Time management is probably going to be key for girls swimming and diving this fall.
Without relay races, by decree of the Illinois High School Association, dual meets are going to be a roughly hourlong affair. For example, it only took Hersey one hour and 10 minutes, including two breaks, to defeat host Glenbrook North 80-64 on Thursday.
That's what makes Huskies' junior Mollie Lumsden's victories in the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.15), 100 freestyle (55.01) and 100 backstroke (1:00.67) rather impressive. But to hear her tell it, forget the wins and the fact that she didn't get a lot of rest between events -- she's just happy to be back racing.
"It was so much fun, no words to even describe it," Lumsden said, adding she hasn't raced since March, for Glenbrook Swim Club. "I didn't think about winning or not. I went there and told myself I was going to compete and have fun."
Hersey coach Dick Mortensen said the social distancing protocols put in place worked to a T. There was plenty of bleacher space to spread out, and there was a line to separate swimmers from the roving referee. Sure, there were questions about when masks could be removed, but all in all, everything went well. At the end of the meet, the swimmers from both schools lined up on their sides of the pool and did a virtual high-five.
Glenbrook North senior diver Stella Balaskas echoed Lumsden's thoughts about competing again.
"The adrenaline rush that came with (competing) was something that was missing in my life for quite a while," she said. "Additionally, it was nice to interact with the girls from the other team, some of which were old club teammates. It felt so good to be back out there and do what I love."
Balaskas finished third in her event with 207.45 points. Hersey junior Ally Blumenfeld won it with 239.60 points.
Neuqua Valley loaded again
In a normal year, Neuqua Valley would be well positioned to win yet another team state championship, its third in a row.
But this is no normal year. Thanks to COVID-19, the only postseason will be geographic regional competition, according to an IHSA plan approved August 24.
The Wildcats are loaded again, with multiple 2019 individual state champions, including senior diver Jane Riehs and senior Rachel Stege (200 and 500 freestyle), a Georgia commit. Then there's senior Tiffany Ruan (third in the 100 freestyle). She's a Southern Methodist recruit, while Megan Ciezczak is a Kentucky recruit and should head up the 50 freestyle.
Now add in a wild card -- senior McKenna Stone, a transfer from Metea Valley who won the 2019 butterfly state title. And for good measure, a slew of role players, like junior Sophie Meng, another butterflyer.
"Obviously Neuqua is loaded with talent, but I'm just most excited to finish out my high school career with my best friends," Stone said. "It's a bonus that they also happen to be extremely fast. No two programs are going to be the same, that's the beauty of individuality, but I'm grateful that my transfer to Neuqua allows me to experience the same hard core training while still keeping it fun, just like I had at Metea."
A formidable squad on paper, and in the water. But there's no state, and while it hurts, of course, Stege is just glad to have the opportunity to race for the navy and gold.
"We're really grateful we have a season," Stege said. "We were really excited to fight for the three-peat. It's disappointing, but the entire country is going through this. There's nothing you can do about it."
No season at Fenton
Fenton's season was canceled in early August by Community High School District 100, the reasoning being that the Bison train indoors and at the public Water's Edge Aquatic Center in Bensenville's Redmond Park. It was the only Fenton sport that was canceled outright this fall.
But coach Jeff Baeder isn't allowing the season to get washed away completely. He is planning to have his team meet virtually this fall, and focus on four things: physical and mental health, team bonding, videos to help his charges develop their swimming IQ, and leadership.
He'll have an audience. Last season, Baeder had 18 girls on his team, but he has over 20 this season, including nine that are new to the squad.
"I think it's going to be a work in progress," said Baeder, in his second year as the Bison's head coach after a stint in the 1990s and early 2000s. "One thing I'm having them do today, they are creating a video of an exercise or yoga pose that they like to do. We're going to try to create a dryland workout from that."
But he's not the only one who is thinking about ways to bring a team with a canceled season together. Senior Kylie Peterson is trying to organize a team drive-in -- or as she puts it, a "dive-in" -- movie.
"I was thinking that maybe we could set up in the football field or the parking lot," she said, adding that the plan has to be approved by the district. "Even if it's watching Finding Nemo, it's a way for the girls to get together and be socially distanced."
Still, it's little consolation for lost competition. Peterson has been swimming since she was 6 and this was to have been her last competitive season before she heads off to Arizona State next year to study biomedical engineering.
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Girls swimming: No relays means less rest between events - Chicago Daily Herald
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