Schaumburg's Schuckles has the last laugh
Schaumburg's Sammy Schuckles competed in the 100-yard backstroke in Saturday's girls swimming state finals at Evanston Township High School.
She entered the consolation finals with the second-fastest seed time, but slipped to fourth in her heat for 10th place overall.
Her time was a shade slower than her Friday qualifying effort.
Yet the senior wore a broad smile while discussing her performances.
“I was a little bit slower than yesterday, but without a doubt, I wouldn't change a thing,” said Schuckles. “To be able to come here and finish up this way is great.”
Schuckles had qualified for the state meet all four years, but her previous highest finish had been 17th.
“All along my goal was to be able to get back here (for Saturday's finals) and swim again,” she said. “So, mission accomplished.”
The next challenge for Schuckles will be her collegiate career. She's committed to Florida Gulf Coast University, an NCAA Division I institution in Fort Myers, Fla., after taking a visit there early this season.
“Even from the time I was little, I always wanted to be an intercollegiate swimmer,” said Schuckles. “So I'm really excited about getting to actually do it.”
By virtue of the points Schuckles scored, Schaumburg finished 36th in the team standings. It's the first points for the Saxons in a state meet since 2000, when Sarah McKinney finished 12th in the 100 freestyle.
“Let's hope,” quipped Schaumburg coach Tim Kasper, “we don't have to wait another 10 years.”
Barrington junior Erika Elliott wrapped up a terrific season by improving from ninth position to a final placement of eighth in the 100 freestyle. She finished in 52.12, slightly slower than her personal-best effort at sectionals but quicker than her preliminary qualifying time.
And, thankfully, the trauma of a disqualification in the 50 free in Friday's preliminaries is a little farther back in the rear-view mirror.
“Well, obviously, Friday started very poorly for me, but it felt good today to come in and just race,” she said.
Barrington's 200 freestyle relay of Jacqueline Holdsberg, Elliott, Kate Valentine and Mekenna Scheitlin placed 12th in 1:38.76.
For seniors Holdsberg, Valentine and Anne Jacobsen, it marked the end of a distinguished run with the Fillies. Though the state meet didn't conclude their season exactly as they hoped, they know the future of the program is bright.
As coach Jim Bart pointed out, of Barrington's 12 swimmers in the team's sectional lineup, 9 were either freshmen or sophomore. And with Erika Elliott returning next season for her senior year, there's no reason to be anything but positive looking forward.
“We had a great group of seniors,” said Bart. “We have a nice bunch of young kids, too, so the question for us will really be how we go about making up for the kids we're losing.”
In diving, Maine West senior Jen Rey went out in style. Her seventh-place effort of 359.10 was evidence, according to Warriors diving coach Mark McElligott, of dedication to her sport.
“She only started diving as a freshman, so to get here and then perform is really pretty special,” he said. “And then she only started diving year-round after last year. She finished 24th as a junior, so it's pretty clear to see that made a big difference for her.”
Rey became the first Maine West diver to score at the state meet since Mary Kay Gerhardt in 1979.
Maine West senior Ailish O'Connell improved one place to finish 11th in the 50 freestyle in 24.57. Her points, combined with Rey's, gave the Warriors 9 points and an area-best tie for 27th place in the team standings.
Palatine senior diver Mallory Fisher wrapped up a standout career that featured point-scoring performances in three straight state meets with an 11th-place finish. Though she was disappointed with the final placement, Fisher at least had good company at meet's end her best friend and teammate, Monica Dorszewski.
The two pals have known each other since second grade and even have a pet name for their collective self M and M.
Palatine diving coach Donna O'Brien says she tried to interest Dorszewski in diving after seeing her ability at a neighborhood pool. Dorszewski opted to stick with swimming, but O'Brien was pleased to see Fisher's development over the years.
“I think this year, it was really nice to see the maturity with Mallory working harder in practice, paying attention to the little things,” said O'Brien. “I really enjoyed the fact that she's such a graceful diver. She's really blessed with that; not everybody has it. And then on top of that, she's very athletic.”
In the team race, New Trier put an end to Rosary's four-year championship run, swamping the field with 198.5 points.
Loyola got a fourth-place individual finish from Inverness resident Mallory Remick in the 100 freestyle, and Remick swam legs on three of top-six relays to help the Ramblers finish second with 126 points, just ahead of Rosary at 122.5.
Glenbrook South sophomore Olivia Smoliga smashed her own state record set in prelims with a 53.43 in the 100 backstroke, and she also won the 50 free in 23.12.
Peoria Notre Dame senior Rebecca Stoughton was also a double winner, in the 200 free (1:49.49) and the 500 free (4:49.86).