Storm's Greene leads area contingent to state meet

South Elgin junior diver Taylor Greene had to get over a case of the jitters recently.

Greene added a couple of difficult dives to her routine-ones that ultimately propelled her into a berth in today's IHSA girls state swimming and diving finals at Evanston Township High School.

"I got my double back flip and my double reverse a couple of weeks ago," said Greene. "They were definitely scary to try. It was really nerve-racking the first time. It seemed really dangerous, but once I got up there, I felt comfortable. I fell in love with them."

Greene, who has been diving for 7 years and is a member of the NSSC Diving Club out of Glenbrook North High School, is looking forward to today's competition.

"I've been waiting to get there for a long time," said Greene, who praised the efforts of South Elgin diving coach Margie Ellwood ("She's the best coach anyone could ask for.").

"It's so important to me. I have to go out and do my best and keep it as fun as possible."

While Greene is making her first trip to state, a number of area competitors are back on familiar ground.

Burlington Central senior Alex Van Oost is in the state finals for a fourth time. Van Oost will race in her seventh career state race today in the 100 backstroke.

"I'm looking to get into the finals," said Van Oost. "Last year I was 13th and just missed (top 12 make Saturday's finals). State has gotten a lot faster. It's going to take a whole second faster to final. I have to get pumped up and be ready to go."

Van Oost, who will continue her swimming career at Western Kentucky University next year, isn't worried about the fast part.

"I've definitely gotten faster," said Van Oost. "I'm working hard and going fast. The atmosphere there gets you going. It's an exciting atmosphere."

Van Oost's sister, Courtney, is in the state finals for the first time. She'll race in the butterfly.

"I've been working mostly on my turns and working on keeping my head down and when to breathe, too," said Courtney Van Oost.

While this will be her first time in the state pool, she's no stranger to the competition itself.

"I've watched as a spectator when my sister has been there," said Van Oost. "I'm excited to come down on deck and see what it's like."

St. Edward junior Megan Venlos is making her third trip to state. She'll race in the 200 and 500. This is Venlos' third-straight state appearance in the 200, but first in the 500.

"I swam the 500 the past 2 years but I had never swam the cut until this year," said Venlos, who swims for the St. Charles Swimming Club. "I've put in a lot of work at practice."

Venlos has been working on a variety of facets in her 200.

"I've worked a lot on turns and I've worked a lot on controlling the front-end of the race so that I will have more left at the end," said Venlos.

Venlos is well aware of the charged atmosphere at the state meet.

"You can't pay attention to what else is going on," said Venlos. "There is a lot of tension in there. I'm confident in myself. You have to know that you are there for you."

Cary-Grove senior Kimberly Kalenda will also be swimming in her third state finals, this year in the 100. She's qualified in the 100 her freshman, junior and senior years and swam in the 50 and 2 freestyle relays as a freshman.

"I've been lifting weights harder," said Kalenda, who will swim for the University of Illinois next season and is coming off a strong summer season with the Patriot Aquatic Club out of Stevenson High School.

Kalenda, the highest seeded area competitor (13th in the 100), said the start of the race will be crucial for her.

"For me, I definitely have to get out fast and build enough confidence," said Kalenda. "I know what the atmosphere is like there. I think I can keep my nerves down. I know how fast everything is there. I'm going to try and make the top 12. That will get me another swim on Saturday."

Jacobs sophomore Kristin Horney qualified in the 50 free.

"My time has really improved a lot since last year," said Horney, who took second in the Fox Valley Conference in the 50. "I've dropped a whole second. It's been a mental thing, thinking you are going to win going into a race. If you tell yourself you could lose, you already did."

Dundee-Crown senior Carlee Munson was one of three state qualifiers out of the St. Charles North sectional that broke 1:00 in the backstroke.

"I've gotten quicker. I used to be a distance swimmer and would have trouble getting going right away," said Munson. "That first 50 I went 28 at sectionals. I've never gotten under 29 before. I'll need to go out in 28 and come back in the 30s to get a 59."

Munson is pleased with how her senior season has unfolded.

"Just being there swimming at state is awesome in itself," said Munson. "I want to improve and try to get to the finals on Saturday."

Bartlett senior Stephanie Hasenberg will race in the 500, while Crystal Lake District 155 co-op senior Kelly Hogan will compete in the 200.