Fremd finds strength in numbers at Palatine
At this point, it’s clear Fremd’s freshman class is going to make a figurative splash.
On the literal level, there won’t be nearly as much splashing. Just a lot of smooth, streamlined, efficient swimming. For these freshmen are past the learning stage and deep into the varsity contributor stage.
All of which bodes well for the Vikings, who already had a deep and capable team back from last season.
Erica King provided an example of the new injection of talent, cruising to victory in the 400-meter freestyle in 4:38.95 as Fremd topped host Palatine 97-77 on Wednesday in a Mid-Suburban League dual.
And it’s not just a handful of new arrivals at Fremd. With a total of 22 freshmen aboard, the total team membership has swelled to 90. So the Vikings were able to field three entries at all three levels of the meet against Palatine: frosh-soph, junior varsity and varsity.
“It’s the first time we’ve had to make cuts,” said Fremd coach Andrew Kittrell, “and that’s always hard, turning away kids that want to be swimmers. But we’ve got a really nice group here and everybody’s working hard.”
Junior Breanna Anderson remains a key figure for Fremd, and she had a leg on the Vikings’ winning medley relay along with King, freshman Loretta Stelnicki and senior Sam Matuszewski.
Other winners for Fremd included freshman Julia Portmann in the 200 free, and Anderson in the 50 free and 100 back.
Palatine coach Brittany Berleman has a first-rate varsity foursome of seniors Nicole Huffman and Nicole Theis and sophomores Laura Mayer and Amy Zahn.
Zahn won the 200 IM and 100 fly, Mayer won the 100 free and took second in the 200 free, Theis won the 100 breaststroke, and those three combined with Huffman to win the 200 free relay and take second in the 200 medley relay.
“It’s going to be a lot like last year was for us,” said Berleman. “We have a really nice foursome, but we’ll struggle against the deeper teams in duals. Then at the end of the year — conference, sectional, state — we hope to make our mark.”
Palatine’s Stephanie Hamer prevailed in a matchup elite divers, the top three of whom are all returning state meet competitors. Hamer (211.7) edged Stephanie Uhrich (206.65) and Elizabeth Uhrich (199.70).
Kittrell, now in his second season with Fremd, is looking forward to seeing weight training, better overall conditioning and superior team depth pay dividends.
“I’d say we’re about a year ahead of where we were at this time last year,” he said. “We’re going to have some really intense competition in late October for our championship meet spots. That will be a hard time, but also exciting. For now, it’s time to race tired and continue to improve.”