Rosary remains in trophy hunt
On a blisteringly fast evening of swimming, Rosary fought hard to stay in the IHSA girls swimming state trophy hunt while St. Charles East and St. Charles North each left themselves in position to have special swims during Saturday afternoon’s finals.
Three state records fell, including the oldest in the record book — Alison Wimer’s 50-yard freestyle record stood since 1996 before Glenbrook South’s Olivia Smoliga erased it. Smoliga also set the record in the 100 freestyle and Fenwick’s 200 freestyle relay established a record.
Rosary is in the trophy hunt and has 14 scoring entries entering the finals. The Beads “scored” 125 points on Friday, well behind defending state champion New Trier, which is on pace to win its record 11th state title today. Rosary enters Saturday’s afternoon’s finals in fourth place, behind New Trier, Fenwick and Loyola. Points are only scored in the finals, so the Beads have every chance of earning their ninth trophy since 2000.
“I think we swam well,” Rosary coach Bill Schalz said. “It’s definitely a faster meet this year, especially in the relays. We were constantly fighting to get into swims all day. This is a meet where you need one or two big studs to carry your team. We’ve got five or six girls that did a really great job getting into finals. But they have to fight tooth and nail for everything.”
Senior Sarah Sykstus swims for the state title four times. She is seeded first in the 200 individual medley, fifth in the 100 butterfly and she swims a leg on the Beads’ 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
“Sarah Sykstus did an awesome job today,” Schalz said.
Swimmers like Rachel Burke and Molly Coonce swim once for the state title and once in the consolation final. Burke swims in the championship heat of the 100 freestyle and in the consolation heat of the 200 freestyle. Coonce swims in the 100 breaststroke championship heat and in the consolation heat of the 100 butterfly.
“It was that kind of day, with girls getting one in bigs and one in consoles — but we needed to get them both into the Top 6,” Schalz said.
The biggest gap in the Beads’ attack in finals is the lack of a 400 freestyle relay swimming for the state title. In one of the fastest overall races of the day, Rosary swam the 11th-fastest time.
“Four or five teams swam well today and there’s only three trophies,” Schalz said. “That’s kind of what it’s going to come down to. I think New Trier’s going to win it. Not having that third relay in going to hurt. That could be 20 points.”
Rosary will score in diving for the first time in school history. Grace Miller is seeded 10th and has a chance to move up one or two places when the final three dives take place today.
“When I arrived at Rosary, there had been absence in diving for a really long time,” Miller said. “It feels really accomplishing that I made it into finals, because last year I was so close.”
Miller was 13th a year ago in prelims, one place away from scoring.
“I’m very happy that I can help the team and help them get points,” Miller said. “Last year, I was like ‘man, I wish I could have gotten them some points.’ This year, I’m happy I can contribute to the team.”
St. Charles North rode a roller coaster through prelims. The North Stars have freshman Meagan Popp swimming for the state title in the 200 IM and Lauren Zima swimming in the consolation heat of the 100 butterfly and the school’s 200 medley relay is seeded ninth heading into finals. But the 400 freestyle relay finished 14th and did not advance despite setting a school record.
“That’s how fast this meet is,” St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney said. “You can’t have any mental breaks or any letdowns. I think we learned something today, which is great. We’ve got a relay in (Saturday), which is great.”
Popp is seeded second to Sykstus in the 200 IM, which is a race loaded with local interest because St. Charles East’s Emma Smith is seeded fifth in the event.
“I’m looking forward to (Popp’s) 200 IM,” Rooney said.
Zima swam faster than she ever had in the 100 butterfly and is seeded ninth in finals.
“We swam well today,” Rooney said. “We moved up everywhere. It was a good day.”
Smith has both of St. Charles East’s swims in finals. In addition to the 200 IM, the senior is seeded fifth in the 500 freestyle.
“I’m excited for (Saturday),” Smith said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
As a senior, Smith has the opportunity to perform and swim for a state title on the final day of her career.
“It’s really weird,” she said. “It doesn’t seem like it’s finally here. I’m just going to swim as fast as I can and go out with a bang.”
“The girls battled strong today,” St. Charles East coach Joe Cabel said. “It was a great meet and a fast meet and we saw some state records set today. But we’re coming back tomorrow and that was important.”
Some of the Saints gained valuable experience as they return to their club seasons. Among those were sophomore Izzie Bindseil, juniors Kimmie Scott and Mary Snyder as well as relay swimming sophomore Stephanie Garvin and junior Nicole Chapko.
Just as with St. Charles North, the 400 freestyle relay provided a rough end to St. Charles East’s day. The Saints were 13th in the event and just missed advancing on a day when the 12th-fastest team swam 3:32.78.
“We needed a relay to help us out,” Cabel said. “In places the meet was very fast. But that’s what it takes. You’ve got to come in here and be fired up and throw caution to the wind and let it happen.”