West Chicago keeping pace with top teams

Winning the 200 freestyle relay at their own invite, which it did for the second year in a row, never gets old for the West Chicago swimming team.

Though they finished fourth in the Wildcat Invite, up from fifth last year, the Wildcats are showing signs that this could truly be a pivotal year for the program.

"Two years ago we knew we had a good group of girls coming up," coach Nick Parry said. "But this year we're seeing some great swims."

As they've been the past two years, the Wildcats were led by state qualifier Kelly Dunn on Saturday. She won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:55.25 and finished second in the 100 backstroke to Rosary's Olivia Scott, who broke the pool record with a 57.74.

Dunn also swam on the winning 200 free relay team along with Caitlyn Madsen, Yvette Kruk and Maria Sedjo, finishing in 1:41.03 to edge out Rosary, which swam a 1:41.35

"Because we won the race last year, I fully expected us to be in the running," Parry said. "The girls went fast, but I think they can go a lot faster."

The big news at West Chicago is the development of the supporting cast around Dunn, who finished 10th at state in the 200 freestyle and 12th in the 100 backstroke.

"I have more people to work with in practice and a lot more to watch in their events," Dunn said. "This year is more challenging and more fun. I'm going in with a lot more confidence. Last year I felt like an underdog. I'm two seconds off my best times already. I'm trying to focus on my strokes, which are both important to me, though my goal is to make the state cut in every event."

"Kelly has a great group to train with," Parry said. "Kruk, Sedjo, Madsen are three people she can rely on in practices and in races, so she doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting on her own. They're always racing each other in practice."

Rosary, which is shooting for its fourth straight state championship, won the meet with 287.50 points, winning seven events, including the other two relays.

Lyons Twp. was second with 220 points and Neuqua Valley was third with 212, followed by West Chicago with 176, Waubonsie Valley with 168.50 and Metea Valley with 103.

"This was the best we've finished in this meet in a long time," Parry said. "It's a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go."

Neuqua Valley sophomore Courtney Taylor won the 200 IM in 2:14.28 and Neuqua's Maggie Maxstadt was second in the 50 freestyle and Amanda Childs was second in the 500 freestyle.

Megan Sellers of Metea Valley finished second in the 100 breaststroke.