Smith powers St. Charles East to repeat crown

Emma Smith was in her own element on Saturday afternoon despite being a guest at the St. Charles North girls swimming and diving sectional.

The St. Charles East junior captured two individual events, the 200-yard individual medley and the 500 freestyle where she is the reigning state-runner-up and anchored the Saints' victorious 400 freestyle relay.

St. Charles East and the host North Stars dominated the proceedings, and the two city rivals battled for the sectional team title to the bitter end.

But it was the Saints who edged the hosts, 264-249, to defend their sectional title; the Glenbard North-Glenbard East co-op was a distant third, followed by Schaumburg, Lake Park and Jacobs.

“I'm really looking forward to state (Friday and Saturday at Evanston High School),” Smith said. “It's more of a focus on state (than the sectional). I am looking to have a good state meet. I was pretty pleased (with my performance) with the 200 IM. (Winning the sectional) was a good team effort.”

The junior easily won both the individual medley and 500 freestyle with respective times of two minutes, 6.94 seconds and 5:02.53.

Smith qualified for a fourth event with the Saints' time-making effort in finishing second to the North Stars in the meet-opening 200 medley relay.

Nicole Chapko is another main reason the Saints hoisted the team plaque on Saturday.

For the second straight year, the sophomore became a four-event state qualifier.

Chapko was a key member on two relays while earning at-large berths in the individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

“I was just focusing on the cut time than on the best times,” Capko said. “I know (the fastest times) will come next week.”

The Saints have another talented underclassmen in freshman Stephanie Garvin, who captured the 100 freestyle while also duplicating her teammates' four-event performances with three relay berths.

Ashley Shanel qualified out of the slow hest for the Saints in the 500 freestyle, and Mary Snyder was another key relay member for the squad.

“We wanted to repeat from last year,” St. Charles East coach Joe Cabel said. “We were clawing for every point that we could. The 100 breaststroke was very good for us.”

St. Charles North also had a statement-making performance from its top junior: Lauren Zima.

The North Stars' quartet of Zima, Lauren Reynolds, Allie Smith and Kirsten Hutchinson captured the medley relay.

Zima came back to win her specialty event the 100 butterfly in style while also claiming two other state berths in the 500 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay.

“I'm really excited about our relays,” Zima said. “I was more concerned about winning the (butterfly) and getting ready for next week. I would like to be in the top 12 (at state in the butterfly).”

Jen Clay was the North Stars' senior workhorse with three state berths, while Allie Smith and Reynolds also made individual at-large berths in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, respectively.

Geneva, Kaneland and Wheaton Academy all failed to produce a state qualifier.

Jacobs' Kristin Horney became a two-event qualifier for the Eagles with her championship effort in the 50 freestyle and at-large-qualifying 100 freestyle.

Horney denied Crystal Lake Central sophomore Marisa Barton in the former and the Saints' Chapko in the latter.

“You just have to give it your all,” Horney said of the 50-yard sprint in the freestyle. “I really wanted to go back (to state) my final year. (The 24.5-second time) is the best time I've ever got.”

Dundee-Crown junior Colleen Champa also made the cut in two events with a runner-up showing in the individual medley and a championship swim in the 100 breaststroke.

“I just swam my best--and did it, I guess,” Champa said.

Champa missed the postseason her two first two years at D-C, losing 15 combined months of service with a recurring hip injury.

“The crowd helps, too,” Champa said. “It's hard to win ( a sectional title). The (other) girls have definitely been working harder.”

Bartlett, Burlington Central, Huntley and the Elgin-Larkin co-op were shut out of state qualifiers.

Mary Floren and Sara Taege powered the Glenbard coop by beginning their day with an medley-relay state qualification; the former also advanced in the 100 breaststroke, with the latter making the state grade in the individual medley.

Freshman Daniel Homere earned a bid in the 100 butterfly.

“I thought it was a slim chance, but I knew it was a little chance,” Homere said of her chances.

Taylor Johns' 500 freestyle qualification was the lone bid for Lake Park.

“It's a crazy atmosphere,” Johns said. “It's nice to channel the nerves, and you make the cut.”

Sammy Schuckles thought the Schaumburg medley relay team made the state cut in the opening event.

But the Saxons' time-earning bid was later denied by a false start; the senior had to make it on her own.

Schuckles did just that, earning a fourth consecutive state berth with her triumph in the 100 backstroke.

Schuckles' performance turned back a solid effort from St. Charles North junior Lauren Reynolds by 18 one-hundredths.

“I saw (Reynolds) on the (last) turn and I knew I had to kick it up a gear and go faster,” Schuckles said. “I'm so happy. My breaststroke was a personal-best (time in 58.07 seconds).”

Schuckles snared a second berth in the 100 freestyle--breaking the state cut time by two-hundredths.