Addison Trail/Willowbrook's McNamara better than ever

This is the big weekend for all girls high school swimmers and divers who are hoping to qualify for the state meet, which will be held the following week at Evanston High School.

The top swimmers in Illinois are focused on getting state qualifying times Saturday, while divers will be working to earn qualifying scores Friday.

Many of the girls will be fully tapered for the sectional meet, while those who have already gone below the state-cut times and who have a realistic chance of scoring at state by finishing in the top 12, will be midway through their tapers in order to peak at state.

Addison Trail/Willowbrook's Kelly McNamara, who finished second in state in the 100 butterfly last year, will compete in the York sectional. The state butterfly champion Mimi Schneider of Fenwick graduated, which makes McNamara the highest returning finisher.

"I've been dropping yards in practice each day this week," McNamara said, "though I won't be fully tapered until state. With the lighter yardage I've been working a lot on turns and start and techniques. But I still have to have a good race in order to qualify."

"Kelly is way ahead of where she was last year," said co-op coach Paul Anderson. "She has been over a second faster than at this point last year. She has matured and she understands the sport a lot better."

Anderson said that McNamara has worked a lot harder because, as the highest returning finisher in the fly, she "has a target on her back."

"We're not looking for a great time from Kelly at sectionals," Anderson said, "but she'll be rested next week and ready to explode."

"I'm expecting a close race at state," McNamara said. "All of the other top six are back, so there will be plenty of competition."

McNamara will also be swimming the 50 freestyle and she'll be a member of both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams, which also have a good chance to make it to the state meet.

"I have to do my part on the relays," McNamara said. "We're not under the state cut yet. We have to work together in order to get the times we need. We've swum together for a long time, and we all have state experience. So we're fairly confident."

Her teammates on the relays will be Molly Hill, Meghan Koterba and Gabriella Morrone.

Neuqua Valley, which will be swimming in the always-powerful Metea Valley sectional, will be led by Natalie McGovern, who finished third in the 100 backstroke last year.

"We'd love Natalie to be state champ, but she's focused on what just competing and doing what he needs to do for herself and for the team," said Neuqua Valley coach Jason Niferatos.

McGovern also will compete in the 100 butterfly, and she'll be doing the backstroke on the 200 medley relay team.

"Our plan for sectionals is to treat it like any other meet," Niferatos said. "We're focused on being relaxed, despite the fact that the adrenaline will be flowing."

Also at Metea Valley will be Naperville Central, which finished 10th at state last year, will be led by returning state champion diver Sydney Dusel and Sydney Weeks, who finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke.

Weeks, Beth Ryan and Kamryn Gallowich give the Redhawks three people back from last year's 200 medley relay team that finished sixth at state

Downers Grove North, second in the team standings at state last year, will be at the York sectional. The Trojans are led by Gabriele Serniute, who was sixth in the 200 IM, and Emily Albrecht, who along with Serniute, was a member of the state champion 200 medley relay team. Other Downers Grove North athletes who helped contribute points to the strong finish are Lindsay Mathis, Daria Wick and divers Emily and Elizabeth Aument.

Hinsdale Central's Margaret McCarthy, who finished fifth in last year's diving competition, will join her teammates at this weekend's Downers Grove South sectional.