It’s always a fun meet when rivals meet, no matter the sport.
Lyons’ girls swimming team won seven of 11 events to secure the sectional championship in Western Springs with 302 points, holding off a late rally by rival Hinsdale Central, who had 289 points to finish second.
“It was a very good day for us,” Lions coach Kurt Johns said. “I can’t say enough about the girls and how hard they’ve worked all season. This was very exciting for us.”
The Lions won the first three events in the sectional and five of the first six to set the tone as junior Paige Mitchell and Julia Kral led the charge. Mitchell won the 200- and 500-yard freestyles and took part in the team’s winning 400 relay.
“We’re very excited about this win,” Mitchell said. “Everyone worked very hard and it shows.”
In Mitchell’s 500 victory, she went neck-and-neck with her teammate, junior Lucy Meehan. Mitchell pulled away in the last 25 yards to touch in 5 minutes, 6:15 seconds, edging out Meehan, who finished in a state-qualifying 5:06.72.
“I know in practice we push each other to go as hard as we can and I felt during this race that it was just like we were in practice,” Mitchell said. “It was great.”
Kral captured the 200 individual medley and set a school record of 1:04.16 in winning the 100 butterfly. During the race, however, breaking records was far from Kral’s mind.
“My stroke felt a little off during the race,” she said. “So I was really excited and surprised when my teammates were telling me what I’d done.”
The Lions had 11 state qualifying times in the sectional, which will make for a busy weekend at the state meet at New Trier.
“We’re really excited about next week,” Kral said. “I think we’re gonna do great.”
Hinsdale Central
Hinsdale Central coach Bob Barber said the sectional meet at Lyons on Satuday felt very much like a dual meet they had earlier in the season against the Lions.
“It’s nice to be friends out of the water and rivals in the water,” he said. “Brings out the best in both sides.”
The Red Devils captured three firsts and had six other state-qualifying times to make their presence known at New Trier.
“I knew it was going to be close going in,” junior Mia Chiappe said. “Felt very much like the dual meet we had earlier this season.”
Chiappe was a standout for the Red Devils while winning the 100 freestyle (52.54) and was part of their winning effort in the 200 freestyle relay (1:37.38). The wins validate her decision after her sophomore season to move from the 50 freestyle to the longer 100.
“It was a goal of mine this season and it’s really paid off for me and how I’ve helped my team in these races,” she said.
“(Chiappe) is very focused,” Barber said. “And she realizes what she’s accomplished and what it means for the team.”
Sophomore Stephanie Bowater had the Red Devils’ third win in the sectional, clocking 58:48 in the 100 backstroke.
Hinsdale South
Hinsdale South might have placed fifth at Lyons, but the Hornets had at least one swimmer in the top 10 in most events.The young Hornets team fared best in the relays with fifth-place finishes in the 200 medley and the 200 and 400 freestyles.
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“The girls’ performance was about what we expected,” Hornets coach Beth Walker said. “While we did not make any cuts for the state meet, we had 100-percent improvement for season-best times. The girls all swam faster than they had all season.”
On an individual level, the Hornets’ best performance came from sophomore Brianna Veselik, who finished fifth in the 100-yard butterfly in 1:02.68. Veselik also had a ninth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.58).
Other top individual finishes included fifth place by sophomore diver Kaitlin Hall with a score of 325.65. Junior Emily Vollmar took eighth in the 500 freestyle (5:38.83).
The Hornets’ season was at times challenging due to heavy losses from graduation and an overall lack of depth, but Walker remained pleased.
“I was really proud of the way all of our girls handled themselves, not only this weekend, but all season long,” she said. “Everyone stepped up and did their part.”
Chris Vavra is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.