Girls swimming: Rosary edges Neuqua Valley for sectional title

Teams that win sectional swimming meets enjoy the victory and the plaque that comes with it. Rosary was no exception after it prevailed Saturday at the Neuqua Valley sectional.

The Beads racked up 248 points to keep the host Wildcats, who scored 237 points, at bay. However, talk quickly switched to what is considered the primary focus for a sectional swimmer - extend your season another week with a trip to state.

And it's even better if your sectional is full of fast swimmers, as was the case at Neuqua. A total of 89 individual entries and relays qualified for the state meet that runs next Friday and Saturday at New Trier High School in Winnetka.

In six events every swimmer in the fastest heat qualified for state.

"It's an advantage to be in a fast sectional. It doesn't matter if you win, you just want to get kids through. We wanted to qualify everyone for state and we did that," said Rosary coach Bill Schalz.

Two Beads, juniors Sydney VanOvermeiren and Anne Tavierne, qualified in two individual events each. Tavierne, who was fourth in the 200-yard freestyle at state last season, is going back in that event in addition to the 500 freestyle.

"I thought my 500 was pretty good today. I was disappointed in my 200. Maybe I was too hyped up. I heard people screaming at me. I thought I wasn't going to make the cut, but then I took it to the end," Tavierne said.

VanOvermeiren was sectional champ in the 200 individual medley in 2:04.67. She also made it in the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.98.

"Neuqua had a really good meet, so did Oswego. It was fun competing with everyone," VanOvermeiren said.

Rosary's Camryn Stried, the defending state champ in the 100 butterfly, returns in the event after touching the wall Saturday in 56.95.

Neuqua saw two of its swimmers each qualify in two events.

Anthena Ye qualified in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle.

Freshman Rachel Stege made it to state in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.

"I'm very excited. I didn't know it (qualifying in two events) was going to happen," she said.

Stege said the 200 and 500 are quick but different races.

"I think the 200 is an all-out sprint and with the 500 you have to go out fast, but it's about pacing," she said.

Teammate Maxine Parkinson won the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.79 and qualified in the 200 IM in 2:05.33. She said she was helped with how the whole team was approaching the meet.

"The whole team was calm enough to stay collected and start off well and I started off well. I nailed the 200 IM and then later the 100 breaststroke," she said.

Neuqua's 200 medley relay of Athena Salafatinos, Parkinson, Tiffanie Ruan and Kristen Stege not only won a sectional title and qualified for state in 1:43.97, that mark was one of five pool records broken. The Wildcats' 200 freestyle relay of Kristen Stege, Ruan, Rachel Stege and Megan Ciezczak set a pool record as well in winning the 200 freestyle relay in 1:34.77.

Neuqua's Cloe Pace won the diving competition with 466.80 points.

Another freshman will compete at state, Naperville Central's Paige Collins, who finished the 200 IM in 2:07.28 and the 500 freestyle in 5:08.15. Her 200 IM time was just over eight seconds faster than her seed time and she finished the 500 on Saturday 17 seconds quicker than her seed time.

"I've put in a lot of work all season. I was really excited for today. I could barely sleep last night. I hope I go to state four years in a row," Collins said.

Redhawks sophomore Alexa Puccini won the 100 butterfly in 56.14 and also is going to state.

Metea Valley's McKenna Stone, a freshman, is heading to state as a double qualifier, winning the 100 freestyle and finishing in 23.46 in the 50 freestyle.

Naperville North senior Connie Zhang set a pool record in winning the 100 backstroke and is also heading to Winnetka in the 100 freestyle.

Following Rosary and Neuqua Valley in the team standings were Oswego East co-op at 203, Plainfield North co-op with 167 with Naperville Central 156, Metea Valley 128, Naperville North 101, Waubonsie Valley 71, IMSA 29, West Aurora 28, Benet 16 and Lemont 11 rounding out the squad lineup.