Girls swimming: St. Charles North, East ready for sectional competition
Taken to its simplest form, state sectional swim meets are very simple. There is a state qualifying standard for every race. Each swimmer gets one chance to better that time. Win the race or beat that time and you're headed to Evanston and the state meet - there is no gray area.
Admittedly, divers have a bit more complicated path, with the top scores stacked against each other after the sectional, with the top scorers joining sectional winners. But the pattern of only one day, one meet deciding it all remains the same.
That in-or-out situation awaits all area girls swimmers on Saturday and area swimmers are split between sectionals at St. Charles North, Metea Valley and Stevenson.
The "Big Three" at St. Charles North are the hosts, crosstown rival St. Charles East and Bartlett-Streamwood. For St. Charles North, the goal is to set up the team for a second consecutive state trophy. The North Stars finished third behind Rosary and Lake Forest in 2015.
"It's a very unique opportunity in sports," St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney said. "The IHSA swimming sectional is a prelude to the state meet, but you have to take care of business at the sectional meet in order to move forward."
The North Stars have integrated six new athletes to their sectional team this year, but have had a successful season to-date, including victories at their own invitational and in the Upstate Eight Conference meet.
"We've got a young team that is excited," Rooney said. "They're very relaxed and they are aware of the opportunities they have to do some great things. I've said that we want to build off last year and put our best foot forward this year. Now we'll see what we can accomplish."
Any listing of the top swimmers in the state would include North Stars junior distance freestyler Audrey Guyett, who was second in the 100-yard backstroke and third in the 500 freestyle a year ago.
"Audrey's demeanor of confidence is important," Rooney said. "The girls on our team take care of themselves and they take care of each other, but Audrey's leadership is important. Our team wants to get up and swim and then support the next swimmer or diver and all the while make sure everyone's having fun."
The North Stars have a series of other solid swimmers, including Mallory Jump, Rachel Ponte and Kayleigh Lewis.
"I don't have a crystal ball and can't predict what's going to happen. We just have to get out there and swim the best we can and get the best times we can," Rooney said.
St. Charles East was second in the Upstate Eight Conference meet and brings its own series of star swimmers to the sectional. The Saints have a strong history, have had a series of solid state performances in recent years and won the sectional meet they hosted in 2015.
"The general observation from everyone on the coaching staff is that it seems like the pieces are falling into place," St. Charles East coach Joe Cabel said. "It's a neat time of the season and the focus is on the people who are left in the water, and it's a small group. It's also a very experienced group too."
Leading the way for the Saints are returnees including Amy Pearson, Rachel Nagler and Anna O'Malley, who are all seniors. Junior Kayla Jones is another of the team's puzzle as is freshman standout Mary Jania.
"Jania is kind of an 'un-newbie,'" Cabel said. "She's a freshman but she's got a lot of big-meet experience and she has a big-meet mentality. She's pretty unflappable but she's always smiling. Her personality is what's so great to have in a big meet."
Like Guyett, Pearson is a star distance freestyler who has had a solid senior season.
"She's a veteran and she likes to take care of details," Cabel said. "Her and (Jones) have kind of been holding off and holding off on letting it go and swimming fast. The way they look now, they look tuned up and ready to go."
St. Charles East's divers, Courtney Green and LJ Carne, will be favored in Saturday morning's diving competition.