Sohn goes the distance

Every swimming team seems to have at least one.

That would be one swimmer who may not be a superstar, but who is versatile in the events she enters and can usually pull out a win for her team or earn enough points to win the meet.

For Prospect High School, that swimmer has been Sarah Sohn.

Sohn began swimming first with the District Unified Swim team and then with the Arlington Alligators when she was 9 years old.

Last spring at the Illinois Senior state championships, Sohn placed fifth in the 1,000-yard freestyle, ninth in the 1,650 free and ninth in the 200 fly.

"She was a varsity swimmer from the start and she was a pretty big contributor from the start," said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen. "She just filled in where it was necessary. At any age group, she just fit in with the varsity."

Sohn came in with all the skills and needed little help from the Knights' coaching staff.

"It's just fine-tuning at that point," Mortensen said. "She almost has a computer in her head as far as splits. We've taken her time in the 100s and she's pretty much on time every time."

For her hard work, Sohn will attend Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio next fall, where she plans to train to become a psychologist.

She has two great passions, swimming and music. She also is in the Symphonic Band, the Orchestra, the District 214 Honors Orchestra (principal trumpet) and the IMEA District 7 Symphonic Band and is an alternate in Jazz Band.

"I really like both activities," Sohn said. "I didn't want to give up one for the other. I'm glad I didn't.

"I'll probably continue playing (the trumpet) in college. If I can continue taking lessons I will, but I will stay with swimming."

"In years past she's kind of been overlooked, but she's a sure winner," Mortensen said. "In the 500 free and the 100 fly, she's been undefeated in dual meets this year. The only time she gets beat is when she swims an event she doesn't normally swim. But that's a guaranteed 12 points in every meet.

"She just one of those kids who swims hard," said Mortensen, who has trained Sohn the last four years.

"She never shouts for attention. She just goes about her business."