It's been quite a career for Marshalltown swimmer Meredith Johnson. Her rsum includes all-conference and all-state accolades, MHS school records, a pair of top-10 times in the state's all-time record book and 12 medals from competition at the state meet. The one missing piece is a state title, something she'll look to remedy by becoming the first state swimming champion in Bobcat history today at the Community Y at the State Swimming Championships.

Johnson has gone wire-to-wire as the state's top swimmer in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle this season. She's placed second in both events at the state meet in previous tries. Her times of 24.09 seconds in the 50 and 52.53 in the 100 are the fastest times in the state this season. The 50 free time tied her own school-record.

"The past three years, I've either gotten third or second (in the 50 and 100 free), so, this year, I'm really aiming for first," said Johnson. "I'm excited. I'm scared, but I think I can do it."

"It would be an absolute highlight if she could win the whole thing this year, she's earned it," said MHS head coach Angie Nelson. "She's been ranked at the top all season. She doesn't take that for granted. Every race she gets just as nervous, it doesn't matter who she's racing. She's just as nervous in a dual meet against Fort Dodge as she is in a dual meet against Mason City."

But does being the top-ranked swimmer for an entire season weigh heavily on Johnson's shoulders?

"Oh, yes. This whole week I've been a nervous wreck," laughed Johnson. "During swimming it's kind of hard to block it out. During the day I try so I can focus on my studies, but it's always in the back of my mind."

Her coach had a little different take on Johnson's nerves heading into today, saying, "I don't think she puts a lot of undue pressure on herself, I think every once and awhile your confidence wavers. I think going in there in that top spot last year and this year both, it tends to wear on you because people then start to build some expectations for you.

"So I think of it not so much as pressure, but every once in awhile you start to doubt how good you really are. But the way she's swam all year long, she's put a commanding presence in the pool over everyone else in the state."

If Johnson is able to complete her bid for a state title, she would be the first Bobcat swimmer to accomplish the feat. Heather Gross brought two state diving championships to Marshalltown in 1988 and 1989, but the school is still without a swimming banner.

"I hope I can be that first Bobcat swimmer (to win a state title)," said Johnson. "That would be really amazing if I could do that. It would be really cool."

Johnson will also be a member of two relay teams on Saturday, the 400 freestyle and the 200 freestyle. Neither quartet is seeded in the top-4, making a first-place finish unlikely, though each team is certainly in medal contention, with Nelson setting her sights on a top-3 finish for both relay teams. Johnson has been a member of four second-place relay teams in her three appearances at the state meet.

With the relay teams stretching to muscle their way into the top 3, Johnson's best chance for that elusive first-place medal will continue to be herself.

"She's worked so hard. She's had a great run," Nelson said. "It's hard to see her go as a senior. She's been such an awesome competitor for four years. She's mentally prepared (for Saturday).

"She knows it's going to be a fight. Everyone is going to be looking for her, and she's the one they're going to be chasing."