Hersey takes key East dual

A big crowd, big girls swimming meet and big rivalry had a big effect on Hersey freshman Amanda Petro.

In a good way Thursday as the Huskies beat Buffalo Grove 111-75 in a key Mid-Suburban East dual meet at Olympic Swim Center in Arlington Heights.

Petro won the 100- and 200-yard freestyles and swam on the winning 200 and 400 free relays for the Huskies (6-0 overall, 3-0 MSL East). Petro's 2:00.91 in the 200 was her best time by four seconds.

"I was surprised by the 200," Petro said. "It was just the overall atmosphere. I knew it would be a tough race and I really wanted to do well and I kind of pushed myself.

"I knew we had to win this meet to win conference and they're our big rivals. Everyone was pumped up."

In the 100, Petro (56.1) edged BG sophomore Sara Fasching (56.5) and Hersey teammate Kathryn Korff (56.93). Petro, Korff and Christine Rovani swam on both winning relays with Caroline Stoklosa on the 200 and Kristy Johnson on the 400.

"We have so much depth in our relays and that gets you tons of points," said first-year Hersey coach Dick Mortensen, who also gained some bragging rights over his wife Shayna, who is a BG frosh-soph coach. "I was impressed at the way we showed up today."

Rovani also won the 100 breaststroke (1:10.61) and Korff won the 50 free (26.25). Kate Reszotko's 236.05 led a 1-2-3 sweep in diving.

"We came in with some jitters, especially as the underdogs," said BG coach Tom Mroz, whose team is 2-1 in the East. "We had a little anxiety and nerves and it showed.

"But we had a little huddle (after diving) and came back and that was awesome to see. Despite the loss we gained a lot today."

Fasching won the 200 IM (2:20.95) and was on BG's winning 200 medley relay with Veronika Jedryka, Margaret Lotzer and Angela Rodriguez. Jedryka (100 back, 1:03.49), Rodriguez (100 fly, 1:05.96) and Lotzer (500 free, 5:41.35) also won races.

"The first half (of the meet) was a little rough because we are young," Fasching said. "Two of our good swimmers are freshmen (Jedryka and Lotzer) and it's a big difference coming to high school. After diving we did a lot better and came back."