Girls swimming: No doubt in Naperville Central's Dusel

Where some divers get onto the board and work their twists and spins in their heads before executing the dive, Naperville Central's Sydney Dusel is something of an anomaly.

She gets onto the board, strides forward, works her dive, then returns to the pool deck.

Saturday, Dusel's straightforward approach led her to the state title and into the IHSA history books with a stellar cap to her three years at state diving. The senior became the third-highest scorer in state finals history, won the title by 27 points and added this year's title to the 2013 title and a runner-up finish in 2014.

“I was very determined and focused this year,” Dusel said. “I wanted to end my career like this. I didn't want to end my senior year badly, and I'm happy with how it turned out.”

Dusel's approach on the diving board is not an accident, though she is hardly “winging it” when she gets ready to dive.

“As soon as they say my name, the dive and the difficulty, I like to go,” Dusel said. “I want to go, do what I know how to do and get it done with.”

As Naperville Central diving coach Dave Likar said: “We've talked about how you need to do your thinking on the ground. Then when you're on the board, there's only one thing in your mind — confidence.”

Dusel was a high-achieving gymnast who harbored aspirations for success in that sport. Then back issues made those dreams impossible and she had to find a new sport.

“When I got hurt, I was about 13,” Dusel said. “I tried volleyball and I couldn't make that, so I said, maybe I'll try something that's similar to gymnastics. My mom and brother had both been divers in high school and my mom signed me up for diving lessons.”

The decision wasn't as easy as that matter-of-fact retelling of the change in sports sounds.

“I was devastated,” Dusel said. “Gymnastics was my whole life growing up. I was just so happy to find a sport that's less injury-prone, and I love it.”

By the time she reached high school, Dusel was concentrating full-time on her diving, but Naperville Central had other strong divers, including Sophia Heiser, who was seventh in the state that year. Dusel's turn as a varsity diver came in her sophomore year, and she stormed to the state title.

“It was amazing,” Dusel said. “I had never experienced any of the crowd or any of that. From gymnastics I was used to competing and not being too nervous, so I think that's what really helped me.”

As a junior, Dusel settled for second place when Prospect's Dana Liva claimed the title. Regaining the title became a focus through the off-season.

“After winning sophomore year, I felt the pressure to win junior and senior year,” Dusel said. “I went into the meet junior year very nervous. I could have done better, but I was so happy with how I did.”

Likar said Dusel made some changes to ensure she was in position to claim the title she won on Saturday.

“Pretty much the moment after the competition last year, she said, ‘I'm going to win next year,'” Likar said. “She went all out for it and achieved her goals. She added some twisters, which gave her more degree of difficulty, and that helped.”

Dusel's opening day dives set her in strong position. She entered Saturday's three-dive set that concluded the 11-dive competition with a 357.45-345.65 lead over Evanston freshman Lucy Hogan. Despite a wobble in her penultimate dive, Dusel's degree of difficulty and overall excellence allowed her to not only win but to extend her lead.

In the process she reached 490.60 points. The only higher scored in IHSA finals history are the 507.55 recorded by Deerfield's Christina Loukas in 2004 and the 498.35 scored by Evanston's Lona Foss in 1979.

Naperville Central had two individual swimmers in the finals. Audrey Coffey was seventh in the 500-yard freestyle and Caitlin Guccione was 12th in the 100 butterfly.

Metea Valley finished 10th, the school's best finish in a girls state meet. The Mustangs were led by senior Amanda Burson, who was fourth in the 50 freestyle and 10th in the 100 freestyle. Senior Madeline Sandberg was 11th in the 100 freestyle.

“I wasn't really going for a place because there are all these really fast swimmers here,” Burson said. “I got my best times at this meet. The team has been great. (Sundberg) pushes me all the time and I push her. She's a great teammate and a great competitor.”

The Mustangs added a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay and were eighth in the 400 freestyle relay.

“It didn't go as well as I wanted it to, but I feel blessed I was able to make it to finals,” Sundberg said. “It's awesome to be swimming alongside (Burson) again. We finally got to the same place at the same time in the end.”

Both Burson and Sundberg graduate and leave the program in solid shape.

“I think that the legacy that we're trying to build up is of being a great example to the up-and-coming swimmers,” Sundberg said. “We're kind of giving them a little taste of what it feels like to be in this position. I think they'll be hungry and want to do it again.”

Neuqua Valley opened the day with a seventh-place finish in the medley relay. Wyli Erlechman was seventh in the 100 butterfly and Ryan Dulaney was 11th in the 500 freestyle.

Waubonsie Valley's medley relay was 12th, its 200 freestyle relay was 10th and the Warriors' 400 freestyle relay was 11th while Hannah Hunt was ninth in the 100 breaststroke.

Batavia-West Chicago co-op's Myanna Cook finished her junior year with a 10th-place finish in the 200 freestyle and the sixth-fastest time in the 100 butterfly.

“This was definitely exciting because it was my first time qualifying back for finals,” Cook said. “This is my third year at this meet, and I wanted to make it back last year, but it didn't happen. But I did this year, so I'm happy.”

Naperville North's Connie Zhang finished ninth in the 100 freestyle while Emily Chuang was 11th in the 100 backstroke.