Gill helps Hersey get thrilling title at BG
Not even halfway through Saturday's Buffalo Grove's swimming meet, Hersey still thought it had a chance to win even though conference rival Prospect had the lead.
"After the 50-yard free, Prospect was up by half a point," Hersey coach Rob Lindgren said.
It would seem Prospect had the edge because a lot of its stronger events are near the end of the meet.
"They have some strong events and we have some strong events," Lindgren said. "When they went ahead by 10 points going into the 400 relay, I thought we had a shot at making up that time."
The Huskies did that and more by edging Prospect 365-359 for the title.
The Fox Valley came next, with Cary-Grove placing third with 258 points, Dundee-Crown fourth with 236 points and Jacobs fifth with 212 points.
Nicole Gill won the 200 IM (2:18.88) and 100 fly (1:01.64) and anchored the first-place 400 relay (3:52.73) with Caroline Stoklosa, Kathryn Korff and Meredith Wellhausen.
Heidi Johnson also won the diving for the Huskies.
"Our girls worked their tails off," Lindgren said. "Maybe we're underrated, but our girls swim hard. I have no complaints about anyone on our team."
Prospect opened the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay (2:01.87) by KC Dix, Greta Pietraszek, Margaret Spacapan, Kelly Wilson. Sarah Sohn was second in the 200 free (2:04.23) and third in the 100 fly (1:03.15).
"Our medley relay won and started out the day on a good note because that relay is not one of our loaded relays," Prospect coach Dick Mortensen said. "Hersey just came to play today. They had great swims and great dives this morning.
"Diving and the 500 (freestyle), they outpointed us quite a bit. The 500 free and medley relay, we outpointed them quite a bit. This meet, you have to have three quality swimmers in each event. We're not quite there yet."
Jacobs, Cary-Grove and Dundee Crown stayed in their own little pack behind the two leaders. Cary Grove just edged out Dundee Crown 258-236 to finish third and fourth, respectively.
"This meet is always tough," said D-C coach Kendra Everett, whose team has only had four meets. "That's why we like coming here because it gives us an idea where we are. As far as the lineup, we change it every meet.
"We're just getting started. This was our first tough varsity invitational. We have so many new swimmers this year. We have nine freshmen, and six of them are on varsity."
Buffalo Grove placed sixth as Angela Rodriguez was third in the 100 breast (1:16.94).
"Given the (Yom Kippur) holiday, we lost about a dozen swimmers and divers," said Bison coach Tom Mroz. "We had to get them from JV. But we can't use that as an excuse. 'Oh, we would have been so much better if so-and-so were here."
Jackie Pesenko of Rolling Meadows took second in the 500 free (5:35.88) and third in the 200 free (2:05.52).