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Fenwick swimming moves forward
Fenwick's victorious 200-yard medley relay team of (left to right) Colleen Barron, Mimi Scheider, Kierston Farley-Sepe and Haley Wickham celebrate their victory at the girls state swim meet Saturday. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 24, 2012 6:42AM
EVANSTON — Fenwick is getting closer.
The Friars came within nine points of upsetting New Trier at the girls swimming state meet Saturday. Although New Trier won its third consecutive state championship, its 166-157 margin of victory was smaller than that of a year ago, when the Trevians beat the Friars 177-162.
The runner-up finish matched Fenwick’s best showing and gave the team added incentive for next year.
“We’re getting closer every year,” Fenwick coach Renee Olson said. “We’re really excited. Everyone came out and swam well. We threw everything we had at them and we got close.”
Unlike last year, when the Friars won all three relays plus two individual events, the Friars won only one race (the 200-yard medley relay) Saturday. The squad of freshman Kierston Farley-Sepe, senior Haley Wickham and juniors Mimi Schneider and Colleen Barron were victorious in 1 minute, 41.87 seconds. That same team set a state record of 1:41.68 the previous day.
But Fenwick was solid across the board, taking second in the 200 free relay and 400-yard free relay and getting medals in five individual events.
“Our team really did all that we could this season,” said the Northwestern-bound Wickham. “I know we came up short, but we’re still very grateful for an awesome season, and I know that (the Friars) will do great next year, too.”
Wickham and senior diver Michelle Kalupski, who finished second with 410.35 points, are the only point-scorers Fenwick will lose to graduation.
Junior Paulina Kaminski and Wickham finished 3-4 in the 100 breaststroke, while Schneider and Farley-Sepe went 2-3 in the 100 butterfly. Farley-Sepe added a fifth-place finish in the 100 backstroke, while Kaminski was 11th in the 200 individual medley.
“It was a good day,” Schneider said. “Everyone had a good meet. The medley relay was incredible.
“Obviously, we want to win it next year.”
Lions finish high again
Lyons used a familiar formula to secure its third top-10 finish in the past four years — one star individual and three solid relays.
Senior Elly Vitek capped her career by earning four medals — two in individual races and two in relays — to lead Lyons to 10th place with 46 points. Vitek, who will swim at Brown, finished sixth in the 100 freestyle in 51.99 and ninth in the 200 free in 1:51.77. She was fourth and third, respectively, in those two races a year ago.
“I had a lot of fun these past four years, so it’s been an amazing experience just to be here,” said Vitek, who swam a personal-best 51.64 in the 100 prelims on Friday. “I’m happy with how I did overall. I just wanted to do my best and I’m very grateful to be here with my friends and teammates.”
Vitek anchored seniors Kristine Rosenberger and Louisa Hoffman and sophomore Kristen Young to eighth place in the 200 free relay in 1:36.83. She also anchored the 400 free relay to a 10th-place finish in 3:31.91. Rosenberger, Hoffman and freshman Mackenna Dunn swam on that relay.
In addition, the Lions grabbed eighth place in the 200 medley relay as senior Kelley Garrow, junior Elizabeth Murphy, Rosenberger and Young timed 1:48.06.
Hinsdale Central Dives in
For the first time ever, Hinsdale Central did not win any medals in a swimming race. But the Red Devils had plenty of success in diving, where they joined state-champion New Trier as the only teams with two medalists.
Sophomore Maggy McCarthy finished fourth with 399.35 points, only 15 points behind the champion, Benet senior Taylor Kramer. Junior Marley Morano kept McCarthy company and placed 11th with 371.70 points.
“I loved it,” McCarthy said. “It was always nice to have a friend around. Last year I was alone and this year it was definitely a change. I liked the support.”
McCarthy qualified for state as a freshman but did not advance to the finals, finishing 38th in the prelims. She changed her mental approach this time.
“I just saw this meet as another meet,” McCarthy said. “It was just another ordinary meet that you compete in.”
