Jacobs, Dundee-Crown duo proud to be at state
Both Jacobs senior Kristin Horney and Dundee-Crown junior Colleen Champa have overcome bizarre circumstances to make it to Evanston High School today for the IHSA girls state swimming finals.
While Horney will swim in the 50 and 100 freestyle races and Champa in the IM and breaststroke, both District 300 swimmers were in vastly different places just a year ago.
After warming up before last year's sectional meet, Horney went to go put on her competition swimsuit when disaster struck.
“Right after warmups it ripped right down the middle when I went to put it on,” Horney recalls. “It was a cry-fest for me. I was freaking out. I had to wear a normal suit (that she borrowed from a teammate) and it messed with my head. I was focused on that. It messed up my game. I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do. That almost took me right out of my game.”
Looking back, Horney can now laugh about the mishap.
“It was a new suit and it was the first time I was wearing it,” she says. “I guess I shouldn't have eaten that morning (laughs).”
She did get a refund for the slipshod swimwear.
“Oh yeah. I got all of my money back,” Horney says.
And now Horney would like to hit the jackpot at the state meet. A state-qualifier as a sophomore in the 50, Horney, who won the St. Charles North sectional title in the 50 last week, is seeded 17th in the 50. The top 12 swimmers advance to Saturday's competition.
“I would say I'm better at the 50 because I'm better at sprinting. I can hold a fast sprint,” Horney says. “You put me in the 100 and it's almost distance for me. It's kind of shocking that I qualified in the 100.”
Horney would like to get in the top 16, but says her simple return to the state meet has been extremely satisfying.
“I'm happy I even qualified this year,” she said. “Either way, I'm happy. Hopefully I can work my way up there.”
D-C's Champa is in the state meet for the first time in her high school career. She missed the majority of her first two high school seasons recovering from a sprained hip.
“Just making it to state is a big improvement for me,” says Champa, who won a sectional title this year in the breaststroke (she's seeded 14th in the event at state). Champa finished second at the sectional in the IM, but is seeded eighth at state.
“I was injured freshman and sophomore year. Getting to state is a huge accomplishment for me.”
Champa missed 9 months during her freshman year because of the sprained hip. She was sidelined 6 additional months her sophomore year after she re-sprained the hip.
“It was rough,” Champa says. “It was very painful. Swimming has been one of the main factors in my life. Without that, it was hard to make it through with the thoughts of not swimming anymore. But I was able to push through it and it's definitely paid off now. It's definitely taken a lot of work and determination.”
Champa says the hip trouble started with yoga.
“The yoga instructor pulled my leg too far back and my leg popped,” Champa says. “Ever since then, I've had hip problems. I went to physical therapy for a long time. I had to ice it three times a day and get a lot rest.”
Champa enjoys both the IM and breaststroke for similar reasons.
“I like the 200 IM because it has all four strokes in it and I'm pretty good at all of them,” she says. “Since I've been little the breaststroke has been one of my favorite strokes. It appeals to me.”
Champa stresses making it to state answered a big question for her.
“I'm definitely there to prove to everyone that I wanted it and that I can still swim,” she states. “Every girl's goal is to make it back to the finals (Saturday). That's one of my goals. I'd like to get to the finals and lower my times. Going into the season I had doubts about making it. After sectionals, I have confidence again.”
Fellow Fox Valley Conference member Crystal Lake co-op will have sophomore Marisa Barton competing at state. Barton, a Prairie Ridge student, will swim in the 50.