Libertyville's Dickson does it again
Perhaps Morgan Dickson got tired of supplanting former greats atop Libertyville High School's record board.
The sophomore knocked off one of her school marks Saturday at the state swimming meet at Evanston Township High School. Dickson, racing next to Stevenson standout Madison Blaydes, clocked an eighth-place 4:59.81 in the 500-yard freestyle, topping the LHS-best time (5:00.26) that existed less than a day. That was Dickson's time in a preliminary Friday, and it dropped Heather Kiluk's 2005 school record (5:00.99) to No. 2 status.
“My ultimate goal was to break five minutes,” said a thrilled Dickson, who also owns school marks in the 100 butterfly, 200 free and swam on the fastest 200 medley relay in Wildcats history; she also holds the home-pool record in the 100 fly. “My strategy was to go out fast and be smart by not losing energy at the end. It was nice competing near Madison (11th, 5:03.62) and going against other great swimmers this weekend.”
For Dickson and Wildcats coach Erik Rogers, Saturday at state was easy compared to Friday. Dickson's season ended after one day at state last fall.
“I did not have to give her a pep talk,” Rogers said during a break Saturday. “We talked, yes, but it wasn't anything major. The plan for her was pretty simple: go out and race.”
Lake Zurich sophomore Ashley Balda, meanwhile, also made some history Saturday. The Bear placed 11th in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.97) to become the first swimming state medalist in program history. (Becky Martin took third at state in diving in '85, a year after placing fifth). Balda's father, Tom, served as a Bears assistant to Jill Kragseth on Friday and Saturday.
“It's been a stressful weekend for me,” admitted Tom. “It's not easy being out there as a parent on deck, believe me.”
His daughter was a promising butterfly specialist before attending a camp at Northwestern University as a seventh grader. But camp coaches convinced Balda she could excel as a breaststroker.
“They looked at film of me before determining that,” recalled Bald, who was ranked No. 2 among state qualifiers in the 100 breaststroke. “A lot of film. It was hard at first, working on a new stroke back then.”
Friday's prelim session lasted more than five hours, which must have felt like five days for the Baldas and Kragseth. The 100 breaststroke is Event No. 11, of 12. Good thing Ashley Balda's iPod contains 1,000-plus songs.
“That helped, listening to music,” she said. “Yesterday (Friday) took forever.”
It took Vernon Hills junior Zoe Eldridge 1:53.63 to place 10th in the 200 free on Saturday; she had qualified 12th (1:53.96) in the event. Her seed Saturday was, in a way, a favorable one.
“The girls who qualified ahead of her had all the pressure,” VH coach Kedric Greenawalt said. “Zoe had zero pressure today. And she swam like it. Nowhere to go but up for her. I couldn't be happier. I am so thrilled for her, for our program. Our program had been defined, for years, by (2010 graduate) Melanie (Rowland). Zoe had fun today, and she was relaxed.”
Eldridge expressed thanks for her friends, including Libertyville state qualifier Whitney Mitchell, while addressing media folks after the 200 free. Had it not been for chats with them, Eldridge noted, she would have lost an easy battle to nervousness.
“Talking helped me so much,” said Eldridge, who couldn't wait to steer an ATV in Kansas during her Thanksgiving break. “My heart, it was pounding this weekend. Pounding so hard. Talking calmed me down. I need to talk. I was willing to lose my voice, as long as it helped.”
Stevenson's Blaydes, a sophomore, left with two medals Saturday. The Patriot placed 11th in the 200 free (1:53.82) before matching that finish in the 500 free. She did not advance to Saturday at state last year.
“Great weekend for Madison,” Stevenson coach Karl Milkereit said. “She was our most consistent performer this year. What was encouraging about this year was her progression; she made it to Saturday. Next year the goal is to progress again, to get in the top six in races.”
New Trier (198.5 points) captured the state title, ending Rosary's reign at four years. Loyola Academy (126) edged Rosary (122.5) for second place. North Suburban Conference champion Lake Forest finished 11th (36) behind a pair of top-three efforts (2nd, 500 free; 3rd, 200 free) by junior Rachel Stoehr.
Two entrants set state marks Saturday. Downers Grove North's 200 medley relay clocked a 1:44.3, and Glenbrook South sophomore Olivia Smoliga zipped to a 53.43 in the 100 backstroke.