Downers North edges Waubonsie Valley at invite
This season’s girls swimming sectionals and the state meet don’t take place for just less than two months.
The work needed to succeed at the holy grails of this sport takes place at competitions such as Saturday’s Downers Grove North Trojan Team Challenge, where squads find themselves well into their regular-season schedules and going full speed with practice and training and facing seven other teams from all over the Chicago area.
“We’re not going to have substantial time drops because of what we’re doing in the weight room now,” said Lake Park coach Dan Witteveen, whose team finished sixth overall with 175 points. “But we had good times today and I’m happy with that.”
The host Trojans ruled the day, winning the meet by 84 points over second-place Waubonsie Valley (377). Benet was fourth (347).
Waubonsie started the morning off right by winning the first event, the 200-yard medley relay. Madeline Hunt, Alexa Steffl, Molly Devine and Melina Moussetis clocked in at 1 minute, 54.21 seconds.
Hunt went on to win the 50 freestyle in 24..99 and took second in the 100 backstroke.
“At this point of the season, we just want to make sure we’re racing as hard as we can and do our best. Even though we’re tired from what we’re doing in practice, it’s important to get our times down,” Hunt said. “I’m happy with both my times (freestyle, backstroke). I think I’ve had a real good season so far. I’m dropping time.”
In addition to her efforts on the winning 200 medley relay, Moussetis was second in the 200 individual medley. Devine swam to third in the 500 freestyle.
Other top-three finishes for the Warrirors included the 200 freestyle relay of Hunt, Alexa Steffl, Divine and Moussetis and Steffl in the 100 breaststroke.
Benet went home with three individual titles starting off with Katelyn Katsafanas in the 200 individual medley, Cristina Favia in the 500 freestyle and Taylor Lifka in the 100 breaststroke.
“We did really well. Our freshman/sophomore team won their meet and we were excited about that. That gave us a boost,” Katsafanas said.
Other top-three results for Benet included Katsafanas, Lifka, Kathleen Vogel and Favia in the 200 medley relay, Favia in the 200 freestyle, Lifka in the 100 butterfly and Heger in the 500 freestyle.
Lake Park’s best individual finisher was Taylor Johns, who took third in the 200 freestyle.
Schaumburg was seventh in the meet with 141 points. Best individual results went to Ema Cigerova in the 200 IM and Amanda Poland in diving, both sixth-place marks. The diving portion of the meet was held Friday night.