Shuffling the deck
Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
Wheaton co-op's Madeline Scarborough will compete in the medley relay at the state meet this weekend.
Most of the attention was being paid to powerhouses such as defending state champion Rosary and top-10 contenders Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley, as well as upstart Oswego. But Waubonsie Valley and Wheaton, while finishing "only" fifth and sixth in the team standings, put together formidable lineups for the state meet, which begins today at New Trier in Winnetka.
Waubonsie Valley qualified all three relays. It also will go to state with the seventh-best sectional time in the 200 medley relay and the sixth-best time in the 200 freestyle relay, putting the Warriors in good position to score.
"The medley relay did a great job at sectionals," said first-year Waubonsie Valley coach Tom Schweer. "The person who put it together was Megan Convey. We struggled with the breaststroke all year and she stepped up."
While Tyler Crittenden, Elena Carvell and Hannika Schleebs swam the race at sectionals, Schweer was still not certain of the final lineup. Crittenden, normally the freestyler, and Schleebs, who usually does the backstroke, switched positions at sectionals. In the 200 freestyle relay Andrea Baumgartner and Carvell are set at the first two legs, but there's really not much time difference in the 50 free among Allison Szott, Schleebs and Crittenden.
The Warriors are seeded 18th in the 400 freestyle relay, so that result is a little more of a long shot. Junior Shelby Daeschler will join Baumgartner, Carvell and Szott for that race.
"Our goal is to go top six in the medley and the 200," Szott said, "and get the 400 in the consolation heat."
In their individual races both Carvell, who's seeded No. 11, and Szott will compete in the 100 butterfly. Baumgartner is positioned well at No. 6 in the 50 freestyle and 12th in the 100 freestyle. Schleebs and Julia Carroll are looking to slash their times in the 100 backstroke.
"The kids are upbeat and confident," Schweer said. "They've had three coaches in four years and they've responded well. We're excited going into the meet with nothing to lose."
Wheaton co-op coach Jacob Ayers is also happy about the achievements of his group, which competed this year without Taylor Zafir, who finished third at state in the IM last year, sixth in the 500 freestyle and helped the team to a fourth-place finish in the medley relay.
Zafir chose not to participate in high school swimming in her senior year.
The other three members of that medley relay team -- Kim Ruehlmann, Danielle Reminger and Kelsey Novotny -- return with new partner Madeline Scarborough. Their performance at sectional earned a 13th seed at state, so they will be in the mix.
"We have some true aces, and we should be able to run some people down," Ayers said.
The 400 freestyle relay will be in the 10th position with Reminger, Kelsey Mallon, Jessica Wellick and Novotny carrying the team's banner.
Individually, Wellick will be in both the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle, Mallon and Reminger will compete in the butterfly and Novotny will race in both the 50 where she earned the No. 10 seed and the 100 free, where she'll be in 12th position.
"This is the first time going in that I think every girl can score," Ayers said. "And if both relays come through that could be a lot of points."
Scarborough, who has spent the entire year battling a toe injury, is also optimistic about Wheaton's chances.
"We're a pretty strong six, a small but competitive team," she said. "That motivates us to do better. We've worked real hard, and Jake has been great at tapering everyone. We're all looking forward to scoring."