Bartlett-Streamwood's Filipek overcomes adversity at state
It was anything but smooth sailing for the Bartlett-Streamwood co-op team in Friday's girls swimming and diving state meet preliminaries at Evanston Township High School.
And yet, in the final analysis, the Sabrehawks still have plenty to look forward to in Saturday's finals, which begin at noon.
The roughest of the news was that senior Kelsey Ostrowski would not be able to compete in prelims after a high temperature and corresponding flu-like symptoms ruled her out. She not only missed her individual race, the 100-yard butterfly, but also legs on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Alternate Allison Marsh stepped in so the relays could still compete, but the Sabrehawks were missing their senior teammate.
“My heart just goes out to her,” said Bartlett-Streamwood sophomore Kayla Filipek. “The thing is, it had nothing to do with anything she did, just something totally out of her control.”
There was a bit more randomness at play for Filipek.
Behind the blocks awaiting her first race of the day, the 50 freestyle, Filipek's goggles strap broke. A friend loaned her a pair, but the performance wasn't what Filipek hoped. She finished in 23.93, good for the day's 10th-best time and a spot in Saturday's consolation final.
“That was kind of a close call in the 50,” said her coach, Jeremy Meserole. “But her 100, that was more like what we were looking for.”
Indeed.
Filipek stretched her rangy frame out and produced a personal-best time by nearly a second, finishing in 51.09. That placed her third and gets her a spot in the 100 free championship finals — a first for the program.
Filipek later led off the 200 free relay with a 23.48 split, joining Marsh, Megan Cummins and Brianna Cichon in a 30th-place finish. The same quartet finished 24th in the 400 free relay.
Jacobs/Hampshire freshman Izzy Bavaro didn't particularly enjoy the outcome of her first trip to the state meet, finishing 36th in the backstroke. And she has advice for anyone else new to the chaotic scene of a state finals:
“Warm-ups here are crazy,” she said. “My suggestion, go to another pool and warm up if you can.”
Coach Emily Susmarski was proud of Bavaro's performance.
“She might be disappointed,” said Susmarski, “but I'm not — not at all. This is a tough place for anybody, let alone a freshman.
“I'm looking forward to another chance or two with her here.”
Cary-Grove senior Melissa Rose wrapped up a fourth straight state meet qualification, finishing 32nd in the breaststroke in 1:07.51.
She had plenty of support from teammates, including several fervently waving Rose's own cardboard likeness in the air as she swam.
“It's been a great opportunity to have coached her,” said Cary-Grove coach Scott Lattyak. “She's our hardest worker. I have the utmost admiration and respect for what she's been able to accomplish.
“Melissa earned the respect of all her teammates. She had the talent and made the most of it, and she gave everybody else an example they could aspire to.”