Competitive Eldridge fits in

Even at the age of 6, Vernon Hills freshman swimmer Zoe Eldridge was a perfectionist.

"I was trying to do my first flip turn and my dad was watching," she said. "I kept getting water up my nose and I was so angry at myself."

Eldridge has come a long way since then, as a swimmer and geographically.

Her family moved to Vernon Hills over the summer from suburban Philadelphia, and Eldridge has quickly established herself as one of the area's brightest young swimmers.

At the NSC meet last Saturday, she placed first in the 100-yard freestyle (54.65). She finished third in the 200 freestyle; her personal best in this event is 1:57.94. Eldridge capped off her day by teaming with Melanie Rowland, Dana Andrea and Kelly Steininger for a first-place showing in the 400 freestyle relay (3:40.51). The Cougars enjoyed close to a two-second margin over second-place Stevenson.

Vernon Hills will compete Saturday at a sectional meet at Lake Forest.

At 5-foot-2 and 110 pounds, Eldridge swims on a regular basis against taller and more physically imposing swimmers.

How does she compensate?

"Every kid wants to win, but she's got that rare thing in her where she absolutely hates to lose," coach Kedric Greenawalt said. "It's not something you can teach but it's wired into her brain."

The racing aspect is what Eldridge enjoys most about swimming. As opposed to sports such as basketball and soccer where success can be subjective, she enjoys swimming's bottom-line nature

"You can't pick favorites," she said. "I love how you look at the times and that shows who is fast."

Eldridge also is a standout at track and field, a sport she plans on going out for in the spring. As an eighth-grader , she ran a 5:32 mile.

Naturally, Eldridge originally was apprehensive about her family's move from Pennsylvania to Illinois. Although she only arrived in Vernon Hills in early August, she has made a quick transition to life in the Midwest.

"I love it here," she said. "The school is fantastic and everybody is so nice and laidback. I'm used to more uptight people on the East Coast. My teammates took me in right away. Everyone has included me. I feel like I've been here forever."

Eldridge said she has benefited from training with Rowland, a junior standout.

"She's one of the greatest sw imming partners that I've had," Eldridge said. "She'll give me tips sometimes and we'll joke around. It makes swimming fun."

Rowland said Eldridge has been a pleasant surprise to the Cougars' success.

"No one knew her at the start of the season," Rowland said. "The first time I saw the way she could race was really exciting. Her personality is really motivating for everyone."

Eldridge is motivated to make sure Saturday is not her last meet of the season.

"I would love to make it to state in (at least) one event and have both our relays make it to state," she said. "Our relays have become really strong."

To better take advantage of Eldridge's racing ability, Greenawalt moved her to the leadoff position in the relays.

"I enjoy swimming against other people," she said. "I love trying to get us ahead of the other swimmers."