Emotional successes for Saucedo, Libertyville

Once she could see the scoreboard, the reaction was self-explanatory.

Libertyville sophomore Lucy Saucedo broke down into tears after seeing her time in the 50-yard freestyle was right at state qualifying cut of 24.59 seconds, which means for the first time in her young career she will head to the state finals next weekend at Evanston Township High School.

"I was just trying to break 25 seconds, and when a friend brought my glasses to me in the pool and I could see I qualified, I lost it," said Saucedo, who later joined teammates Emma Richert, Anne Barnett and Harriet Davies on state-qualifying 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. "We've been working on sprints and less breathing. That really helped me today."

Libertyville had a solid meet, finishing third in the team standings with 208 points.

Two school records also fell by the wayside. Junior Macey Neubauer qualified in the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.85, and earlier in the day, she joined Meredith Robbins, Staci Herchenbach, and Emma Richert on the state-qualifying 200 medley relay team (1:46.72).

"It's exciting. We had two school records broken and it's been a while since we've had all three relays qualify," Libertyville sixth-year head coach Erik Rogers said. "We were trying save some of our energy for next week, so for us to make a lot of cuts without feeling our best was great!"

Sophomore Emma Richert qualified in the 200 IM (2:09.45), while junior Staci Herchenbach earned a trip to state in the 100 butterfly (57.89).

After narrowly missing qualifying for state her first two years, Vernon Hills' Lisa Cheng since last year has been battling and managing an irregular heartbeat, so it was only poetic justice that she had a good meet.

"I have to do jumping jacks after I stop swimming really fast so that my heart rate doesn't crash so hard," said Cheng, who qualified in the 50 freestyle (24.37) and 100 freestyle (53.03). "It's been an unreal experience. I came so close my sophomore year and now it's finally nice to qualify."

Cheng was also part of the state-qualifying 200 and 400 freestyle relays with Summer and Lilly Hemesath and anchor Nicole Pinter.

For Mundelein's Erin Falconer, earning a trip to state won't be her first rodeo.

"I could definitely get used to this," said the Auburn-bound senior. "I'm just trying to go out with a bang. There's so much energy in here, it pumps me up and makes me swim faster."

Falconer, whose name is listed several times on the Lake Forest pool record board, has qualified in the 100 and 200 freestyle events all four years, including last year when she finished second in both.

Falconer won both the 100 (51.07) and 200 (1:50.30) and was also a part of the 100 and 200 freestyle relay teams. Senior Jennifer Kordik, who was part of the two relay qualifying teams, also qualified in the 200 individual medley (2:06.53) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.60).

Lakes senior Madison Rinaldi will make her third trip to state having qualified in the 100 backstroke (57.01).

"All I wanted to do was get my personal best, so to qualify feels great," said Rinaldi, who was quick to credit her coaches and everyone who pushes her at the Blue Devils Swim Club where she trains. "I've been focusing on the little things like the turn, the breakout, and working on my dolphin kicks under water."

Rinaldi also qualified in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:10.25.

Warren turned in a good meet after finishing fourth with 169 points.

The 200 medley relay team of Courtney Barker, Megan Delfeld, Lindsay Travelstead, and Danielle Glisovich will head to Evanston after swimming a 1:48.56, as will the 200 freestyle relay team of Barker, Katie Bell, Delfeld, and Glisovich which swam a 1:38.45.

Barker also qualified in the 50 freestyle (23.77) and 100 backstroke (58.28).

Sophomore Anhelina Kutsko will represent Grant in Evanston after qualifying in the 50 freestyle (23.87) and 100 butterfly (56.80).

Libertyville's Morgan Paul (415.80) and Claire Neuberger (383.45), and Maggie Franz (392.65) and Kelsey Toland (385.50) from Mundelein delivered the top diving performances.

Lake Forest won the meet with 315 points, while the Mustangs were second with 218.