Girls swimming: Crystal Lake co-op runs the FVC table

There was no shortage of pride following Saturday's Fox Valley Conference girls swim meet.

Every coach could point to stopwatch improvements throughout their lineup and for the individuals, it's really not a do-or-die type event. Virtually all the swimmers will just now start to taper, so success belongs to the one coach who had to make a wardrobe change.

Crystal Lake co-op coach Stephanie Wozny clutched a towel a little tighter, smiling and shivering a little after having to take the champion's plunge with her squad.

"I'm totally cool with getting soaked because of what it represents," Wozny said.

In 2014, Crystal Lake was a perfect 8-0 in dual meets, but the Jacobs/Hampshire co-op was 8 points better in claiming the conference meet trophy.

Warned in advance to bring extra clothing, Wozny had backup apparel on Friday night when Crystal Lake took the league JV meet by 75 points and the varsity gave Wozny a soak in the Woodstock North pool on Saturday as well. However that 227 tally was just 6 points better than runner-up McHenry.

"It is so nice to say we are truly undefeated," Wozny said. "A perfect 8-0 in duals and varsity meet champion, plus JV meet winner, truly undefeated. It's all a testimony to how hard they all work. Some people thought we were not going to be as worthy an opponent this year, but we are not one swimmer, two swimmers, three swimmers, we are a team of 23. For those that counted us out, I'd say our depth definitely made the difference."

McHenry captured two of three relays and got individual first-place finishes from Payton Lange - FVC Newcomer of the Year and Co-Swimmer of the Meet - in the 100-yard freestyle (: 53.49) and the 50 free where her: 24.40 was .10 under state meet qualification. However, Crystal Lake's ability to pick up double-digit points in seven of eight individual events and outscore all foes in four closed the gap.

As expected Crystal Lake standout Valerie Tarazi ruled the 100 butterfly (: 58.48 - .06 over state cut time) and the 100 individual medley (2:04.59 - well under 2:10.22 state cut time) to share Co-Swimmer of Meet honors. As a freshman in 2014, Tarazi took fifth in the 200 IM at state and ninth in the 100 free. Wozny noted that the 200 IM was Tarazi's lifetime best while the sophomore previously did that during the season for the 100 fly, 100 back and 200 free.

"I'm willing to go for state in any event, but that'll be next week's sectional, this conference meet was all about having fun as a team," Tarazi insisted. "Don't get me wrong, every race is an opportunity to learn, but at the beginning of this year, a team goal was to win conference. If we needed a push during the season, we reminded everyone of last year's standings."

Rhiannon Wozny won the 500 free (5:12.62) and was runner-up for the 200 free (1:58.31) while Paige Dalbke touched first in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.04) for the victors.

"Taking first means a lot because it show how hard we work as a team," noted Rhiannon, the coach's daughter. "Setting a winning pace (in distance events) is staying focused mentally. In practice I work on swimming the same for every leg, if I feel slower I convince myself to go faster, if it feels fast enough, then I concentrate on maintaining."

The elder Wozny noted the positive impact on Crystal Lake's team score thanks to Dalbke (breaststroke win and ninth in fly) plus Theresa Grivas (fourth in 50 free and fifth in 100 free).

"Going in I was hoping to leave it all in the pool and get a medal, I actually got two and getting extra points for the team was also fantastic," Grivas added.

The Jacobs/Hampshire co-op was third (220) and was followed in order by Huntley (169), Cary-Grove (164), Woodstock co-op (121) and Dundee-Crown (89). Being one point under McHenry was a disappointment for Jacobs/Hampshire coach Emily Susmarski.

"I expected it to be real close between us, Crystal Lake and McHenry, so third in comparison to winning last year is somewhat of a bummer, but all of them dropped times and that's something to be proud of," Susmarski said. "I expect Izzy (Bavaro) to get back to state in the backstroke and Megan (Herrera) is near a state time as well."

Bavaro's victorious: 59.59 is .08 off the state cut for the 100 back where frosh teammate Makaylin Monasterio was third. This marked the second straight year Bavaro teamed with Rochelle Sia in capturing the 200 medley relay (1:53.46). The duo combined with Herrera and Olivia Zawadzki. The later competitor's mother Myra and fellow parent Ruth Peterson, were among the volunteer duo at the end of each lane assisting with timing.

"Home or away meet, its what we do," Peterson said before Zawadzki noted "it's a better view from here than up there (referring to the balcony for fans."

Huntley's top individual performances came from Kristen Czarnecki (second in the 100 fly in 1:00.70 and third in the 200 IM in 2:16.04) and Katelyn Carlson (100 back runner-up in 1:01.85).

"Kristen had two very good individual races and two excellent leadoff relay legs," Huntley coach Brenda Czarnecki said. "Katelyn has simply gotten better throughout the season. All the girls had bad individual best times and two that also stood out were Jordan McGuire and Jacklyn Smitendorf."

Cary-Grove's Ashlynn Baker captured the 200 free in 1:56.89 and was the 100 free runner-up (: 54.92) while fellow junior Karsen Seeger was a strong third in the 500 free (5:34.85) in a comeback effort a year after major surgery on her right shoulder.

"Placing well in the conference meet was a big deal for me because I've been pushing hard all season to be competitive again even with six anchors in my shoulder socket," Seeger said nursing an ice bag after each effort which also included relay work. "Obviously sectionals will be more important, coach (Scott Lattyak) and I are optimistic that the taper will make a big difference."

Tess Devinger was the 100 breast runner-up (1:09.29) and touched fourth in the 200 IM (2:17.37) with teammate Gianna McGuire third in the 100 free (: 55.05) for the Woodstock coop.

"By far we've got the smallest team, but our girls weren't intimidated and pulled off getting sixth," Woodstock coach Renee Walker said. "I'm very proud everyone had best times before being rested, I believe Tess, Gianna and Elizabeth (Kruse) are all on track to do well at sectionals."

Woodstock and McHenry compete in the Vernon Hills sectional while Crystal Lake, Huntley and Dundee-Crown are in the St. Charles East sectional with Cary-Grove taking part in the Barrington sectional.