Time to take that last lap to state
With five collegiate-bound athletes at his disposal, Rosary swim coach Bill Schalz is in a customary position for the Neuqua Valley sectional this Saturday afternoon.
“I could care less where we finish (as a team),” Schalz said of the largely symbolic team title. “This weekend is just about getting as many girls as possible to the state meet. We want to qualify a girl in every event.”
For the local girls swimming and diving teams, the route to the single-class state finals at New Trier High School in Winnetka next week begins with either an individual sectional championship or meeting the time requirement.
Rosary and West Aurora will convene in south Naperville as part of the 11-team field; St. Charles East welcomes St. Charles North and solo contenders from Geneva and Kaneland to its sectional on Saturday.
Rosary, which captured four consecutive state titles beginning in 2006, is in search of its 10th top-three finish in the past 12 years.
Schalz has no shortage of weapons in his arsenal.
Wyoming recruit Molly Coonce captured the 100-yard breaststroke title last year and catapulted the 200 freestyle relay to another triumph.
With the way points are weighted in swimming competitions, the premium on the three relays cannot be discarded.
“If you want to win a state title, it starts with the relays,” Schalz said.
In addition to Coonce, Rosary also has Rachel Burke (Connecticut) and Sarah Sykstus (Illinois) in the fold to defend its relay championship.
The Beads’ 200 medley relay should also be a major factor after being disqualified a year ago in the finals.
Katherine Hare, an Illinois-Chicago recruit, and Emily Launer, committed to Northwestern, are the Beads’ other senior returning state medal-winners.
Senior Grace Miller seeks all-state status in diving after missing out of the finals last fall by a single position.
Schalz noted that his squad has an unusual demographic identity this fall.
“I have no sophomores or juniors (in the starting lineup),” Schalz said. “We have only seniors and freshmen. Next year is going to be a total rebuilding year.”
But the Beads’ state-seasoned seniors should also be revitalized behind freshmen standouts Kate Canfield and Erin Hunt.
Emma Smith and Lauren Zima are the unquestioned respective senior leaders at St. Charles East and St. Charles North.
Smith, who has committed to Yale, rewrote the Upstate Eight Conference record books with her triumphant victories in the individual medley and 500 freestyle.
“Emma is an easy one,” St. Charles East coach Joe Cabel said of his best bets to make the state cut.
Smith powered the Saints to a 10th-place finish last year at the state meet; the senior will look to better her status by one position in the 200 medley after finishing runner-up last fall.
“I really want to go out there and just have some fun with this being my final year,” Smith said. “I definitely think our relays will do well. Hopefully we will qualify all three of them (to state). (The medley relay) is definitely the strongest team we’ve had in a while. I would be thrilled (to end my career with an individual state championship). It would be great.”
Nicole Chapko was fourth in the individual medley last fall, but an off-season knee injury has forced the Saints’ junior standout to concentrate on relays.
The Saints’ medley and freestyle relays should all contend for top awards on Saturday.
“Our strength this season has been depth,” said Cabel, who will also rely heavily upon Mary Snyder, Stephanie Garvin and Ashley Shanel in the relays.
Cabel stated that conquering the mental elements is as important as any physical barriers in making the state field.
“There’s a big difference between thinking and knowing,” he said. “I think mentally we’re more there than we have been in the past.”
Zima also enters her final state competition after a breakout conference performance.
“My biggest goal is to be in the top six (in state in the butterfly),” said Zima, who was eighth last year in the 100 event. “I am looking forward to swimming faster at the state meet. I have been faster than I have been all year.”
“(Zima) is right where I want her to be,” St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney said.
The North Stars’ Megan Popp has had a sensational freshman season, and Rooney is hopeful the Zima-Popp duo can launch two relays downstate.
“The two of them have trained really well the whole year,” Rooney said. “Right now, we’re putting together our best (relay) teams for the state meet.”
Kaneland sophomores Riley Coyle, Theresa Alef, Melissa Cherry and Krissy Frohlich will compete as individuals for the Knights at St. Charles East.