Girls swimming: Hersey takes its share at Prospect

Even before they started sharing the same pool this season, the Prospect and Hersey girls swimming and diving teams had plenty in common.

For one thing, Hersey's coach, Dick Mortensen, used to coach at Prospect. And current Prospect coach Alfonso Lopez was on one of those Knights boys teams coached by Mortensen.

Much more recently, the two girls programs led by those men have excelled. Taken together, they've won each of the Mid-Suburban East championships of the past 10 years using a familiar formula - excellent dual meet depth, combined with strong top-end performers and dominance in diving.

All those traits were in plain view on Thursday as the teams held the first meet against one another in the waters they now share, in Prospect's new natatorium.

As the other teams in the East will soon find out, it looks like Hersey is a cut above this year. The Huskies took a big first step toward repeating as the divisional champion after winning 135-51.

"It feels like it's almost getting to be a generational thing," said Mortensen. "I think there's starting to be an expectation that we'll have an opportunity to be going for a division title - but nobody's taking anything for granted, either."

Hersey won every race and had 1-2 finishes in all but a handful of events. The Huskies' double winners were Jenny Lutz (200 free, 100 back) and Olivia Kusio (200 IM, 100 breaststroke); other top finishers were Claire Lutz (50 free), Julia Gerstung (100 fly), Claire Fink (100 free), Maddie Irvine (500 free) and in a terrific diving performance, Madeline Bovino (238.50).

Breaking up Hersey's penchant for 1-2 finishes were runner-up efforts from the Knights' Gracie Dix (50 free), Katie Kenny (100 back), Meghan Schmit (diving) and Samantha Berkley (500 free).

The takeaway from the meet, however, shouldn't be that Hersey performed well while Prospect did not.

"We actually had a really good meet," said Lopez. "It's been great that the last half-dozen or so years, we've expected to be in the conversation for winning the division. But losing a dual meet to a terrific Hersey team doesn't mean our season's over. Now we get the chance to see what we can make happen before conference - and there's so much season left still. I like that."

Easy to miss against a quality foe such as Hersey was the performance of Prospect's Colleen Doyle. She dropped some four seconds from her previous best in the 200 free and came up with her first sub-minute 100 free time on a relay leg.

"I'd say it's the result of making a change from an attitude that wasn't all that positive," said Doyle. "Coach Lopez told me to race smart but to just go out and have fun, and that made all the difference - even if you're disappointed with your own swim, you can always help somebody else who might be struggling."

There are still four East dual meets left for both Hersey and Prospect. The rest of the teams in the division will be challenged to match up with either one of them, which added to the excitement of this meeting so early in the season.

"I just think it brings out the best in both of us," said Hersey senior Jenny Lutz, who in addition to her individual wins also had legs on the winning 200 medley relay and 200 free relay.

One more enduring connection between the programs: Lopez became a first-time father over the weekend as wife Jamie gave birth to Emilia. The family is planning to use a syllabically simpler version of Emilia for their daughter in day-to-day use: Mili.

The inspiration for that name choice came from the leadoff leg of Hersey's winning 200 medley relay: Mili Meredith.

Fremd d. Palatine: The host Vikings came up with a 121-62 victory by winning all three relays and getting victories in all but three of the individual events. Among Fremd's winners were Sophia Kuehn (200 IM), MJ Poss (100 free), Emily Kini (100 back), Emily Bolger (200 free) and Anna Miller (50 free).

Palatine's Ellis Nelson claimed both the 100 fly and 100 breast, and Jane Smith won the 500 free.

Conant d. Schaumburg: The Cougars won a pair of relays and used victories from Lea Cejvan (100 fly, 100 breast) to pick up a 118-68 decision over the Saxons.

Schaumburg's Hana Mollin was sharp in winning both the 100 free (56.01) and 200 free (2:03.69), and teammate Ingrid Hay won the 200 IM and back.

Individual wins for Conant also came from Sarah Erne (500 free), Aly Wooley (50 free) and Melynda Meyrick (diving).

Rolling Meadows d. Elk Grove: Seniors Betsy Zanocco (50 free, 100 breast) and Teresa Perille (100 free, back) were double winners as the Mustangs earned a 131-44 decision. Other Meadows winners included Abby Wiltse (200 free), Kate Mallek (IM) and Jenna Pors (fly).

Buffalo Grove d. Wheeling: Emily Schulstad took top honors in the 200 free (2:04.76) and 100 back (1:09.52), and teammate Samantha Swanson won the 50 free (26.63) and 100 free (59.13) as the Bison won 92-62.