Girls swimming: Hersey closes in on East sweep
Hersey's girls swimming and diving team is within one victory of a perfect run through its Mid-Suburban East foes after topping host Rolling Meadows 134-48 on Thursday.
Hersey won all three relays and got individual wins from Abby Johnstone (200 free), Shannon Blumenfeld (200 IM), Bianca Teves (50 free, 100 fly), Madeline Bovino (diving), Claire Fink (100 free, 500 free) and Isa Hahn (100 breast).
Rolling Meadows frosh Ashley Hintz was tops in the 100 back.
Elk Grove d. Wheeling: A strong finish by visiting Elk Grove helped make the difference in MSL East action as the Grens won 101-84.
Emilia Gibes and Katherine Ishizaka placed 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke for Elk Grove, which followed up with a victory in the 400 free relay from Rachel Ford, Melena Herrera, Alyssa Bonilla and Natalie Wlodarz.
Wlodarz had wins in both the 200 free (2:04.93) and the 100 fly (1:03.14), and Ford won the 200 IM (2:37.51).
Wheeling had plenty about which to cheer as well, as Meghan Hergert won the 50 free (26.33), the 100 free (57.92) and came up with a season-best 25.88 anchor split on the winning 200 free relay with Sarah Bialas, Corina Whidden and Nicole Gonzalez.
Another Wildcats highlight was the 500 free, where Sonya Prilutsky pulled out a close race against Elk Grove's Abigail Franke.
"It was a great meet with very tight competitive and fun races," said Wheeling coach Rob Lindgren. "Girls were lining the sides of the pool cheering on their teammates throughout the meet."
Lindgren lauded the efforts of Elk Grove coach Dave Toler and his squad.
"Dave really had his girls prepared and put in places to succeed tonight," Lindgren said. "Our girls battled the whole way, and this young team really learned great lessons about how to compete."
Conant d. Hoffman Estates: The Cougars started with a 1-2 finish in the medley relay and went on to top the visiting Hawks 100-72 in an MSL West matchup.
Event winners for Conant included Aly Wooley (50 free), Megumi Komoto (100 free), Nia Tsoulos (500 free) and Kayla Wartman.
Hoffman Estates had plenty of wins, including a pair from Renata Widelak (200 free, 100 fly). The Hawks also won the 200 free relay with Benita Varanauskaite, Widelak, Abigail Fuscone and Sunny Park.
Fuscone also won diving, and Ali Bajor was tops in the 200 IM.
Jacobs/Hampshire d. St. Viator: In a nonconference matchup, visiting Jacobs/Hampshire took a 51-43 decision.
St. Viator counted two victories from Hannah Higginson, in the 200 IM (2:15.86) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.66), and from Ritarose Battin, in the 50 free (26.34) and 100 free (57.46).
The Lions also won the medley relay, with Jayne Bottarini, Higginson, Ashley Alteri and Battin finishing in 1:56.04, and the 200 free relay, where Molley Delach, Lilly Collins, Battin and Julie Warren touched at 1:46.80.