Wildcats see hope for future
In recent years host West Chicago has been a gracious host at its girls swimming invitational, but the Wildcats haven't had much to feel good about in the way of results.
At Saturday's meet, dominated by defending state champion Rosary, the Wildcats may have gotten a preview of better times ahead when freshman Kelly Dunn finished second in the 50-yard freestyle in 25.36 behind the Beads' Kara Savegnago.
Rosary won all but two events, which both went to Neuqua Valley, in showing that it's on track to prove that last year's state title was no fluke.
The Beads, who swept the relays and saw Savegnago (the 50 and 100 freestyle) and Kally Fayhee (the 200 and the 500 freestyle) win two individual events each, finished with 433 points to second-place Lyons Twp.'s 291. Neuqua Valley was third with 263 followed by Waubonsie Valley with 249.
West Chicago scored 106.5 and beat out only Lake Park (52), but the Wildcats left with a feeling of optimism based on the performances of Dunn, who also tied for fifth in the 100 backstroke, Caitlyn Madsen, who was third in the 200 freestyle, and a pair of relay teams, the 200 medley and the 200 freestyle, which both took home fifth place.
Dunn and Madsen were joined by Ania Skorupski and Kelly Loftus in the medley, and by Skorupski and Rachel Howe in the 200 free.
"Overall, I'm very happy with the meet today," said first-year coach Nick Parry. "Obviously, we don't have the depth to compete with big teams like Rosary and Neuqua Valley, but we do have some talent on this team."
He was especially encouraged by the work of his tall freshman Dunn, who conjures up memories of the great Wildcats sprinter Jackie Vavrek, a two-time state champion in the 50 freestyle a few years back.
"Jackie is my role-model," said Dunn, who swam personal-best times in the 50 and in the medley relay. "It felt really good to do well today, because it meant that all our hard work is paying off."
"Kelly and I are kind of in the same boat, this being the first year at West Chicago for both of us," Parry said. "I can share a lot of things with her as I learn. This is a baseline year, and we can set the bar higher and higher after this. I think she will make state this November."
Rosary coach Bill Schalz said his girls are conscious that they are the defending state champions and they are working hard to repeat.
"This year's upperclassmen are picking up the leadership role," Schalz said.
"All of our relays are great, and Kally and Kara are swimming faster than they were at this point last year."
The Beads' other winners were 100 butterfly state-champion Olivia Scott in the fly, Elisabeth Tavierne in the 100 backstroke and freshman GiSun Pak in the 100 breaststroke.
Neuqua Valley's Tiffany Kosanda won the diving competition and Kathleen Patterson won the 200 IM and finished second to Fayhee in the 500 freestyle.
"It was the first time Kathleen swam the IM in competition this year," said Neuqua Valley coach Jennifer Heyer-Olsen. "Kathleen never gives you anything but her best. She never gives up."