Hersey swimmers claims thriller

You can just picture coaches of an impending big meet sitting at their desks from after practice until dawn the next day thinking up a strategy for that night's meet.

However much time Hersey coach Rob Lindgren and Prospect coach Dick Mortensen spent on Thursday's key Mid-Suburban East girls swimming meet between two 3-0 teams, it was a thriller from beginning to end.

Before the 100-yard breaststroke, Prospect led 79-77. But the meet came down to the final event, the 400 freestyle relay.

Hersey's Caroline Stoklosa, Kathryn Korff, Meredith Wellhausen and Nicole Gill edged out Prospect's Michelle Schueler, Kelly Wilson, Molly Nordyke and Sarah Sohn 3:50.20 to 3:50.84 to win the meet 98-88 and with it, likely claimed the East division title.

Prospect has a meet left with Wheeling while Hersey has Elk Grove.

"This was a big meet," Lindgren said. "They were obviously well prepared. Dick has a great lineup. He did a couple of things I didn't anticipate and his girls responded."

"It was a great meet," Mortensen said. "It was how we thought it was going to be."

One thing Mortensen hadn't expected was an injury to Sohn's right oblique muscle the day before.

"Every time she turned, it hurt her," Mortensen said. "She won the 200, the 500, which has 19 turns in it, and took part of the 200 free relay which we won. Without her, we wouldn't have been close."

Gill was the equivalent of Sohn, but Gill didn't have any major injuries entering the meet.

"We knew it was going to be close and that's what we were looking for," said Gill, who also won the 50 free (26.63) and the 100 free (57.15). "I think we were all confident (when Hersey was behind by 2 points after the 100 back). We always repeat to the girls, it's how badly you want it.

"I think we're always seen as the underdog. We wanted to show that Hersey is someone to deal with."