Fogle welcomes friendly challenge
Barrington senior Emily Fogle doesn't like the idea of it being lonely at the top.
And make no mistake - Fogle has clearly reached the top in high school girls swimming.
The reigning state champ in the 100-yard breaststroke looks forward to defending her title and actually welcomes the challenge from her most likely challenger, St. Charles North senior Angie Chokran.
Fogle's winning performance in the championship finals last season was 1:02.61, comfortably ahead of Chokran's second-place time of 1:03.20. But Chokran had the top qualifying time in the preliminaries at 1:02.85, so it's clear the two standouts, at their best, are awfully close. Chokran actually had a slightly better performance in the 100-meter breaststroke over the summer.
"Angie's a really great swimmer," said Fogle. "You know, really, it could be either one of us this year."
For the record, Fogle's goals aren't limited to only winning her favorite race. She's also keeping an eye on the state record of 1:01.83, set by Stevenson's Ashley Wanland in 2007.
Based on Fogle's winning time of 1:03.85 in a dual against Evanston on Saturday, that seems well within reach.
What's not yet clear is what other events Fogle will swim at the state meet. She'll certainly be a key on Barrington's medley relay, but beyond that, nothing's settled. The Fillies finished seventh at last year's state meet and have a chance to improve on that - especially if Fogle is able to score points in a second individual event, such as the 200 IM. In that event against Evanston, she won in 2:07.63 - already faster than her state meet time last season, which placed her a heartbreaking 13th.
What is clear is that whatever Fogle and the Fillies achieve will be the result of hard work.
Barrington coach Jim Bart calls her the leader of the team.
"Fastest kid in the water," he said. "She's a worker, and everybody knows it."
Whatever happens through the rest of her high school career, Fogle's next chapter in swimming is set. Last week, she committed to Purdue, where she'll join the team coached by John Klinge. Fogle is interested in an eventual career in the health sciences.
Chokran and St. Charles North will be paying a visit to Barrington at 1 p.m. Saturday for a dual meet, but Fogle won't be competing. Instead, she'll be taking her official campus visit to West Lafayette, Ind., to meet her future teammates. As it turns out, Chokran will also miss this weekend's dual as she takes a visit to Texas A&M.
"I'm kind of disappointed, because I'd really been looking forward to seeing (Chokran)," said Fogle. "In swimming, it's funny. You really get to know certain people - you only see them two or three times a season, but it adds up over the years. It seems like we've been racing each other forever.
"For Angie this season, I guess I'll only see her at the state meet."
That would be Nov. 20-21, at New Trier. Call it a date with destiny, as two senior standouts aim to finish their careers as champions.
"It seems to me that two of the top breaststrokers in state history could have a great showdown at New Trier," said St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney. "It seems to me the two of them wind up at almost every meet in the same final heat, whether it's junior nationals or the IHSA state meet.
"As with any athletic event, anything can happen on any given day - and there are a few other swimmers out there in breaststroke that are very talented, too.