St. Charles North scores rivalry win vs. East

This annual battle between St. Charles' girls swim teams is always something to anticipate.

This is the dual meet that brings out the largest regular season crowd, the event where Orange and Black balloons battle for air space with Blue and Black balloons. St. Charles East's volleyball team came and watched for awhile.

And for those athletes who have grown up with the rivalry, it's something to finally be able to participate. St. Charles North freshman Lauren Reynolds watched older sister Taylor compete in this dual meet for the past four seasons. Taylor Reynolds graduated in May.

"It's exciting," Lauren Reynolds said. "I've been in the stands all the time and just watching. I've always wanted to do it and it's exciting to swim against (East.)"

Reynolds and her teammates ended on the winning end in Thursday's renewal of this rivalry - at East this year - by a 112-74 score. Reynolds certainly played her part. She won the 100-yard backstroke and was part the North Stars' victorious 200 medley relay team.

The North Stars' experienced swimmers had success as well. Angie Chokran set a blistering pace in the 200 individual medley, an event in which she won by 5 seconds. Chokran also swam in three victorious North Stars relays.

"Today was one of my best meets of the season," Chokran said. "I was really happy with the way I swam, especially considering I was out of school (Wednesday) sick. That was kind of a good rest before the meet."

St. Charles East had more than its share of success in the water. The Saints won two events. Emma Smith won the 500 freestyle by 9 seconds and Kayla Scott's won a very competitive 100 breaststroke race. Hayley Krzeczowski twice came close to victory. She finished second to the North Stars' Kristen Hutchinson in the 50 freestyle then fell by .15 to Jennifer Clay in the 100 freestyle.

"I felt really good about them," Krzeczowski said. "I felt I had to work on a lot of stuff and I improved on it. I thought they were good races. We've been working really hard and it came together for us tonight."