Warren kicks out the jams at Jamboree
Welcome to the Hersey Jamboree, where swimming becomes a decidedly spectator- and participant-friendly sport.
After races are started, bass-heavy thumping music produced by a special sound system with large speakers fills the deck area at Olympic Pool in Arlington Heights, the Huskies’ home pool.
And at the end of the meet, half of the Hersey homecoming court — the boys half — dons Speedo briefs in an exhibition race. Judging by the high-pitched screams and whistles from many of competitors, this seems to be a popular feature.
Then there’s the competition itself. The hosts Huskies have invited an exceptionally balanced field of teams, which made for exciting racing across the board on Saturday afternoon.
Warren took top honors in the team standings with 226 points, just ahead of Mundelein (216) and the host Huskies (207). Maine South (156), Buffalo Grove (128) and Cary-Grove rounded out the upper half of the 12-team field.
“It’s been a goal of ours to win here for four years, so my girls are really excited,” said Warren coach Chad Rusk.
In the meet’s final event, Mundelein’s 400 free relay of Erin Falconer, Amy Klink, Jennifer Kordik and Karrie Kozokar prevailed in 3:43.75, bettering the meet record from 2005 by about 1½ seconds as the pool was ringed with screaming, cheering swimmers.
Warren finished third in that race, which didn’t disappoint Rusk at all.
“We came in thinking it would be best if we didn’t load up on any single relay, and just kind of spread our best swimmers around,” he said. “It worked our really well for us.”
Paige Wells and Jessica Grasty provided plenty of oomph in the individual events for the Blue Devils. Wells won the 50 free (25.16) and the 100 free (54.50), both in extremely close races, and Grasty won the 100 fly (1:00.72) and took second in the 200 IM (2:13.55).
Warren also got a lift in diving, where Rebecca Stochl and Emily Pelland placed 3-4, and in the 500 free, where Bethany Drebing won in 5:34.04.
Mundelein coach Melissa Healy is quite familiar with Warren and had recently raced with the Blue Devils at the Lake County Invite. Her challenge at this meet is finding ways for her team, led by senior standout Klink and stellar freshman Erin Falconer, to have enough quality depth to score meaningful points in the invitational setting.
“For us to finish within 10 points of Warren is terrific,” said Healy. “Our girls love this meet and really look forward to it every year, and I’m really starting to see them grow together as a group.”
The top individual effort for the Mustangs came from Kordik, who won the 200 IM (2:13.55). Klink placed third in the 100 backstroke, Falconer was third in the 100 free and Kozokar was third in the 50 free.
Hersey coach Dick Mortensen was pleased to see a victory in the medley relay, where Bethany Figiel, Stefanie Kintzle, Kelsey O’Donnell and Lenna Fotos won 1:54.58. Fotos had the key effort there, coming up with an excellent freestyle anchor leg despite continuing issues with a back strain — and her participation allowed all-around standout Amanda Petro to swim on the 200 free relay, where the Huskies finished second.
In the 200 free, Petro won in 1:56.43, breaking her own meet record. She finished second in the 100 free by an eyelash (54.52) and anchored the Huskies’ second-place 400 free relay.
“I’m pleased — and a little relieved,” said Hersey coach Dick Mortensen. “For the other teams, this meet is fun. For us, it can be a little distracting, and I’m always concerned our focus won’t quite be where it needs to be. But everybody handled that fine, and we had a really great day.”
Buffalo Grove continued to show improvement, too. Junior Veronika Jedryka took second in the 200 free (2:00.01) and won the 100 backstroke (1:01.31). The Bison 200 free relay of Jedryka, Margaret Lotzer, Callie Fasching and Sara Fasching won in 1:43.19, just six one-hundredths off the meet record.
Cary-Grove’s highlight was the 200 free relay, where Danielle Dalbke, Hannah Weber, Molly English and Lauren Curtis finished in 1:45.87.
“I think that’s our best 200 free relay time in about two years,” said Trojans coach Scott Lattyak. “We had everybody hit everything just right.”
Regarding the meet’s festive atmosphere, Lattyak felt it actually helped his team.
“I like it,” he said. “I see my girls moving around behind the blocks before their races, staying loose and relaxed. I think that helps.”
Curtis was C-G’s top individual finisher with third place in the 200 free (2:00.20) and fourth in the 100.
Prospect (77 points, eighth) got a huge boost from freshman diver Dana Liva, who won with a stellar total of 228.90 — a Knights program record for 6 dives. Jessica Cavaiani had the next-best Prospect finish with second in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.77).
Elk Grove’s top finish came from diver Natalie Przybylski, who placed second with 202.35. The Grens (48 points, 11th) also got a third-place effort from Simona Kurta, who was third in the 100 fly (1:02.60).