The streak lives on -- Rosary claims 4th straight title
On the back of the T-shirts Rosary wore for this year's state meet, the Beads had the words: "Vincero! Vincero! Vincero!"
That Italian phrase, which means "I will win" comes from the end of the famous aria "Nessun Dorma" and refers to a young suitor's desire to win over a cold woman's heart.
By late afternoon Saturday, Rosary could have easily changed its shirt to say "Ho vinto!" which means "I won." And with all the hugging, smiling and laughter, there weren't any coldhearted Beads on-deck at New Trier this weekend.
Whether in Italian, English or any language on the planet, the Beads had spoken very loudly that they were again the best girls swim team in Illinois. This year's triumph in the state meet - 177-129 over the second-placed host Trevians - is Rosary's fourth state title in a row.
"I love our team," Rosary senior Mackenzie Powers said. "We really support each other. It's just - it's just awesome."
Powers was one of three Rosary seniors. The others were Olivia Scott and Diana Norkus. The trio combined with a strong group of younger swimmers to help create the deepest team in the state this year.
"We worked really, really hard," Powers said. "You can never say 'we're definitely going to win. But you could see how we were doing in the meets and in practice that it was the start of a hint kind of a thing. It's awesome to have all those girls pushing in practice. It's not just one, it's all of them, and I love that."
Scott closed her high school career with a three-title afternoon. She broke the 100-yard butterfly record when she swam 53.09 and bettered the 53.11 mark set by Rosary's Mary Descenza in 2001. Scott also won the 200 individual medley and swam legs of the Beads second-placed 200 medley relay and victorious 200 freestyle relay.
"I'm really proud of my team," Scott said. "We all did really well today. I'm just really happy. I was really relieved in the fly. That's something I've wanted since freshman year. It was really close, but I was really happy."
Rosary did not win any other events, but achieved a series of strong results that made the team trophy race a foregone conclusion midway through the meet.
"In virtually every event, we moved up today," Rosary coach Bill Schalz said. "We had a big lead and these guys could have sat back and relaxed. But they came up and raced today and I'm proud of them."
St. Charles North set team history and finished seventh in the meet. The biggest story for the North Stars came on the first event of the day as Lauren Reynolds, Angie Chokran, Taylor Gannon and Kirsten Hutchinson swam 1:45.82 to win the 200 medley relay - the team's first girls swimming state title.
"Today was a great day," St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney said. "Everyone moved up in their swims. They did awesome today. We've got a lot to build on from this. We had a lot of kids who had a chance to swim on Saturday today and this sets a good stage for next year."
The North Stars closed the meet in style too when their 400 freestyle relay claimed the consolation championship. The state meet was the final one for Chokran, Jessica England and Gannon.
"I was so happy to be part of such a great relay," Chokran said. "We got up there and raced. To be part of that team championship was amazing. I got to compete on the relays, which are the most exciting part - certainly it's the loudest part of the meet. But it's the part of the meet that gives you the most pride for your school."
St. Charles East was 12th and had its share of memorable swims as well. Notably, the Saints had a runner-up finish when senior Emma Smith battled Rebecca Stoughton all the way in the 500 freestyle.
"I dropped time, even from prelims, which I was happy about," Smith said. "I was trying to work on the third and fourth 100, trying to keep them steady and to work on the turns to keep the streamline tight. I wanted to keep my race strategy."
The Saints also saw sophomore Kayla Scott finish third in the 100 breastroke. Smith and Scott each had an eighth-place finish. Smith's came in the 200 freestyle while Scott's was in the 200 individual medley.
"We were a little more solid today," St. Charles East coach Joe Cabel said. "I thought it was a little better way to go out. (Scott) had a great day and (Smith) had a great day and our relays came through for us. It was a better day for us today than yesterday."
West Aurora's Jackie Iglesias concluded her high school career with an 11th-place finish in the 200 individual medley and an eighth-place tie in the 100 backstroke.
"I was just thinking 'Oh my God, it's my last Blackhawk swim," Iglesias said. "It's sad, but it feels good that I got eighth place in the back. That's not bad. I added time in the IM, but you can't go best time every time."