D-C's Champa takes 8th in 100 breaststroke

Dundee-Crown junior Colleen Champa thoroughly enjoyed her experience in Evanston this weekend, and who could blame her?

Champa wrapped up her first trip to the girls swimming state meet with an eighth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke. She placed second in her heat Saturday, in the event's consolation finals in 1:06.61.

That placed her at the front of a tightly packed bunch including Mary Floren of Glenbard North (1:06.77), Hallie Hengels of Glenbrook South (1:06.95) and Ashley Balda of Lake Zurich (1:06.97).

“I was pretty disappointed with my 200 IM on Friday, so it was really great to get the chance to come back and swim again in the breaststroke,” she said.

And then, to make the most of her opportunity. Though her time was a shade slower than in Friday's prelminaries, Champa still moved up a place.

“The atmosphere is just totally different today,” she said. “On Friday, it's people just trying to swim fast enough to get into finals. Today, it's people really battling for places. It's louder, even more intense.”

Her coach, Laura Wayman, said one of the keys to Champa's success this season was improving her breaststroke turns. That might have made a difference in the finals.

Moving up to a better finish next year, however, won't be easy. Of the top 12 finishers in the breaststroke this year, not a single one was a senior. But Champa, who missed her first two years of high school swimming due to injury, is hoping she can continue improving at a faster rate than her competitors.

“Next year, I'd like to make top six,” she said, “And go under 1:05.”

That would be another big step forward, but there's no reason to think Champa couldn't take it.

What was Wayman thinking as she watched Champa accept her eighth-place medal?

“Can't wait to get her back here,” Wayman said.

In the team race, New Trier put an end to Rosary's four-year championship run, swamping the field with 198.5 points. Loyola finished second with 126, just ahead of Rosary at 122.5.

Dundee-Crown, by virtue of Champa's placement in the breaststroke, finished 31st.

Glenbrook South sophomore Olivia Smoliga smashed her own state record set in prelims with a 53.43 in the 100 backstroke, and she also won the 50 free in 23.12.

Peoria Notre Dame senior Rebecca Stoughton was also a double winner, in the 200 free (1:49.49) and the 500 free (4:49.86).