ALLSTON — Given their superior talent and extraordinary track record, the Andover girls entered yesterday's state championships knowing they were expected to win big.

Once again, the Golden Warriors exceeded expectations, scoring nearly twice as many points as their nearest competitor en route to their seventh straight state crown at Harvard's Blodgett Pool.

"You go in with the pressure," said sophomore Kristi Korsberg, "and once you come out and know that you've done it, it's like a great weight that's lifted off your shoulders. It's really exciting for the whole team."

Andover won seven of 12 events and totaled 340.5 points — the second highest total of their dynasty (the 2002 team recorded 344). The Golden Warriors swept the first three places in the 100-yard backstroke, and went 1-3 in two other events.

In other words, it was a typical state meet for the Blue and Gold, and it ended with the athletes pushing head coach Marilyn Fitzgerald into the pool for what's become a rite of autumn.

"Becky (Pierce, the diving coach) and I actually packed some extra clothes, hoping that we would get wet," said Fitzgerald. "My first (championship) year, it was so unexpected that I went home in wet clothes, and that wasn't a good feeling."

Since that first title in 1999, the Warriors have enjoyed an era of good feelings, consistently routing all comers in the state meet. Yesterday was no exception.

Boston College-bound Caitlin Doherty completed a remarkable streak, winning the 100 butterfly title for the fourth time. Her time of 57.23 was more than a half-second faster than her triumphant result last year.

"My freshman year, I didn't really understand how big it was," said the senior. "As the years kept going on, it became more and more important. Every year, Mrs. Fitz says, 'Do you want to switch it up?'

"But the 100 fly has always been what I wanted to do. I feel like I owed it to myself to keep winning that. Today I was very nervous because the competition gets harder every year. It was such a relief. It was what I came to do."

Doherty also defended her title in the 200 individual medley (2:07.30). She joined Chelmsford sophomore Katelyn Martin as the day's only double winners in individual events.

Martin and Korsberg engaged in a thrilling duel for the 200 freestyle crown. Korsberg, the defending champ, led most of the way, but Martin chased her down on the last length. Swimming side-by-side, they touched the wall with an identical time of 1:54.74, thus sharing the state title.

Senior Candice Peak repeated in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall in 59.38 to lead an Andover sweep of the top three spots. Tiffany Petzold and Erin McAuliffe joined Peak on the awards platform.

Peak's triumph came immediately after she anchored the Warriors to victory in the 200 free relay. She entered that race with some extra incentive, since she placed a disappointing third in the 50 free.

"I felt like I had let my team down in the 50 free because I was expected to win," she said. "So I didn't want to let them down again."

Andover trailed the race at the midpoint, but a superb third leg from Petzold put the Warriors on top, and Peak outraced her Chelmsford counterpart to give her team the win by just .09 seconds.

Having won the first two relays, Andover went for the sweep in the last event of the meet, the 400 free relay. With Peak and Doherty swimming the last two legs, the Warriors stormed to victory (3:38.77) by 21/2 seconds. It was a fitting conclusion to the seniors' dominant careers.

"Finishing that last event was amazing, but it was (like), 'Oh, wow, I'll never be a part of this again," said Doherty. "It's almost surreal. To have gone four years and never lost a meet is amazing."

Mass. Division 1 State Meet

at Blodgett Pool, Allston

Team scores: 1. Andover 340.5, 2. Chelmsford 172.5, 3. Acton-Boxboro 161, 4. Reading 137, 5. Needham 91.5, 6. Haverhill 86, 7. Methuen 81, 8. Framingham 80, 9. Brockton 52, 10. Durfee 43, 11. Brookline 27, 12. Lexington 25

Winners and top local placers:

200 medley relay: 1. Andover (Erin McAuliffe, Melissa Alois, Caitlin Doherty, Jen McDonald) 1:54.03, 5. Methuen (Chaz Sweeney, Mary Gormley, Laura Moriarty, Kristin Letourneau) 1:59.66, 6. Haverhill (Dana Hubbard, Kathleen Foley, Aimee Doe, Stephanie Opolski) 2:00.62; 200 freestyle: 1. (tie) Kristi Korsberg (And) and Katelyn Martin (Chel) 1:54.74, 3. Ellen Cody (And) 1:57.13; 200 individual medley: 1. Doherty (And) 2:07.30, 4. Jen Geary (And) 2:16.68; 50 freestyle: 1. Amy O'Brien (Lex) 24.55, 3. Candice Peak (And) 24.80; Diving: 1. Rachael Martinez (Chel) 421.50, 3. Katelynn O'Brien (Hav), 4. Meghan Kijanka (Met), 6. Katie O'Connell (And); 100 butterfly: 1. Doherty (And) 57.23, 2. Moriarty (Met) 59.29, 3. Korsberg (And) 1:00.24, 4. Doe (Hav) 1:01.87; 100 freestyle: 1. Amanda Cecere (Chel) 53.17, 4. Tiffany Petzold (And) 54.26;

500 freestyle: 1. Martin (Chel) 4:59.52, 2. Cody (And) 5:08.25, 4. Jennifer Meltz (And) 5:16.05, 5. Geary (And) 5:19.26; 200 freestyle relay: 1. Andover (Cody, Korsberg, Petzold, Peak) 1:41.00; 100 backstroke: 1. Peak (And) 59.38, 2. Petzold (And) 1:01.31, 3. McAuliffe (And) 1:01.35; 100 breaststroke: 1. Moriarty (Met) 1:05.76, 2. Alois (And) 1:08.71, 4. Katherine Opolski (Hav) 1:11.95, 5. Cassandra Valler (And) 1:11.60

400 freestyle relay: 1. Andover (Korsberg, Petzold, Peak, Doherty) 3:38.77

MEET THE CHAMPIONS

Local swimmers won eight of the 12 events at yesterday's Division 1 state meet:

200 freestyle: Kristi Korsberg, Andover

200 individual medley: Caitlin Doherty, Andover

100 butterfly: Doherty, Andover

100 backstroke: Candice Peak, Andover

100 breaststroke: Laura Moriarty, Methuen

200 medley relay: Andover

200 free relay: Andover

400 free relay: Andover