Filipek, Bartlett-Streamwood dent the state scoreboard

For Bartlett-Streamwood coach Jeremy Meserole, it was definitely a case of the glass being half-full.

Sabrehawks sophomore Kayla Filipek earned a pair of races in the championship session of the girls swimming and diving state meet on Saturday at Evanston Township High School, breaking new ground for the program with two point-scoring performances.

Filipek improved on her Friday performance dramatically in the 50-yard freestyle, taking eighth place in 23.52 (and just a hundredth of a second off the seventh-place time).

In the 100 free, Filipek gave the program its highest finish in a state event, taking fifth place in 51.48.

"The 50 was better today," said Filipek. "The 100, I wasn't as happy with, but whatever - I did my best."

Those two performances gave Bartlett-Streamwood a 23rd-place finish with 15 points, the first time the program has been represented in the swimming and diving team standings.

"This was a step forward for us," Meserole said. "We've had a nice group of kids come together, and they're all making progress."

The Sabrehawks were without Kelsey Ostrowski, a senior who was both an individual qualifier and a relay swimmer, due to illness. That affected Bartlett-Streamwood's relay performance, but the good news is that none of the Sabrehawks who actually competed at Evanston over the weekend will graduate. Allison March and Brianna Cichon are also sophomores, and Meagan Cummins is a junior.

"The next logical step for us is to get the relays here again, and see if we can score some points with them," said Meserole, who expects to add more quality swimmers next season from the club program he also coaches. "It's been helpful that we had such a nice group come in to the program at roughly the same time - they're making me look good."

Filipek says her second straight state meet experience was more satisfying.

"Last year, I'd tapered for sectional, so to be honest I wasn't really expecting to do very well at state," she said. "This year, the expectation was higher."

Loyola used a great second-day performance to separate from a pack of contenders and earn its first team championship with 148 points. The Ramblers won just one event, the 400 freestyle relay.

Rosary and Downers Grove North tied for second place with 118 points, and Lake Forest was fourth at 114.

Barrington's Kirsten Jacobsen won the 500 free for the third straight year and repeated as the 200 free state champ.

St. Charles North placed fifth in the team race with 61 points and got a 2-3 finish from sisters Audrey and Monica Guyett in the 500 free.