Girls swimming: Bartlett-Streamwood excited about postseason possibilities
Since this year's seniors joined the Bartlett-Streamwood girls swimming team as freshmen, this has been a season anticipated by all within the program, and the season has not disappointed. As they prepare for Saturday's St. Charles North sectional meet, the Sabrehawks have the potential to qualify their strongest contingent for a state meet.
"It all pointed toward this season being an exciting one, and the seniors have really stepped up in a huge way," Bartlett-Streamwood coach Jeremy Meserole said.
The team's star this season is again Kayla Filipek, who has been one of the state's top sprint freestylers since her freshman year.
"This year has been by far her best year," Meserole said. "She's racing well. She's grown as a leader and accepted her leadership role rather than being that quiet worker working hard in the corner. She has led by her words as well as her action."
The growth of the rest of the team has turned the Sabrehawks into a team that could finish well within the top 10 at the state meet.
"Brianna Cichon was second in the 100 free and third in the 50 at the conference meet," Meserole said. "She and Paige (Edmier) and Morgan (Kelly) and the rest of them have been really good this fall. We're pretty darned excited for this weekend. This is definitely, top to bottom, the best team we've had."
One reason for Bartlett-Streamwood optimism is its relays. Both the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay have improved through the season and have achieved some statewide recognition as being some of the best.
Among other area teams included at St. Charles North is the Crystal Lake co-op, which includes junior star Valerie Tarazi, who was the state champion in the 100 breaststroke and second in the 200 IM a year ago. Freshman Jamie Gindorf was named the newcomer of the year for the co-op, which finished second at the Fox Valley Conference meet. Huntley senior Kristen Czarnecki is another probable state qualifier, as is Lindsey Ferguson.
•Metea Valley may be one of the strongest sectionals in the state, but Rosary heads there Saturday knowing it is the strongest team in the state this year. The defending state champions have been tested this fall, but have an impressive string of results, including victory in the Metro Catholic Conference.
"I've said this many times before, but you cannot win the state meet this weekend, but you can sure lose it," Rosary coach Bill Schalz said. "Our swimmers have to be able to get through and they have to qualify and get their drops. I'm confident we'll get 100 percent of our swimmers though, just like last year."
Rosary's star senior swimmer is Alexis Yager, who was the state champion in the 200 IM and finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke as a junior.
"She's been really looking forward to this final high school postseason and is very focused," Schalz said. "Now that the recruiting process is behind her, she can really focus on swimming fast this next couple of weeks."
Sydney VanOvermeiren, Athena Ye, Emily Ryan and Camryn Streid are other experienced Beads who have not only qualified for the state meet but have been top six finishers in their events.
"It's certainly an advantage to us," Schalz said. "When you have Alex Yager, who's not only a state finalist but a state champion, telling a nervous freshman or sophomore 'you've got this,' that is really helpful, and we have that up and down the line."
Other teams at Metea Valley include West Aurora, where Gina Jenkins is the Blackhawks' best chance to qualify from a team that has improved throughout the season and sends its strongest contingent to the sectional in years. West Chicago-Batavia also swims at Metea Valley with Kelly Sego a potential state qualifier.
Coming off its third-place finish in the Fox Valley meet, Cary-Grove heads to the Stevenson Sectional.