Barrington's Jacobsen does it again; Fremd finishes sixth

Barrington junior Kirsten Jacobsen made a tactical adjustment in the championship heat of the 500-yard freestyle during Saturday's girls swimming and diving finals at Evanston Township High School.

The two-time defending champ had previously won by making her move relatively late in the race, pulling away decisively over the last handful of laps.

This time, the race was essentially over as soon as it started.

Jacobsen got separation immediately from the rest of the heat and comfortably protected her lead the whole way to win the event for a third straight time.

Prompting the change in tactics was a very talented group of hopefuls in the event, including second- and third-place finishers Audrey and Monica Guyett of St. Charles North. Jacobsen had raced them in September in a dual meet and finished a distant third.

"We did talk about taking control early," said Barrington coach Jim Bart. "We talked about getting out faster than in the past - and if somebody decides to come with you early, well, then you've got to make them pay."

Jacobsen's split time at the 200-yard mark within her 500 race would have placed her second in the 200 free - second to herself, that is.

Jacobsen also won that race, and just as convincingly. She finished in 1:47.77 - not quite as fast her state-record performance of last year, but a full 2.5 seconds faster than the runner-up Grace Tierney of Loyola.

Barrington freshman Maggie Emary used a big finish to win the consolation heat of the 500 freestyle in 4:58.65, and she also placed 11th in the 200 free.

Jacobsen and Emary joined Emma Barnett and Andrea Vega for an 11th-place finish in the 400 free relay, which gave the Fillies 44.5 points and a 10th-place team finish.

"Today was fun," Bart said. "It was great to see Maggie come back like that in her 500."

For Fremd, the outcome was the best the program has ever had - by a long, long way.

The Vikings' 200 medley relay of Grace Grzybek, Loretta Stelnicki, Saki Takumiya and Grace Kneller finished fourth.

In the 200 free relay, Kneller, Stenicki, Grzybek and Erica King won the consolation heat.

And in the 400 free relay, Kneller, King, Julia Portmann and Stelnicki placed eighth.

The cumulative effect left a happy, if somewhat dazed, coach Andrew Kittrell as he reflected on his team's sixth-place finish.

"The best analogy I've heard for the second day of the state meet is it's like the late rounds of a heavyweight fight," he said. "You've got the best of the best, doing their best to land a few punches."

Landing a couple of individual shots for Fremd was King. She had a lifetime-best effort in placing ninth in the 200 free (1:52.18) and also took ninth in the 500 free (5:01.10).

Kneller finished 12th in the 100 free, and senior Sarah McTague finished 11th in diving (374.80).

Kittrell suggested a pair of highlights from his senior-dominated group - Kneller's leadoff leg of the 200 free relay (24.06) and Portmann's crucial third leg of the meet-ending 400 free relay.

There's every reason to believe Fremd will be able to send another strong group to state next season, as Grzybek, Rebecca Rutkowski, Emily Kini and Rebecca Ballo each gained great experience and figure to have more prominent roles next year.

But this year was about reaching a new high-water mark for the program, and Fremd's seniors are responsible for that.

Portmann improved her 400 relay split by almost a full second, and Stelnicki finished off that same relay with a blistering 51.73 leg.

"It's such an honor to anchor the relay," Stelnicki said. "With the other people on that relay, you just don't want to let them down."

Asked what she'll remember most about this weekend in another 20 years, Kneller didn't cite a specific race or individual moment.

"Just all my amazing teammates," she said with a smile.

Wheeling senior Theresa Godlewski wrapped up a third straight trip to state with her best finishes.

After a 12th-place finish in the 50 free, Godlewski was left with one final performance as a high school swimmer - her favorite race, the 100 backstroke.

"It was disappointing in the 50," she said. "I just wanted to make sure, in the backstroke, that I wasn't going to let that happen again."

Godlewski took charge, leading from start to finish and winning the consolation heat in 56.74 and becoming one a select few who can say they won their final high school race.

Beyond the school records and performances, Wheeling coach Lisa Poynor will miss the example that's been set by Godlewski.

"She's literally the perfect student-athlete," Poynor said. "She got a super GPA, and she'll graduate with high honors.

"Not only that, but she's got the strongest work ethic of anybody I've coached. She's a great girl - and a great girl to coach."

Loyola won its first state championship with a victory in just one event, the 400 free relay. The Ramblers had no major slip-ups on day two of the state meet to win with 148 points.

Rosary and Downers Grove North tied for second place with 118, and Lake Forest was fourth at 114. St. Charles North (61) finished just ahead of Fremd (57).