Rosary in good hands with super soph Scott
To swimming insiders, Olivia Scott was never really off the radar. But then again, these are the people who keep track of people through all the age groups and can tell you who the top incoming freshmen in 2010 are going to be.
To those who enjoy the sport but not quite at such an intense level, Scott's freshman season at Rosary was one of the shining lights in the Beads' state championship season.
Scott capped the year with a pair of swims for the ages. First she pushed Naperville Central star Amy Prestinario to the finishing wall in the 200-yard individual medley. Scott lost the race, but only by .14 to one of the state's premier juniors.
Scott then outdueled a star-studded field in the 100 butterfly and won the state title.
The good news for fans of fast swimming and Rosary in particular, Scott has continued to put in strong results, including a very special swim in an Olympic trial qualifying meet this summer.
Scott swam 1.01.60 in the 100-meter butterfly and earned a trip to Omaha, Neb., next summer at the Olympic Trials.
"It was exciting," Scott said. "I never expected to get to the Olympic Trials."
The magnitude of Scott's achievement is massive. She didn't just squeak under the cut -- she was well under the 1:02.39 qualifying standard.
"I was just swimming and concentrating on my stroke," Scott said. "I had no clue who was around me or where they were. I was just concentrating on my race."
The Olympic Trials are a long way off, and Scott admits they are in her mind. However, there is work to be done first.
"Right now, it's all about Rosary," she said. "We won the state title last year and we want to do it again."
While the Beads have a significant portion of their team back from last year, a successful Scott season is one of the keys to how the team performs this year.
"The 200 IM could be one of the great races at the state meet this year," Rosary coach Bill Schalz said. "Prestinario is back and Olivia is back and it could be a very competitive race.
"At the same time, the butterfly could be an amazing race too. Caitlin Dauw from St. Charles (East) is healthy again and she looks like a different person again this summer. And there are other people who could be forces as well. Olivia could be involved in two of the most competitive races in the state meet."
Scott's butterfly success brings to mind Rosary's most-decorated swimmer -- Mary DeScenza. Schalz said he sees similarities in the way the two approach their races.
"They're both ferocious racers," Schalz said. "They want to win and, come race time, they'll each do anything in their power to win."
Scott is very aware of DeScenza's legacy.
"She won state four years in a row and that's something I'd like to do as well," Scott said.
Schalz said he'd love to see both Scott and DeScenza in the water at an advanced stage in the Olympic trials next summer.
Having two of the state's fastest-ever swimmers in the water at once competing for a place in the Olympic Games. For some schools, this would be an absolute dream. But for Olivia Scott, competing alongside Mary DeScenza is just the kind of dream that can become reality.