The Northshore Lady Panthers’ swim team won its second-consecutive Division I state title at the Sulphur Parks and Recreation Aquatic Center Friday and Saturday.

“That was our goal from the beginning of the season,” NHS coach Ed Kelly said.

“We felt we had a chance even though we lost a few key people. We knew we had to rely on freshmen and sophomores in key spots. They really tuned in and did an exceptional job. I think it’s something they’ll always remember. It’s a credit to them they won. It’s not just the swimmers. It’s the cooperation of everyone.”

Pictured are the two-time Division I swimming state champion Northshore Lady Panthers. From left, first row: Morgan Cottingham, Janean Pittman, Erin Trumbach, Heather Winn, Brittany Rush, Kenta Paretti (Sponsor) and Belinda Amato; second row: Ed Kelly (Coach), Stephanie Gates, Paige Gauthier, Kali Lassus, Raquel Candal, Sami Metoyer, Maria Reyes and an LHSAA official; third row: Louise Barakat (sponsor), Ayla Oden, Rachael Holladay, Julianna Toranto, Sarah Webb, Colleen Donovan, Mary Jabbia, Taylor Tadlock, Ashley Levy and Sarah Mazier. (Photo by Doug Webb)

St. Tammany Parish was well represented at the top. Northshore finished with 376 points, followed by Fontainebleau (211), Mandeville (202), St. Scholastica Academy (176) and St. Joseph’s Academy (163) rounded out the top five of the 25-team field. Slidell (38) was 14th.

Fontainebleau High senior Kara Kopcso took three events, including the 200-yard individual medley (2:09), 100-butterfly (58.33 seconds) and the 100-breaststroke (1:05).

Kopcso was fourth in the 500-freestyle (5:16). She was also part of the winning 200-medley relay squad (1:51). Her teammates were Haley Goertz, Jessica Kopcso and Wesley Morton. Goertz came in sixth place for the 100-backstroke (1:02) and fifth in the 500-freestyle (5:18).

Northshore’s Heather Winn was a double-winner. She captured the 200-free (1:54) and the 500-free (5:02). She was also part of the Lady Panthers’ winning 400-freestyle relay squad (3:40). Her teammates were Colleen Donovan, Mary Jabbia and Maria Reyes. Jabbia finished third in the 200-individual medley (2:14). Reyes was third in the 100-freestyle (54.81).

NHS’ Donovan also topped the competition in the 100-free (52.87). Donovan was also runner-up in the 200-IM (2:10).

Mandeville’s Emma Levendoski was first for the 100-backstroke (58.65). She was also seventh in the 200-freestyle (2:03)

The only non-local winner was Baton Rouge Magnet’s Joanne Chien (24.25).

The rest of the local finishers include:

50-freestyle: 2. Frantz, MHS, 24.56; 3. Reyes, NHS, 24.77; 4. Campbell, 25.27; 8. Tadlock, NHS, 26.65; 10. LaBorde, SSA, 26.72; 11. Bankston, SSA, 26.90; 12. Juneau, FHS, 27.01; 16. Rush, NHS, 27.36.

100-butterfly: 5. Mazier, NHS, 1:01; 8. Soileau, SSA, 1:03; 9. Newcomb, SHS, 1:03; 11. Cole, MHS, 1:04; 12. Rush, 1:06.

100-freestyle: 2. Frantz, 54.06; 5. Campbell, MHS, 55.84; 6. Tadlock, 57.70. 9. LaBorde, 57.85; 13. Fearn, SSA, 59.34.

100-backstroke: 5. Mazier, NHS, 1:02; 7. Jennings, SSA, 1:02; 10. Cole, MHS, 1:06.20; 11. Peterson, MHS, 1:06.63; 12. Metoyer, NHS, 1:07.08; 14. Morton, FHS, 1:07.68; 16. Lambert, MHS, 1:08.

100-breaststroke: 5. Trumbach, NHS, 1:10; 11. Juneau, FHS, 1:17; 16. Salles, SSA, 1:19.

200-freestyle: 9. Tucker, FHS, 2:04.11; 10. Frederick, SHS, 2:04.03; 12. Levy, NHS, 2:08; 16. Oprea, MHS, 2:10.

200-individual medley: 4. Jennings, 2:16; 7. Trumbach, 2:24; 9. Newcomb, 2:23; 10. Dickinson, SSA, 2:23; 13. Peterson, MHS, 2:26; 15. Pittman, NHS, 2:31.

200-medley relay: 2. NHS, 1:52.62 ; 3. MHS, 1:52.70; 6. SSA, 2:01.

200-free relay: 2. MHS, 1:41; 4. SSA, 1:48.

400-free relay: 2. FHS, 3:51; 4. SSA, 3:52; 10. MHS, 4:13.

500-freestyle: 6. Federick, 5:30.08; 7. Tucker, 5:30.92; 9. Levy, NHS, 5:36; 10. Soileau, 5:37; 11. Dickinson, SSA, 5:42; 14. Oden, NHS, 5:51; 15. Gates, NHS, 6:01; 18, Buisson, SSA, 6:04.