SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis swimming and diving team defeated Davis to capture the first Delta League title Saturday at the Jesuit High School pool. The Troubadours claimed three individual varsity titles and recorded 33 top-eight finishes.

“It was the perfect storm with our kids stepping up and certain people scratching,” said Head Coach Richard Levin, who won his fifth straight league title directing the Troubadours. “I was very happy with their performances and they were happy. It was a team effort.”

The Troubadour team, which started 130 student-athletes in the meet on Friday preliminaries, showed its depth across the meet and different disciplines, placing at least three swimmers in each championship final and scoring 37 top-16 spots.

Senior Chloe Mitchell won two events, earning All-Delta League honors in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. She opened the day with a win in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:54.94 and returned to capture the 500-yard freestyle in 5:03.79.

“Being in a different league and knowing Davis is a really tough team, it is icing on the cake for my senior year,” said senior Kristen Lance, who placed eighth in the 200 IM (2:24.09) and third in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:13.53). “It motivates all of us go into sections with a better mindset. Everyone stayed really positive and everyone cheered on their teammates.”

St. Francis opened the meet with Mitchell and Katie McIntee going 1-2 in the 200 free, while Elizabeth Fugit was fourth and Caroline Urkov was seventh. In the 200 IM, senior Erin Crooks was second in a lifetime-best 2:11.25 with Taylor Koewler placing fifth (2:19.05) and Lance in eighth.

Junior Emily Peters was the top finisher in the 50-yard free in 24.91 in third overall, while McIntee touched fifth (25.50) and senior Bella Smith was sixth (25.75). Crooks returned in the 100-yard fly to place second in 58.90, while teammates Tatum Ropeke was third in 1:01.12 and Koewler was fourth in 1:02.00.

In the 100-yard free, the Troubadours recorded four finalists led by Fugit in fourth (56.00). Samantha Gates was fifth, Smith was sixth and Ali Tambornini was seventh. Mitchell won the 500 free and Emily Bartylla placed fourth in 5:31.95 and Roepke was fifth in 5:32.23 to show the Troubie distance depth.

After the final break, St. Francis got a third-place by Peters in the 100 backstroke with Urkov, Sydney Lewis and Julie Zanobini also scoring points. Lance closed out the individual events with a third in the 100-yard breaststroke, while Laila Akhavi was fourth (1:14.13), Emily Bartylla was fifth (1:14.42) and Tambornini was seventh (1:16.47).

St. Francis placed second in all three relay finals on Friday, adding to their point total, and benefitted from a strong performance by the diving team earlier in the week including a win by junior Tiffany Wong.

The St. Francis Frosh-Soph team posted a dominant victory, scoring 620 points to defeat Davis.

“This is great for our team,” said Crooks. “We need to continue to work hard in practice, take care of our bodies and give it our all in sections. We have the motivation.”

The Sac-Joaquin Section trials start on May 14.

Delta League Girls Swimming and Diving Championships

Team Standings – St. Francis, 552; Davis, 494; Pleasant Grove, 254; Franklin, 191; Elk Grove, 162.5; Sheldon, 100.5; Monterey Trail, 87.

200-Yard Medley Relay – Davis, 1:51.64; 200-Yard Freestyle – Mitchell, SF, 1:54.94; 200-Yard IM – Barksdale, D, 2:04.53; 50-Yard Freestyle – Spikes, PG, 24.45; 100-Yard Butterfly – Motekaitis, D, 58.71; 100-Yard Freestyle – Hargadon, D, 53.89; 500-Yard Freestyle – Mitchell, SF, 5:03.79; 200-Yard Free Relay – Davis, 1:40.61; 100-Yard Backstroke – Adkins, D, 59.85; 100-Yard Breaststroke – Leacox, D,  1:07.91; 400-Free Relay – Davis, 3:42.43. Diving – Wong, SF, 468.0.