Fogle calmly claims crown

Barrington's Emily Fogle had a hard time catching her breath after swimming the opening leg of the 200-yard freestyle relay, in which the Fillies took fourth.

A small part may have been because she exerted so much energy in the relay, but a large part was because she had an impending date with destiny.

Fogle had finished second in the 100 breast both her freshman and sophomore year, but the Fillies junior was eyeing the title this year.

"By then I was breathing so heavy and shaking so hard I had to get into my ipod and get focused," Fogle said of her down time after the relay.

The junior had a bit of nerves in Friday's prelims and finished with the second-best qualifying mark. She knew she had no room for error in the finals.

While the other three members of the relay were celebrating, Fogle immediately hit the cool-down pool in preparation for her 100 breaststroke race.

"She was as nervous as heck," said Barrington coach Jim Bart of his junior star. "But she got under control and swam within herself."

Fogle admitted to still being a bit nervous climbing onto the starting block, but once the junior hit the water the jitters evaporated and she swam the race of her life.

Fogle took control in the first 50 yards and never wavered in winning the first swimming title in Barrington history. The Fillies had won three diving titles, including a pair by Sara Hershman with back-to-back wins in 1999 and 2000.

"Today she swam great," said Bart of Fogle's performance. "She swam fast in the 200 medley relay (where the Fillies placed fourth), led off the 200 free relay and capped it off with a state title."

Fogle was still shaking after the race, but in a good way.

"It still hasn't hit me yet," said Fogle while wearing her first place medal. "I'm still shaking but it's good."

Rodriguez gets her turn: Buffalo Grove's Erin Rodriguez capped a great year by taking home a third place medal in the 200 IM (2:05.08).

So what was her secret?

"It was the turns," said Rodriguez who picked up the first state medal for BG since Jenny Takata placed fifth for the Bisons in both the 100 fly and 200 IM in 1987. "We did about 10 to 15 minutes of turns everyday this week, that is what I had to work on."

Hendricks in the action: Last year Conant's Kelly Hendricks was a spectator for the diving finals after just missing the cut by finishing 13th.

This year Hendricks capped a dominant season that included first-place finishes at the Mid-Suburban League meet and York sectionals by taking fifth place (385.00).

Hendricks hit on a reverse twist in the final round that propelled her to a fantastic finish.

"Under all the pressure I did pretty well," said Hendricks of her performance. "I cleaned the reverse twister and that got me going."

Double the fun: While Antioch's football team was trying to make to state for the first time in school history against Lemont, the Sequoits' Dominique Bessette was making history by winning the school first state medal. She placed 10th in the 200 IM (2:08.63).

"It's pretty cool because I'm the first one to medal in swimming at state for Antioch," said Bessette.

Cupboard's note bare: Senior Kimmy Steelman has had her last race for Barrington, but coach Jim Bart and the Fillies have some up-and-coming swimmers.

Sophomore Anne Jacobson finished 23rd for Barrington in the 100 backstroke in Friday's prelims. She then came back and swam the butterfly leg of the 200 medley relay and secured her first state medal as the Fillies took fourth place.

Sophomores Andi Leesly and Jackie Holdsberg also got their first taste of state meet this weekend.

"We're all really young and we still have a lot of time to get better," said Jacobson of the young Fillies. "It was hard getting started but I think we all improved throughout the season."

Add to the mix freshman Erika Elliot, who swam in both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay (fourth place), and the Fillies are looking in good shape for the future.

"It's really exciting, it being my first time," said Elliot, who picked up her first two state medals. "Hopefully I can follow in Kimmy's footsteps and continue the tradition."

Aw, Schuckles: Schaumburg's Sammy Schuckles qualified for her second consecutive state meet this season. While the sophomore didn't make it to Saturday's finals she has positioned herself well for a big junior year.

Schuckles won the MSL title in the backstroke and qualified for the state meet in the 50 free (21st place) and 100 back (26th place). The sophomore was also a key member of the Saxons' state qualifying 200 medley and 200 free relays.

"I want to come back and do better next year," said Schuckles.

"This doesn't diminish the season she had," said Schaumburg coach Tim Kasper of his sophomore standout. "She had a great season - it just didn't end the way she wanted it to. But she'll come back."