St. Charles East, North changing colors

There is nothing quite like the charged atmosphere every year when St. Charles East and St. Charles North meet in any sporting competition.

Certainly everyone knows the team’s school colors — Orange and Black for St. Charles East and Royal Blue and Black for St. Charles North.

But when the city’s two prep girls swim teams meet Thursday at 5 p.m. at St. Charles North, fans will be welcomed with wall-to-wall Pink. Both teams will be sporting the same color in a dual meet that is also taking place to raise awareness of breast cancer in the middle of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“We’re going to do a little something different this year with the East-North meet,” St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney said. “We’re going to make it a ‘Pink Out’ and make it a little more of a community deal. I think that’ll be good for us, for both teams.”

The meet will also include fundraisers for breast cancer awareness.

“It’s more of a hometown meet than it is a crosstown rivalry,” St. Charles East coach Joe Cabel said.

St. Charles East has had a superb start to its season and finished second in its College Events Meet on Saturday to defending state champion New Trier. The Trevians are favorites to win their fourth straight title in November. But the Saints’ top swimmers stayed with the Trevians for much of Saturday’s meet.

St. Charles North showed its talent on Saturday when it claimed the title in its own invitational. But despite the obvious talent in the water for both teams, the cause was the thing both coaches brought up when discussing the meet.

“(Cabel’s) got a great team right now,” Rooney said. “We’re probably maybe one step behind them. They’ve got a great group and I hope we make it a fun meet, keep it light and do great things for the October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”

The meet does matter, and the teams can be expected to have another competitive evening. The meet is also St. Charles North’s Senior Night.

“Both teams are still trying to get together on their conference and sectional lineups,” Cabel said. “I know (Rooney’s) got some things he’s looking for and I’ve got to make some decisions too. But the focus is probably going to be a little more on swimming and diving in pink than who’s going to win the 100 freestyle.”