Warren puts its foot down, wins Hersey's Jamboree

Warren girls swimming coach Chris Bertana and Mundelein coach Rahul Sethna were having fun, shouting across the Olympic Pool deck at one another as the 400-yard freestyle relay concluded the Hersey Jamboree in Arlington Heights on Saturday afternoon.

Loudness is required for the meet, which features on-deck speakers pumping out hit songs almost constantly. It's quiet only for the starts of races.

At issue between Bertana and Sethna was whether or not both teams would finish ahead of host Hersey. After some furious app-checking, both men were pleased.

"Chris and I know each other so well," explained Sethna. "In addition to swimming in the same conference and everything, we're close friends, good family friends."

The final team standings would make any fan of the North Suburban Conference happy, as Warren took the top spot with 260 points and Mundelein (210) edged Hersey (206) for runner-up honors in the 11-team meet.

Mundelein was without a pair of its elite senior competitiors, as Erin Falconer was on a recruiting trip to Texas and Rachel Robb was doing likewise at Butler.

Bertana knows the feeling. In a similar situation last year, with a couple of Blue Devils investigating their college options, Mundelein was able to snap a string of four straight Warren victories at the Jamboree.

"The shoe was on the other foot this time," Bertana said with a smile.

Sophomore standout Courtney Barker led the way for Warren, stomping to victories in the 50-yard freestyle in 24.77 and the 100 back in 1:00.16. She also led off a winning medley relay which included Megan Delfeld, Emily Wong and Danielle Glisovich, and a winning 200 free relay with Katie Bell, Delfeld and Glisovich.

Other key Warren finishes came from Bell in the 200 free (2nd, 2:04.85), Glisovich in the 100 free (2nd, 55.72) and a runner-up effort in the 400 free relay from Glisovich, Megan Wong, Samantha Kroc and Bell.

Mundelein's Jenn Kordik won the 200 IM (2:17.36) and the 100 breaststroke (1:09.54), and Kelsey Toland had the top 6-dive performance (227.65).

"We love this meet," said Sethna. "At this point of the season, you're less concerned about swimming fast than you are about getting good races, and we always have that here. And it's nice to get away from our conference and race where there's a little less pressure, and more fun.."

Mundelein certainly found its groove in one sense, as the announcement that it had won the meet's dance contest set off shrieks of satisfaction.

Addison Trail-Willowbrook coach Paul Anderson is quite familiar with somewhat wavy, chaotic conditions in the relatively shallow Olympic pool.

"I grew up about three blocks away," he said. "This meet's always fun for me."

AT-Willowbrook senior Kelly McNamara enjoyed it, too. She won the 100 fly in a meet-record 57.66, some six seconds ahead of second place.

"She's really been flying all season - pun intended, I guess," said Anderson. "Today was actually one of her slower times of the year in the fly, but that's to be expected at Olympic."

Just an impressive was McNamara's winning effort in the very next event, the 100 free (55.64), helping AT-Willlowbrook finish seventh with 127 points.

Anderson says McNamara is waiting until after the high school season to make a college commitment in hopes that a big finish will give her even more options. She finished second in last year's state meet, and the 100 fly champion, Mimi Schneider of Fenwick, graduated.

"With Kelly, it's about trying to win state," said Anderson. "I feel like she's in a good spot to do that."

Jacobs-Hampshire finished fifth and had a double-victory effort from Alexa Agoranos. She won the 200 free (2:02.31) and the 500 free (5:32.72).

Cary-Grove finished 11th, but the Trojans were without several performers. Senior Melissa Rose provided a bright spot with a third-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.49). The three-time state qualifier said that was her best time so far this season.

"You don't expect really fast times at a meet like this, so all things considered, I'm pleased," Rose said. "It's kind of a shallow pool, very wavy - but all the other fun stuff in the meet kind of makes it worth it."

Prospect was without senior diving standout Dana Liva due to an ear infection and finished fourth with 176 points. Coach Alfonso Lopez's top finishes came from Betsy Rozow in the 100 back (third, 1:03.39) and 50 free (third, 25.61); Rachel Rozow was fourth in the 200 IM (2:22.47) and fifth in the 100 breast (1:13.62).

Senior Sarah Morosan led the way for Buffalo Grove by finishing third in the 100 free (56.99) and fourth in the 50 free (25.76).

Bailey Rowley had the top finish for Rolling Meadows, with sixth place in the 100 fly (1:05.83).

Hersey's highlight came at the end, as Sarah Petro, Katherine Gorey, Abby Johnstone and Olivia Kusio edged Warren for a 400 free relay victory in 3:51.51.

Kusio's superb anchor leg was the key. She also placed second individually in the 50 free (25.47) and 100 breast (1:10.16).

"She's a gamer," said Hersey coach Dick Mortensen. "This meet was great for her. To race somebody like Rose in the breaststroke, that's a really good opportunity, and I thought she met the challenge."

Other key Huskies placements came from Jenny Lutz in the 100 fly (2nd, 1:03.88), Sarah Petro in the 200 free (3rd, 2:04.96) and a 2-3 finish from divers Madeline Bovino (208.40) and Alexandra Heidrich (196.10).

Lightening the mood for all the teams was the final event, featuring several girls teams competing against the male representatives of Hersey's homecoming court in a 100-yard relay.

It didn't count toward the team totals. Girlpower ruled, and it was no contest.

"Bottom line, this meet is about having fun," said Mortensen. "This is the first time I can remember us cracking the top three, so that's nice."