Cool pool helps Elk Grove's progress

Elk Grove's fine aquatic center is having a direct impact on the Grenadiers' program.

The appeal of such a fine facility is clear to coach Dave Toler, who is regularly seeing more swimmers join the team, he says, because they're exposed to swimming in a more positive light, frequently through gym class.

He points to senior Catherine Yuh as evidence.

"She's never been a swimmer at any level, but she joined the team and she's already going 28 (seconds) in the 50 (freestyle)," Toler said. "That's a big help to us."

Winning a little bit more frequently probably doesn't hurt either.

The Grenadiers placed second in the eight-team Grenafiesta invitational they hosted Saturday. Yuh had a leg on the winning 400 free relay with teammates Natalia Banasik, Jenna Kyriazes and Jordan Crocker, and freshman Angelica Ford won both the 200 and 500 freestyles.

The good fight: The nine-team invitational Maine West is hosting on Saturday (8 a.m. diving, noon swimming) is part of the widespread campaign to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer. St. Viator will be part of the field, and a portion of the proceeds from the meet will go to this very worthy cause.

Other key meets this week include Hersey hosting Buffalo Grove at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Olympic Pool in a pivotal Mid-Suburban East contest, and Conant's invitational on Saturday that includes Schaumburg and Hersey.

Sectional breakdown: Nearly the entire Mid-Suburban League plus St. Viator, Maine West, Maine South and Maine East will converge on Barrington on Saturday, Nov. 14 as the Fillies host a sectional meet.

Making slightly longer road trips that same day will be Elk Grove, Conant and Leyden, who will compete at Downers Grove North, and Schaumburg, which joins a group of mostly Kane County schools at St. Charles East.

Pooling our talents: You may wonder if that's distinguished former Fremd and Prospect swimming coach Paul Reeff you're seeing on the pool deck this fall. Well, yes, it is, and he's helping out with our coverage of girls swimming.

Paul and his wife, Erin, are all-around aquatics buffs of the highest order, and when he approached us about the possibility of harnessing his love for photography for the benefit of our readership, it was a no-brainer.

The Reeffs are generously photographing events we might not be able to get to with our staff photographers.

Paul reports that seeing the events from a non-coaching perspective has been a delight. When asked if we could be sure he wouldn't be tilting his efforts in the direction of any one particular school, he said the only school he had any allegiance to was the School Of Swimming.

So, if you see the Reeffs at your pool, please say "hello." And perhaps "thanks."