 a.m., Swimming 2 p.m.

Participating teams -ÊAngola (N/A); Concord (N/A); DeKalb (N/A); East Noble (6-4); Elkhart Central (N/A); Fremont (one individual); Goshen (7-5); Northridge (7-3); NorthWood (0-12); Penn (12-3)