Rosary defends title with strong effort
Defending state champion Rosary won the Neuqua Valley sectional championship on Saturday, but the last part of the meet could realistically have been called "Sarah Galvin Time."
The Benet junior swam in three of the last five events of the day and qualified for state in all three.
Rosary won the meet with 267 points, which included victories in all three relays and four individual events.
"We got most of the kids through who will help us score next week," said Rosary coach Bill Schalz. "I'm happy with our relays and they should all be seeded in the top three or four at state."
Finishing second was Naperville Central with 197 points, which had sectional champions in Nichole Kmieciak in the diving and Erin Lamb, in the 200 freestyle.
Neuqua Valley, which finished third with 180 points, was led by Atlantis Wilkins, who swam her fastest time ever, a 23.65 to win the 50 freestyle.
Oswego/Oswego East finished fourth with 156 and their coach Deryl Leubner was voted coach of the meet by his peers.
Waubonsie Valley's 146 points was good for fifth place and they were followed by Wheaton Co-op with 132, Naperville North with 113 and Benet with 109. West Aurora's 55, IMSA with 18 and Morris with 16 rounded out the field.
Besides Rosary and Benet, Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley qualified all three relays.
For Rosary, Kara Savegnago won the 100 freestyle.
"Getting Emily Clark in the backstroke and GiSun Park breaststroke through to state was big for us," Schalz said. "Kally Fayhee came through in her first come-from-behind victory of her career in the 500 freestyle."
Fayhee finished second n the 200 freestyle)
Olivia Scott was aggressive in winning the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly.
West Aurora's Jackie Iglesias qualified for state by finishing third in the 100 backstroke in 59.20.
"I just wanted to get back in and swim again I was so happy," Iglesias said. "I had gone under the cut once before, but I was a little nervous. But, when you get behind the blocks the nerves just go away and all you think about is the race. It was surprising to get a low 59. I was excited. It was really cool to be with these great swimmers. Katie Close (Oswego) was second and I swim club with her.
Elizabeth Chollet finished third in diving with 378.80 points and could be an at-large state qualifier.
"Jackie (and Elizabeth) are our first qualifiers in five years," said West Aurora coach Joe Keukirch. "The backstroke has been solid for Jackie all season. She worked hard for results at the end of the season and she crushed it. Hopefully our program can build on with and come back here in the future with four, five or more qualifiers.
Galvin, now a three-year state qualifier, finished second in the 500 freestyle, skipped the 200 freestyle relay, then won the 100 backstroke.
After the 100 breaststroke, Galvin was back as the anchor for her Redwings teammates (sister Brigid, Colleen and Maddi Webb) to a fourth-place finish and state qualification in the 400 freestyle relay.
"I've gotten used to having my races that close," Galvin said. "I just have to warm down, get something quick to eat and get back in the water again. I'm hoping to finish top three in both events at state."
In the first race of the day, Galvin swam the first leg of the 200 medley relay and the Benet team also qualified with an eighth-place finish.
The Redwings finished eighth but were still happy with the results.
Besides Galvin in two individual races and all three relays, Benet will be sending Cat Cortesio, who qualified in the 100 butterfly and Brigid Webb, who made it in the 200 freestyle to state next week.
"I can't say how happy I am," said Benet coach Nicole Kothe. "This definitely exceeded my expectations. Our team has matured and performing the way we did today in this competition really makes a difference. I knew we'd qualify in the two freestyle relays, but the medley was a little iffy."