Girls swimming: Mundelein's Routledge tackles tough event with vigor
The breaststroke is regarded as one of tougher swimming strokes to master.
Nonsense, says Mundelein senior girls swimmer Riley Routledge.
"It's an easy event for me," she said. "A lot of people struggle with it and think it's one of the hardest events."
The key for Routledge?
"I practice it a lot and it became easier for me," she said. "People think it's difficult because it requires a lot of practice. I was a backstroker to start with. I learned breaststroke around eight and liked it. I always get in trouble because I keep my head up. You have to have your head down for breaststroke and take long strides."
Routledge is poised to make even more strides of her own this season. The junior is coming of a 2020 COVID-impacted campaign where she swam low enough in the breaststroke to earn a state meet berth, had that been held. She also finished third at sectionals in the IM and 100.
"Riley is one of the top swimmers in the area, but has always been overshadowed by Adry (Kasemets) and how good Adry was," Mustangs coach Rahul Sethna said. "This season she will have a chance to come into her own and help lead our team to success in the pool."
Kasemets, who graduated this spring, was an All-American, all-state breaststroker and IM'er who is now swimming at Division I Louisville.
"Adry motivated me to become faster," Routledge said. "She was fast. She was my role model. When I joined the team her times were incredible. I was motivated to get times like hers."
Routledge also is making strides in the 100 where she has gone as low as 53.4 for Mundelein. "To get better in the freestyle I am practicing my breathing patterns," she said. "I used to breath a lot at my walls. With the 100, you have to pace yourself more with breathing. It does eventually get easier and you get the hang of it."
Routledge's swimming journey started at a young age. She lives on a beach, which is where the water comes into play. "I fell in love with the water," she said. "I started swimming for fun and then through the years I realized this could be my potential future. I am very surprised how much I have improved."
Routledge references her breaststroke time when talking about her gradual improvement - she's seen a 10-second drop in recent years.
"My times now from a couple years ago are crazy different," she said. "I have put in a lot of hard work. Swimming is very underrated in terms of the hard work that has to be put in. In the summer, I wake up and go to practice at 6:15 a.m. and then come back around 5:30 p.m. It's hard work, but it's a lot of fun."
As a freshman, Routledge, who also competes for the Mundelein Swim Team, was part of the Mundelein 200 medley relay team that qualified for state. Last year, she would have returned to state had there not been a pandemic - thus motivation this fall is high.
"My goal is to make it there again," she said. "I have a lot of things I would like to accomplish. I would like to get under 1:05 (breast), and I also want to help my teammates meet their goals. This year, we have more opportunities to work together as team, which is exciting."