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Bell Yearns For Trip To State

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Ridgewood senior Melissa Bell already has her sights set on life after high school, taking dual enrollment courses at Pasco-Hernando Community College, but before she gets to her destination school to study optometry or psychiatry, she is looking to get to that elusive state meet.

Bell has advanced to the region meet the past two seasons in the 50 free and 100 free, but has never qualified for the state meet. That's something she wants to change this season.

She might have even made it to the region meet her freshman year, but she had mono and couldn't swim.

Though she stopped swimming competitively outside of Ridgewood this past year, she is hoping she can still get to the state meet in one of her sprint events.

'Last year, I think I was a little better, but this is the first year I've ever swam the 200 free, and I think it's been really good for me,' Bell said.

This season, Bell is around 2:15 in the 200 free, 1:01 in the 100 free and 27-second 50 free, which puts her near the leaders in those events in Pasco County, especially in the 50 free.

Bell also serves as the team's leader on a small squad of 11 girls.

'She helps us out at practice,' Ridgewood coach Melissa Welch said. 'We have so many new swimmers that when we introduce something she helps them, which is great.'

PASCO'S YOUNGSTERS COMING ALONG: Pasco's more experienced swimmers like Ally Tisdale and Jen Dombrowski are usually a lock to pick up big points, but Pirates coach Amsler Burns was pleased with how her younger swimmers are developing.

'A lot of younger swimmers made big progress Wednesday night and that's what really helps as far as placing in those lower positions,' Burns said.

The Pirates' boys and girls beat Ridgewood and Gulf at Wednesday's tri-meet in New Port Richey.

Pasco has no meets this week.

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