Hsu really knows how to fly
Glenbard South senior Connie Hsu took to swimming lessons at age 4, except for one stroke.
“I had no idea how to swim butterfly,” Hsu said. “I learned when I was 6. And then I learned really, really fast and I became a butterflier out of nowhere.”
Hsu now is one of the best around, including a qualifying time for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200-meter fly. First, she will try to make history with the second-year Glenbard West/Glenbard South co-op team at the state meet Friday and Saturday at New Trier.
Hsu could become Glenbard South’s first state champion. She posted the second-fastest sectional times in the 100-yard butterfly to Downers Grove North sophomore Gabby Sims and 200 freestyle to Lake Forest senior Rachel Stoehr. Hsu’s times were personal bests.
“It’s really tough (to win) because you know there’s other fast people, but you can only worry about yourself and what you can do,” Hsu said.
“Of course, I want the best times and to be able to put up a really good race in the 100 fly. Whatever title I get, that’s what I get, but I really want to do well myself, give the other girls a good race and show that I can be up there and sprint.”
Glenbard West’s Bridgett Bowman won five state titles from 1984-86 in the 500 free and 200 individual medley. In her second state appearance last year, Hsu became the Raiders’ first top-six medalist. She was second in the 100 fly to graduated Downers North’s Haley Sims and third in the 200 IM.
“(Hsu’s chances are) very good,” coach Chris Flamion said. “Come Saturday (in the finals), it’s all about racing. Time doesn’t really matter. It’s putting up the best effort you can and trying to win.”
The team’s other state entries are senior Allie McGavock, sophomore Meg Beese, the 200 medley relay (Beese, junior Kasia Gniatczyk, Hsu and sophomore Joy Xue) and 400 free relay (Xue, McGavock, Hsu and Beese). McGavock and Xue attend Glenbard West, and Beese and Gniatczyk attend Glenbard South.
“We text each other and everyone gets along great,” McGavock said. “It’s like we all clicked right away. It’s like we’re one big family.”
The 20-member team has no home pool and practices among three sites. Morning weight training and conditioning alternates between the high schools. Hsu and McGavock are co-captains.
“It’s way better (having a team),” Hsu said. “Sometimes swimming by yourself, you don’t get enough motivation. They push you and you push them. You’re always trying to help each other.”
Hsu is pretty self-motivated.
Hsu, who turned 17 Sunday, ranks No. 1 in her class academically, is the No. 1 chair in band for flute and piccolo and has reached state three times with the math team. Last week she officially committed to Harvard.
“I don’t know how she does all of it,” Flamion said. “She’s been swimming almost her entire life and has a very natural gift of a high aerobic capacity. Connie’s gas tank is endless. She’s also very alert to details.”
Hsu said she’s switched from the 200 IM to the 200 free because she required more breaststroke work. Her training was altered after being selected to a U.S. all-star team that competed Sept. 23-24 in Osaka, Japan.
“It was great representing the United States and to have all of those fast people in one place,” Hsu said. “We were pumped up, cheering for the United States, and we all actually became a team, even though we still barely knew each other.”