Girls swimming and diving: Vernon Hills savors state-level acclaim
It's always nice when strangers praise your efforts.
Vernon Hills' girls swimming and diving program has caught the attention of fans after delivering the school's first sectional title a week ago. A bevy of Cougars made their way to the IHSA state meet at New Trier this weekend.
"We weren't really known last year as a swimming power, but it's been really cool to have people and other coaches come up to us and congratulate us on making it here," junior Drew Petereit said. "We just want to swim as fast as we can."
Petereit is swimming at state for the second time. The top-12 from each event earn a ticket to Saturday's consolation and championship heats.
The eighth seed in the 50-yard freestyle heading into Friday's prelims, Petereit finished ninth (23.48) to advance to today's finals, which start at 11 a.m.
Vernon Hills freshman Casey Craffey will join Petereit, as she will swim in the consolation finals of the 200 freestyle, where she touched 12th in 1:52.52 during prelims.
Cougars sophomore diver Ally Landis also made it to the finals. She amassed 317.70 points in the prelims and is within shouting distance of leader Jessie Creed of New Trier (338.95).
"Overall, we're swimming just all right," Vernon Hills coach Kedric Greenawalt said. "We had some high expectations after last week, but I think our youth is catching up to us. Mentally, though, the girls are handling it very well."
Warren is another program getting noticed. For the first time ever, the Blue Devils advanced two divers to state in seniors Carly Baun and Teagon Albert. Baun raced up the leaderboard Friday to post 296.90 points, good for eighth position. She became the first Warren diver to advance to the finals.
"It's tough enough getting to state," Blue Devils coach Chris Bertana said. "You just got to hold on once you get here."
Stevenson is no stranger to the state meet and will represent in multiple events Saturday. Senior Iza Pelka is looking to go out with a bang and has a good chance of winning the 200 freestyle. The top seed, she swam a 1:49.04 to earn a spot in the finals.
"Anything can happen, and whatever happens is OK with me," said Pelka, a four-time state qualifier who will join former Warren standout Courtney Barker and swim for Tulane next fall. "I'm happy with my times and want to finish on a good note."
Pelka also made it to the consolation finals of the 100 butterfly. The fifth seed heading in, she swam a 55.62 (seventh). Pelka will cap off her high school career by leading off in the 400 free relay, which will also include Ashley Carollo, Maddy O'Donnell and Lucy Stevens in the consolation finals. Seeded 13th, the quartet touched in 3:31.11 (12th).
Carollo will also swim the championship heat of the 100 backstroke after touching in 55.30 (fourth).
Libertyville has a couple of standouts who are guaranteed hardware as well. Senior diver Claire Neuberger accumulated 290.05 points to finish 14th and earn a spot in the finals. Wildcats sophomore Emma Gleason, last week's sectional champion, will swim in the consolation finals of the 100 butterfly (55.89, ninth).