The quartet of Evanston seniors Paige Haden, Ana Woods, Iana Wolff and Honore Collins has now advanced to state as a group not once or twice, but three years in a row.
The four Wildkits placed first in the 200-yard medley relay in 1 minute, 44.54 seconds to lead the Wildkits to third place with 217 points at the Glenbrook North Sectional on Saturday, Nov. 14. Haden, Woods, Wolff and Collins also qualified last year in the medley relay and advanced to state in 2013 in the 400 freestyle relay.
They finished third at state in the medley relay last year and hope for a repeat finish at New Trier on Nov. 20-21.
“We’ve been training together for a while during the season, so I think that helps,” Wolff said. “The fact we’re so close as friends allows us to have more fun and be more motivated for the races, which helps a lot. Last year we got third, so, if anything, we want to do that or better. If we all go at least half a second faster, we should be guaranteed top-three. I think we can because none of us were tapered or shaved for this meet, so we’ll do a lot better at state.”
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Evanston will be busy this weekend with numerous state qualifiers. Woods, Collins and Wolff were also part of the state-qualifying third-place 200 (1:36.29) and 400 (3:34.78) freestyle relays. Wolff took first in the 100 (56.91), while Collins placed fourth (24.27) and Mary Claire D’Arrigo came in fifth (24.45) in the 50 freestyle. Haden placed fourth (58.55) and Madeline Managlia (58.74) was fifth in the 100 backstroke and Woods took fourth (1:05.15) and Olivia Everhart touched eighth (1:07.14) in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.15).
Loyola
Good things also came in threes for Loyola.
Loyola seniors Maria Kyle and Claire Voss and juniors Olivia Andrew and Ella Tierney will also compete at state for the third year in a row.
Andrew placed first in the 200 (1:51.65) and 100 freestyles (52.00) at the sectional to lead Loyola to first place with 268 points. She was also part of the state-qualifying second-place 200 (1:36.22) and 400 (3:31.56) freestyle relays with Kyle and Tierney.
Andrew competed at state in the same four events last year and as a freshman advanced in the 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay and 200 and 400 freestyle relays. She was pleased with her season’s-best time in the 200 freestyle and also is excited to race with her training partner, Tierney, in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays at state.
“First place in the 200 (freestyle) was great,” Andrew said. “I’m really happy with it. I haven’t gotten that time since last year at state, so I’m really glad that I could get it down before the state meet”
Tierney also advanced by taking third in the 200 freestyle (1:52.29) and first in the 500 freestyle (5:01.56). She competed in the 400 freestyle relay and 500 freestyle last year at state and the 200 freestyle in 2013. Kyle took second in the 100 butterfly (57.68) and Voss placed first in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.31) to qualify. Kyle and Voss were part of the state-qualifying 200 medley relay (third, 1:46.50).
New Trier
Trevians senior Julia Green earned her third-straight trip to state when she placed second in the 200 (1:52.20) and 500 (5:05.97) freestyles to lead New Trier to runner-up at Glenbrook North with 261.50 points.
She was also part of the first-place 200 (1:36.13) and 400 (3:29.35) freestyle relays. Green clocked personal-best times in the 200 and 500 freestyles at the sectional and looks to go even faster at state.
“It’s really exciting that it’s my third year in a row going to state and it’s actually also my third year in a row that I’m being tapered for state, so that’s also really nice,” Green said. “I got lucky in the fact that my freshman year there were two seniors who were really good at the two events I swam, the 200 and 500 (freestyles), and then they graduated, so then there was a spot for me.
“In the 200, especially, and also in the 500, when I was swimming I didn’t quite feel like I was going the times that I ended up going. Those were actually both best times for me, which was really exciting because I’m only half-tapered, so I’m really excited to see how fast I go next week.”
Glenbrook South
The worst thing Constance Chrones said she could do before and during the sectional meet was overthink her races.
“The more you do that, the more you don’t rely on your training,” the senior said. “I had to trust my training.”
Constance executed her game plan and qualified for the state meet in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:06.42. She was seventh in the event. As a sophomore, she also swam the breaststroke at the state meet.
“I had fun with it,” she said.
That didn’t mean she skipped the butterflies.
“(Earlier at the meet), I had a little anxiety attack,” she said. “There was a lot of pressure, good pressure. When I finally made (the state meet), it was a relief. I am glad I am ending my swim career on a good note.”
Chrones took 10th in the 50 free (24.84), narrowly missing the state cut. The Titans placed seventh with 83 points.
Glenbrook North
Glenbrook North junior Sabrina Baxamusa placed first in the 50 freestyle (23.69) and third in the 100 freestyle (52.51) to lead Glenbrook North to fourth place in the sectional with 161 points. She was also part of the state-qualifying fourth-place 200 medley (1:47.45) and 400 freestyle relays (3:35.03).
Baxamusa competed at state in the 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay and 200 and 400 freestyle relays last year and advanced to state in the 400 freestyle relay in 2013. She hopes to make the state finals in the 50 freestyle.
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“I was not expecting to get first (in the 50) because I was seeded third going in, so it was just one of the most shocking races I’ve ever had,” Baxamusa said. “I want to see if I can get into the top 12 this year. That would be so amazing and very different from the past years. Last year we got top six in two relays, but this year I want to see if I can do it for myself.”
Regina
Senior freestyler Mary Berg was the team’s top finisher, placing 21st in the 50 free (27.01) and 23rd in the 100 free (1:00.46), but did not extend her season.
Staff writer Matt Harness also contributed.
Todd Marver is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.