All signs positive for powerful Barrington
An aching back didn't hurt Barrington senior Anne Jacobsen in the backstroke in Tuesday's Mid-Suburban League girls swimming meet with visiting Fremd.
Jacobsen said it's a problem that has flared up from time to time the last few years since she had a growth spurt she said was too fast for her body frame. Visiting a chiropractor once a week has helped.
The problem resurfaced at last Thursday's meet at Schaumburg. But it didn't slow Jacobsen at all as she swam the 100-yard backstroke in 59.73 as Barrington won every swimming event in a 135-51 victory.
"Any day you break a minute is a good day," said Jacobsen, who had a 59.81 at Schaumburg. "I was really shocked. I wasn't expecting to break a minute. It's a good sign for the future."
There were a lot of them for the Fillies as they improved to 6-0 overall in duals and 2-0 in the West.
"It was very, very good," said Barrington coach Jim Bart. "With Fremd being one of the top teams in the conference, we set up strong lineups to attack them and the kids performed very well."
Erika Elliott and Mekenna Scheitlin were winners in four events. Elliott won the 100 (54.11) and 200 free (1:57.13) and Scheitlin took the 200 IM (2:14.22) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.62) and both were part of two relays.
Jacqueline Holdsberg was part of three victories and her 25.45 in the 50 free edged Jacobsen (25.48). Daniell Elliott won the 500 free (5:16.15) by 16-plus seconds and Justine Kaszynski won the 100 fly (1:00.37).
Kate Valentine, Olivia Hoffman, Kasey Meckert and Chloe Padula aided Barrington's relay sweep.
"A few people have already gone lifetime best times already," Jacobsen said. "When it's November and time to taper we're all going to drop time like crazy."
Bart also likes what's ahead for a program that has won the last 18 MSL titles.
"I think the sky's the limit and we have a good shot at surprising some people at the end," Bart said. "The good thing is we've shown improvement since the first meets."
So has Fremd (3-2, 1-1) under new coach Andrew Kittrell. Elizabeth Uhrich (194.6) and Stephanie Uhrich (179.57) went 1-2 in diving and the 400 free relay of Megan Kennedy, Amy McEllen, Sam Matuszewski and Breanna Anderson was second (3:50.75).
"Barrington is always our biggest competition throughout the season and I thought we actually did pretty well," Anderson said. "Normally our hopes are kind of low going to a meet against Barrington but everyone's spirits were high today."
Kittrell also liked what he saw from freshman Jill Marsden in the 500 and Kayleen Samuels in the 100 back.
"I give the kids a lot of credit," Kittrell said.
"It's a totally new system with a lot more strength training and things they never did before, even in club.
"I know they're hanging in there and they believe in the program and that makes me feel good. I believe the results are going to be there when we get them a little rest, but we can't take it yet."