No tricks, plenty of treats as Patla, Fremd rule Mid-Suburban League pool

Hersey freshman Ella Brace planned to dress as a race-car driver for Halloween.

Good choice.

“She's fast,” Huskies girls swimming coach Dick Mortensen said.

So was Fremd senior Ellie Patla.

Scary fast.

The Wisconsin-bound Patla shattered two Mid-Suburban League meet records Saturday afternoon at Prospect, then anchored a pair of victorious relays to help the Vikings capture their fourth consecutive MSL girls swimming and diving championship.

Fremd totaled 357 points in the 11-team meet, edging runner-up Hersey (351) by six. Barrington took third (277), followed by host Prospect (226) and Conant (215).

Hersey had defeated Fremd by 12 points in a dual meet earlier this fall.

Saturday's rematch?

A thriller.

“We have a lot of juniors and seniors, and they hate to lose,” Fremd coach Andrew Kittrell said. “You don't have to be perfect. Consistency is the most important thing at a meet like this.”

Patla was consistently sensational.

She won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.74 and the 500 free in 4:54.39, establishing meet and pool records in both events.

A sign in the stands proclaimed, “500 FREE Ellie Makes Everyone Jelly.”

Jealous?

Understandable.

Patla also joined junior Sophia Pentchev, Serena Palmer and Ellen Hinshaw to win the 200 free relay in a pool-record 1:37.84.

And the grand finale?

Patla anchored the 400 free relay, teaming with Pentchev, Anna Hinshaw and Ellen Hinshaw to establish meet and pool records in 3:29.67 — nearly three seconds faster than the previous marks.

“Everyone pushes each other, and everyone is so positive,” Patla said.

Pentchev supplied two individual victories, taking the 50 free (24.72) and returning immediately to capture the 100 butterfly (57.61).

Hersey's Brace, meanwhile, won the 100 backstroke (56.09) and led off the victorious 200 medley relay (1:48.68), joining Franchesca Sibayan, Claudia Glinko and Victoria Mesticky.

Huskies junior Anna Anderson claimed the 100 free (51.94).

Brace credited her senior sister, Kayla, for helping her adjust to high school swimming.

“She's a role model to me,” Brace said. “This sport, it hurts at times. But what feels good is what you get in return — close friends and great competition.”

Mortensen marveled at Fremd's record-setting final relay.

“What a meet,” he said.

Buffalo Grove's Allison Houston captured the morning diving competition with 473.7 points, ahead of Fremd's Mihika Tillu (457.55) and Barrington's Ella Yang (422.35). The trio had finished seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, at last year's state meet.

Rolling Meadows sophomore Naomi Poortinga won the 200 individual medley in 2:08.45, while Prospect junior Emme Jones captured the 100 breaststroke (1:05.5).

“She's a gamer, and she’s technically sound, which helps a lot,” Mustangs coach Monika Chiappetta said of Poortinga, who also finished second in the breaststroke (1:07.5).

Poortinga knows a thing or two about making history. Earlier this fall, she clocked a 1:06.4 in the 100 breast, sinking a school record that had stood for 40 years.

Other notable performances Saturday included Schaumburg’s Diana Bobiv's runner-up 100 fly (58.96), Palatine's Vivian Myers' second-place 50 free (25.02), Conant freshman Reilley Woo's third-place 50 free (25.33) and Elk Grove sophomore Natalia Cetnar's third-place 100 fly (59.53).

Cetnar had entered her heat — the event’s penultimate one — seeded at 1:02.75.

Talk about dropping time.

Patla, meanwhile, had another assignment awaiting her after the meet.

“Pass out candy to trick-or- treaters at home,” she said.

Drop times. Drop sweets.

Quite a Halloween.