Bartlett-Streamwood looking to make some history

The Bartlett-Streamwood girls co-op swimming team has one goal in mind for this weekend's IHSA state finals at Evanston Township High School.

"We want to make a statement," said sophomore Kayla Filipek. "We want to show we are a presence in high school swimming and we would like to get people to the finals. Nobody has ever done that in Bartlett girls swimming."

Bartlett-Streamwood has four swimmers competing in 5 events Friday. That quartet includes senior newcomer Kelsey Ostrowski, Filipek, junior Meagan Cummins and sophomore Brianna Cichon. Streamwood's Allison Marsh is the alternate. Filipek, Cummins and Cichon competed at state last year.

"Four girls made it to state last year as freshmen and sophomores," said Bartlett-Streamwood coach Jeremy Meserole. "They made it a goal to get back and swim well. Last year was more of a getting experience thing. They made the commitment to work hard and get back there."

Ostrowski, a former home-schooled student, is in her second year as a student at Bartlett, but she is no stranger to the pool. She's a veteran of the Wheaton Swim Club. She won the butterfly sectional championship last week and is part of the team's two state-qualifying relays.

"I've learned to push myself at new levels," said Ostrowski. "I've dug in a little deeper and pushed through the pain. I really took a look at my goals and realized I was willing to do anything to achieve them."

Ostrowski, who will continue her career at the University of Northern Iowa, admitted she isn't a particular huge fan of the butterfly, but still excels at it.

"I didn't choose the fly, the fly chose me," she said with a laugh. "Unfortunately it is my best stroke. I love it, but it is one of the hardest strokes to do. It's very painful. I just train hard for it and don't slack off. It's a stroke where you really have to push yourself."

Ostrowski said she already achieved her big goal at sectionals.

"I made it to state and I went faster than I thought I could," she said. "I want to drop more time at state with the girls and make some history."

Filipek also will swim on the 200 and 400 relay teams and will compete in the 50 and 100 freestyle races - making for an active day in Evanston.

"I've been working on breathing control and head placement," said Filipek. "I move my head around a lot in the water and that's not good. I'm also working hard on my walls. Sometimes I'm slow with those. I'm working on my starts to make them more powerful. With the breathing, when I do take breaths, I'm taking them faster."

Filipek led off both the 200 and 400 relays at sectionals. Ostrowski, Cummins and Cichon followed in both races. Bartlett-Streamwood won the sectional title in the 400 free relay.

"The relays are a lot of fun," said Filipek. "There is a lot of excitement in those races. We try and get out in front early and then hold onto it. That's when it works out best. Nobody wants to be the girl that loses the lead. We try really hard out there and we get really loud."

Ostrowski is seeded 13th in the fly, while the 400 relay team is seeded 13th - making Saturday appearances a real possibility.

Cary-Grove senior Melissa Rose will cap off her high school career by swimming in the breaststroke at state for the fourth year in a row.

"I'm a lot more confident," said Rose. "I know what to expect there and that will help a lot."

Rose said an increase in out-of-pool activities helped her this season.

"I started lifting a lot more and that's helped my strength," she said. "I've seen improvements because of that. My stroke was pretty good before, but I needed more power and the lifting helped with that."

Rose, who is looking at the University of Chicago and New York University as possible landing spots next year, is looking to burn time Friday.

"I want to swim as fast I can and have fun," she said. "It's fun at state every year. It's bittersweet for me because I'm a senior and this will be my last year to experience it."

Jacobs freshman Izzy Bavaro will compete in the backstroke.

"I did Sunday practices and worked extra hard," she said. "I had different coaches help me. What I've done is different than anything I've done before. I put in a lot more work with practices and video. The video showed me what I was doing wrong and what I needed to correct."

Bavaro has a number of benchmarks in mind for her first trip to state.

"I want to go to junior nationals (March 2015)," said Bavaro, who trains with the Woodstock Dolphins in the offseason. "I would like to go in the 56s and maybe 57 (she clocked in at 58.60 at sectional)."

Bavaro knows it takes a well-rounded effort in the event to succeed.

"You have to have good turns, a good finish and a good start in the backstroke," she said. "Where I'm best is in the swimming part. You have to have a good stroke."

Of other local interest, Crystal Lake co-op swimmer Valerie Tarazi, a Prairie Ridge freshman, is seeded first in the 100 and third in the IM.