Freshman swimmers stole the show at Saturday’s Neuqua Valley sectional.
First-year swimmers won seven of eight individual events and a collective 23 ninth-graders–more than one-third of the entire qualifying field–earned berths in individual events for next weekend’s state championships at Evanston.
“It’s a good class, but today was even a slap in the face for me to realize that the freshmen had such an impact,” Neuqua Valley coach Len Penkala said.
Leading the way were Naperville Central freshman phenoms Kelly Krzemienski and Kelly McNichols and Naperville North’s Katie Stratton.
Krzemienski took first in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races. McNichols won the 200 freestyle and then captured the 500 free.
Stratton swept the 200 individual medley title in a pool-record 2 minutes 5.48 seconds and later won the 100 breaststroke.
Neuqua Valley freshman Melissa Marik just missed a pool mark when she won the 100 backstroke in 57.64.
All told, at least 81 divers, individuals and relays qualified for state. The number possibly will grow when diving scores are collected from other sectionals and at-large divers are determined.
Host Neuqua Valley won the team title with 259 points and earned 16 qualifying spots, including a 4×50 freestyle relay that finished in a pool-record 1:37.26.
Jack McCarthy.
At New Trier: Ashley Welnhofer placed first in three events–the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle–as the host Trevians rolled to the title with a 336-255 advantage over Glenbrook North.
At St. Charles North: In the third year of its program, St. Charles North qualified in eight events to win its first sectional title. Laura Fehrman won the 100 freestyle in 51.90 and Catherine Nosal’s 5:05.98 took first in the 500 for the host Stars.
At Stevenson: Two-time state champion Sara Hershman cruised to the diving title and Keely Delcore, Kelly Steelman, Courtney Silliman and Becca Poetz teamed up to win both the 4×50 and 4×100 relays as Barrington topped the host Patriots 273-263.
Stephanie Duncan’s first-place finishes in the 100 and 200 freestyle led Stevenson.
At Vernon Hills: Lake Forest earned 16 state-qualifying spots, winning nine of 12 events, to convincingly take its seventh straight sectional title 324-191 over Libertyville.
For the Scouts, defending 50 freestyle state champ Lindsey Kelly won that event along with the 100 freestyle and also swam on all three winning relays.
