Girls swimming and diving: Hersey's Lumsden, Blumenfeld rewriting school's record book
Hersey girls swimming standout Mollie Lumsden wasted little time making news this season.
In the Huskies' recent 108.5 to 70.5 nonconference win over Glenbrook North, Lumsden swam 5:00.09 in the 500 freestyle to break the school record by - catch this - more than 8 seconds.
And the record-breaking didn't stop at Lumsden. Ally Blumenfeld broke her own pool record in 6 dives with a 282.10 tally. The old record was 264.35.
"I thought there was so much energy as we returned to a regular dual meet format this year," Hersey coach Dick Mortensen said. "The girls, the fans and coaches were super excited to watch all three levels swim and dive at the same time. The energy pushed girls to have some phenomenal times during this first meet."
Hersey's 200 medley relay team, Mortensen pointed out, already is right at the state cut, swimming a 1:48 recently with Lumsden, the returning Maggie Papanicholas (back after a year training for Olympic Trials), Brooke Martin and Ashley Oiler.
"First time in more than a year doing relay starts makes it even more impressive," Mortensen said.
Papanicholas returning is yet another positive. "Getting Maggie back has really added to our top-end depth," Mortensen said.
Stevenson update:
The Patriots tore it up at the recent Scout Relays hosted by Lake Forest. Stevenson won with 494 points. Glenbrook South was way back in second at 373. Stevenson won 11 of the 21 events and never finished lower than third in any swimming event.
Stevenson opened the meet with senior divers Nora Kowalski (who broke the team record for 6 dives at 263.80) and Shreeya Sinha turning in personal records to win the varsity diving relay event.
Coach Ayrton Kasemets said the defining moment came in the 800 relay when Liza Kolbunova, Amanda Chang, Delaney Umbleby and Norah Polonsky squeaked out a win by a narrow margin.
Relay winners included Jennifer Chen, Stephanie Kirova, Hana Wienckowski, Sophia Berger, Abby Collins, Amy Andres, Milena Busma, Claudia Rzeznik, Katie Makarska, Kolbunova, Chang, Umbleby, Polonsky, Isabelle Gattone, Elizabeth White, Camila Maya, Valerie Kutonova and Karina Cantero.
Elk Grove update:
The Grens were tied going into the last relay in a 95-87 nonconference loss to Maine West. "A very good start to the season as far as racing and efforts from all swimmers at both levels," Elk Grove coach Dave Toler said.
Toler liked the effort turned in from his medley relay team of seniors Michelle Cobirzan, Ava Hennig, Kylie Rittle and junior Dea Papaleka.
Leyden update:
The Eagles opened the season with a nonconference win over Fenton. The freshman medley relay team of Dominika Pindor, Emily Diaz, Kaya Kurcz and Natalie Kornatowska went 2:08.50, while sophomores Ashley Rozycki and Isabella Cano went 1-2 in the fly. Sophomore Briteny Orcullo won the 500 with Cano taking second - both personal bests. Senior Lily Dodgers won the diving competition, while classmate Caroline Gorski won the 50 and 100.
Wheeling update:
Notables for the Wildcats out of the gates so far are the all-senior 200 medley relay team of Allison Wong (back), Sydney Kyvik (breast), Clare Prilutsky (fly) and Francesca Yoon (free). Kyvik also has excelled in the 50, while Prilutsky has been strong in the 500 for coach Katlyn Tomasetti.
Palatine update:
Pirates coach Katie Kupka is excited for the likes of sophomore backstroker Yugene Shin, captain Hailey Huber (200, 500), divers Riley Strahl and Emily Ziemba and butterflier Venia Drab. Kupka said all five are potential state qualifiers. Drab was a member of the medley relay team in 2019 that set a school record.
Prospect update:
Knights coach Alfonso Lopez said seniors Grace Dembowski and Joli Babjak are contenders to have big seasons. "Both are looking great in practice and have looked good in our intrasquad meet," he said. "I have been impressed with the returning swimmers and divers after a year away from our normal routine, coming together and really setting the tone for what should be a successful and fun season."
Vernon Hills update:
The Cougars competed in the Scout Relays at Lake Forest where the varsity diving relay of Alyse Lichtenstein and Jessica DeLorm took first, as did the 4 by 100 IM relay of Emma Zhang, Kate Williams, Emma Fricano and Izzy Ramos. The 200 breaststroke relay of Zhang, Vicky Burda, Fricano and Ramos also won. Ramos, Williams, Zhang and Burda were second in the 400 medley relay, while Avery Kamai, Williams, Fricano and Burda were second in the 400 relay. Ramos came from behind to win two relays. Coach A.J. Block also lauded the efforts of Lichtenstein and DeLorm and well as Williams.
Maine West update:
In the Warriors' win over Elk Grove, coach Ryan Klaus liked what he saw with junior Michelle Kaner and senior Alyssa Harrison. Kaner was sixth in the state as a freshman in the backstroke. "Michelle had a great first meet and is looking strong in the water," Klaus said. "Alyssa also is looking great."
Buffalo Grove update:
The Bison were fourth at Lake Forest, their best finish there in program history, coach Mike McPartlin noted. Junior Reese Frighetto clocked a 25-flat, "which was a great swim for her and the fastest flat-start 50 freestyle out of all teams." Also keep an eye on the BG medley relay of senior Emilia Jedryka, Frighetto, junior Victoria Surdyka and sophomore Gianna Gagliano.
Fremd update:
The Vikings will be led this year by Katie Kuehn, who set the school record in the 50 at the sectional last year. Coach Andrew Kittrell also is high on a deep diving roster that features Avary Helfrich, Kylie Booker, Kacey Tokunaga, Ella Gray and Que Genet. Senior Ola Gorecki is poised to have a strong senior season in the distance events and backstroke, Kittrell added.