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 Swim 2006 |
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Wednesday, August 30
Prospect Falls to Warren in 2006 Opener
It was an exciting meet with many great swims, especially considering it was the first meet in a very young season. Good to see the divers shining too. Here is what the Herald had to say:
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When Prospect edged Warren in the final event to win last years Hersey Jamboree, a good-natured rivalry was born.
We knew then this would be a good matchup, said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen after watching his team fall 99-87 to the visiting Blue Devils in a nonconference dual meet Tuesday evening. Warren held an 87-85 lead going into the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Blue Devils put the meet away by taking first and second place in that event. Their A team finished first with a time of 3:49.5, while their B team came in second in 4:03.75. Prospects top team placed third.
The biggest highlight was the last relay, said Warren coach Eric Rogers. The meet basically came down to that race. The competitiveness of the meet in the season opener for both squads caught Rogers attention.
Its pretty early in the season to have incredible swims, but we had some kids who had some good swims, said Rogers, whose mother is the principal at Prospect High School. We dont have many meets that are this competitive. Thats why we set this meet up last year. We knew it would be real competitive. Starting out with a meet like this gets you going for the season.
This was a great meet, said Mortensen. Thats why we put Warren on our schedule.
Im very happy with our times today. They were very competitive. We had great races from every single one of our kids. Prospect was handicapped by the absence of breaststroke specialist Julia Andracki. The sophomore missed the meet because of a strained rotator cuff and is expected to be out of the Knights lineup for the next two weeks.
Im really proud of the girls for the way they stepped up, Mortensen said. I had to finagle the lineup quite a bit without Julia in it. Warren freshman Kristen OConnor won both the 200 (2:02.34) and the 100 free (55.94). For Prospect, Amy Andracki finished first in the 100 fly and the 100 breaststroke and also swam a leg on the winning 200 medley relay and 200 free relay.
For Warren, Courtney Jenkins won the IM (2:20.24), and Alley Calewarts placed first in the 100 backstroke (1:04.08). Prospects Sarah Sohn captured the 500 free and was also part of the winning medley relay team and the 200 free relay team.
Friday, September 1
Strong Barrington Bronco Team Kicks Knights
Thursday, August 31 - The Prospect Knights succumbed to the continually strong Barrington swim team, 125 to 61. Victories were taken by Sarah in the 500 and Amy in breastroke. September will be better. JV loss, 125-58.
Friday, September 8
Prospect Flattens Saxons
On Thursday night the Knights traveled to the land of Woodfield and returned with their first victory of the season over the Schaumburg Saxons. KC, Julia, Sarah and Molly started things off with a victory in the 200 Medley Relay. Julia also came in with wins in the 50 free and 200 free relay. And what a wonderful thing it is to have a win in diving!!! Sarah took the 500 free and contributed to the 200 FR. KC has her backstroke churning and turning. Amy put another breastroke win under her belt. Molly and Amy both helped with the 200 FR win. Final score 113-73.
Saturday will be fun at the Viators Invite.
 | | Diana Munz after 800M |
Sunday, September 10
Knights Take FIRST at Viators Invite
Saturday morning, Sept 9. The Knights earned an impressive victory at the St. Viators Invite. Ten teams were competing in eleven different events. The Knights team had enough depth and desire to win 6 of those events with their worst finish being a fourth place. Some whole teams were not able to get a fourth place finish.
In the first event, 200 medlay relay, KC, Julia, Sarah and Molly set the stage with a First palce finish. After sprinting a 50 in the relay, Molly has to go 200 yards and is able to come in 4th. In the 200IM Amy and KC are side by side and Amy brings home second. In the 50 free, Julia just back from rehab, wins and drops 0.3 off her seed time. Butterfly is always fun to watch, but with Sarah and Margaret, side by side it also becomes exciting. Margaret had an awesome start to lead the field to the first turn and Sarah fights her way to the lead and gives the Knights a First and Second finish. Molly is up for her third of the first six events, the 100 free. She drops 0.11 seconds , but finishes second.
Sarah takes her third win and comes within 6 seconds of a State qualifying time in the 500. The fifth Knight win is in the 200 free relay with Molly, Amy, Julia and Sarah all swimming consistently fast times. That makes Sarah's day a perfect 4 wins in 4 events!!! In backstoke, Margaret and KC each drop a whole second off their seed times and take 2nd and 3rd place. Amy wins breastroke. And in the final event, Michelle, KC, Margaret and Amy swam their hearts out to out touch St. Ignatius and retain the overall victory over Mother Macauley. A very fun and exciting Invite.
Final Scores;
PROSPECT 349
Mother Macauley 342
St. Viators 279
St. Ignatius 273
Jacobs 188
Resurection 188
Maris
Regina Dominican
Trinity
Elk Grove
Sunday, September 10
This Week - Oct. 9
Only ONE meet this week, but it is a BIG one.
An unusual WEDNESDAY meet at Wheeling against Buffalo Grove. This one should decide the MSL East champion.
Friday, September 15
Knights Whip Mustangs
From the Herald:
Posted Friday, September 15, 2006
Meets such as this one between Prospect and Rolling Meadows have made the Mid-Suburban East girls swimming title race so exciting in recent years. Meadows captured the East titles in 2003 and 2004. Last year, Prospect and Meadows tied their dual meet and the Knights earned the crown.
The teams collided to open the East season Thursday, and Prospects senior-dominated lineup defeat Meadows rebuilding squad 124-62. My (18) seniors had never beat them before, said Knights coach Dick Mortensen. It was very important to the seniors that we took care of business today. I thought we had some good swims. Not great, but this was a good way to start off the Mid-Suburban East.
The Mustangs won one event Jamie Vicars in the 200-yard IM (2:32.03).I liked the way we showed up tonight as a team. We had some exciting races, said Mustangs coach Monika Chiappetta, who has six freshmen in her lineup. We did 6,500 yards every day this week, so I killed them. (Colleen) Briggs was sick all week, but she still swam 6,500 each day. She finished in 55 in the 400 free relay. With her team in a rebuilding phase, Chiappetta doesnt measure success in wins and losses. To me, the winning is the freshmen saying Now I know what it takes, Chiappetta said. For them to come to that aha moment on their own was worth it.
Thursday marked the first time Prospects Julia Andracki swam the 100 breaststroke. Andracki, who finished third in the state in that event last year, swam at the St. Viator Invitational on Saturday and at Schaumburg on Tuesday, but this was the first time the sophomore who missed the first few meets of the season with a rotator cuff injury swam more than 50 yards. Andracki won that event, the 100 free and was part of the winning 200 medley relay along with KC Dix, Sarah Sohn and Amy Andracki, and the 200 free relay with Sohn, Amy Andracki and Molly Nordyke.
Kathy Rudolph
Friday, September 15
2006 Season Preview
From MP Times
BY KEN KEENAN | ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Winning a division title for the first time in 31 years . . . setting five school records in sectionals . . . qualifying four events to State . . . ending up with three All-American swimmers. Yes, the 2005 season was quite an eventful one for Prospect. And the thing is, this season could prove to be even better, as the Knights are fully loaded with most of last year's cast back in the fold.
"Expectations are extremely high," said Prospect head coach Dick Mortensen, whose squad won the 10-team St. Viator Invite on Saturday with 349 points, ahead of second-place McAuley's 342. "A high finish at sectionals will not cut it. We want to qualify as many people for State as we can. We've gone from just being competitive (at sectionals) to wanting to qualify in every event. We're not settling for mediocre."
As a varsity freshman last season, Julia Andracki was anything but mediocre, making State in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200 individual medley -- and also with the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. She finished third in the 100 breaststroke, in school-record fashion, earning All-America status in the process. Andracki also set a school record in the 200 IM at sectionals, helping the two relays set records as well. Others returning from the pair of State relays include fourth-year senior Amy Andracki (Julia's sister) and third-year junior K.C. Dix -- each an All-American selection, in the 200 medley relay -- and Sarah Sohn, a third-year junior, plus second-year sophomore Molly Nordyke. "Three returning All-Americans. I've never said that before," Mortensen said.
Julia Andracki, recently recovered from a midsummer shoulder injury, "isn't going to have any trouble getting back. Her experience last year makes her more hardened. It's not new anymore. She knows what to expect, so she doesn't put pressure on herself. She's a winner, and she expects to win every time." The younger Andracki will focus on the 100 breaststroke as her main event, but she'll also swim the 50 free, and possibly the 100 free, as well as on relays. "Who knows? Maybe she'll swim the 200 IM again, too," mused Mortensen. "She's very versatile, as are the top eight. They can all swim any event."
That includes Amy Andracki, a State qualifier in the 100 breaststroke three straight years in addition to making the cut with last year's medley relay. This year, she'll look to qualify in the 100 butterfly as well. "Amy kind of started this upward swing we've had in the program, and she's definitely at the head of her class," Mortensen said. "Last year, as great a swimmer as she is, she still put a lot of pressure on herself to succeed. But that's the type of athlete she is -- she gets the job done and stays away from accolades. She doesn't brag about her accomplishments; she's more about the team than herself. She expects to win the MSL East, and she knows how hard we had to work to win it last year."
The veteran Sohn will compete in the 100 fly, and the 200 and 500 freestyle. "She's versatile enough to make State in all three, but her focus will be on two by the end of the season," Mortensen said. "Sarah's one of the hardest workers on the team. She stands out that way, and she works for everything she gets. She has the tough events, like the 500 free, and she's ruthless come the last 100. She'll cut your heart out. She wastes no swims -- practices or meets. She's the kind of kid who sets an example by her work ethic."
Dix, whose graduated sister, Liz, was also part of the State relays last year, will swim the 100 backstroke, 200 IM and 50 free, plus relays. "She's another one who's versatile. Wherever I can plug her in, she'll perform at a high level," Mortensen said. "Right now, she looks to be in the best shape of her life. Her goals are to make State in an individual event. She has the experience, and that makes it easier."
Nordyke will anchor the 200 medley relay, and also swim the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. "I can't wear her out. She just keeps smiling and swimming," Mortensen said. "She's probably the most coachable girl on the team, and probably has the greatest potential for improvement. By the end of the year, you might see her qualify in two events." "Molly matured over the summer. Last year, as a freshman, she didn't understand all the little things. But now she does."
Amy Warner is also back, as a fourth-year senior and co-captain. Her main events are the 100 and 500 free. "She brings leadership to the table," Mortensen said. "I expect a lot from my captains, and Amy takes it on her own to help the team in any way -- the little things, team-unity things. She swims whatever is asked to get points for the team to help win meets."
Diver Tanya Walters, also a co-captain, is back for her third varsity campaign, while sophomore Molly Spacapan (100 fly, 100 back) returns for her second. "Tanya worked her tail off over summer in two different diving classes. She was at 140 (points) in meets last year, and is right at 140, 141 again," Mortensen said.
Second-year seniors Julie Rendino (100 fly) and Justine Janis (50 free), and second-year sophomore Margaret Schueler (50 free, 100 free) round out the returnees. "They're all role players who I expect to have big contributions with high potential for growth as we go along," Mortsensen said.
Newcomers include freshman Kelly Wilson, Ali Alesi and Nicole Mayerck. "They'll go through the bumps and bruises, but they should be contributing by the end of the season," Mortensen said. Prospect opened the 2006 season with a 99-87 loss to Warren at home (Wheeling's pool) Aug. 29. Two days later, the Knights defeated Barrington 125-61 on the road and then beat Schaumburg 113-73 on the road Sept. 7. Also on the agenda is a visit from Rolling Meadows at 4:30 p.m. today, followed by the Stevenson Relays on Friday.
Tuesday, September 19
Stevenson Relays
The Prospect Knights finished a very respectable 5th place at the Stevenson Relay Invitational meet on Saturday. This year the Knights were in the gold Division along with some of the best teams in the State, Stevenson, Loyola, and Lake Forest. It was exciting to see so many talented swimmers. The Knights were able to achieve second place finishes in the Sophomore 200 yd Medley, the 350 yd Butterfly and the 350 Breastroke. This meet requires a team to have a lot of depth with talented swimmers at all levels, Varsity, Junior, Sophomore and Freshman. This year, the Knights had their deepest team ever as shown by the highest placing in recent history.
GREEN DIVISION
Rockford Boylan
Crystal Lake Central
Chicago Latin
Plainfield
Wheeling
Jacobs
Dundee Crown
GOLD DIVISION
Stevenson
Loyola
Lake Forest
Warren
Prospect
Cary Grove
St. Viators
Saturday, September 23
Excerpts from Herald
Sohn contributes to Prospects successful, flexible lineup
By Kathy Rudolph
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Friday, September 22, 2006
Prospects Amy and Julia Andracki are two of the states best breaststroke swimmers, but they arent the only reasons why the Knights won the Mid-Suburban East title last year and started off 2006 with a victory against East division rival Rolling Meadows. Sarah Sohn has been as consistent as the Andrackis. A key member of the relay teams, Sohn also has made the 500 freestyle her own. Sarahs the kind of swimmer who toys with you, then rips your heart out at the end, said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen.
The relays have been an area of strength once again for the Knights. Theyre not really set because were so diverse, Mortensen said. I have girls who can swim almost every event. Its a great problem to have.
Whos going where?: The sectional pairings have been released, and they show that all of the Mid-Suburban League teams will be divided between the Stevenson and York sectionals.
At York will be Elk Grove, Conant, Hoffman Estates, Fremd, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg.
Hersey, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Prospect, Palatine and Wheeling will be at Stevenson along with St. Viator and Maine West.
The meet at Stevenson also includes Central Suburban League powers Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South. Those teams escaped having to face Lake Forest, another state power, which hosts its own sectional this fall.
Also on Saturday is the Buffalo Grove Invitational. Joining the Bison will be MSL East rivals Hersey, Prospect and Rolling Meadows. Diving begins at 8:45 a.m. while swimming starts at 10 a.m.
Cary Grove won the meet last season with Prospect second, Buffalo Grove third, Rolling Meadows fourth and Hersey, fifth.
Sunday, September 24
KNIGHTS ROLL AT BG INVITE ! ! ! - an awesome victory
Prospect breaks through; Barrington wins county meet
By Kathy Rudolph
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Sunday, September 24, 2006
In all the years that they have been coming to Buffalo Groves girls swimming invitational, the Prospect Knights had never finished first. That changed Saturday as the Knights totaled 297 points, 54 more than the host Bison. What a meet, said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen. Im so excited with this. Weve been so close. We were second last year after losing the last relay. We were just consistent. We put a lot of girls in the top 12.
With four of the six Mid-Suburban East teams competing, there was even more incentive to do well. It was very important for us to show the Mid-Suburban East that were not going away, Mortensen said. This was a goal of ours because we havent swam Hersey or Buffalo Grove (in a dual meet) yet. Hersey and Cary-Grove last years champion finished tied for third (164), Dundee-Crown placed fifth (160), Rolling Meadows ended up sixth (118), Larkin came in seventh (111) and Jacobs placed ninth (62).
Prospect won five events, including the 200-yard medley relay behind KC Dix, Amy Andracki, Sarah Sohn and Julia Andracki. Also for the Knights, Sohn won the 200 free, Julia Andracki placed first in the 100 free and the 100 breaststroke , and Molly Nordyke, the Andrackis and Sohn won the 200 free relay. BGs Erin Rodriguez won the 200 IM (2:12.26) and the 500 free (5:13.15). Rodriguez, Ann Frisella, Rose Fasching and Kelly Jarvis finished first in the 400 free relay (3:50.06).
We had a very good day for us, said Bison coach Tom Mroz, whose team was missing one of its butterfly and breaststroke swimmers. They did what they had to do. The girls had to step up and they stepped it up. Hersey won just one event, Nicole Gill in the 100 fly (1:00.42), but had depth with 11 in the top 10. We are coming off a meet where we learned some things and came here ready to compete, said Hersey coach Rob Lindgren. We could easily have had a letdown but we swam great. We sent our freshmen and sophomores to (the) Palatine (Invitational) and we were able to finish third. It was a great finish for the girls. We have come here and won recently but as well as we did today, it kind of has the same feeling as winning. For Cary-Grove, Kimberly Kalenda won the 50 free (25.64). Elgins Kayce DeRoo won diving (337.10) and Dundee-Crowns Karlee Munson won the 100 back (1:04.17).
Friday, September 29
Knights keep pedal to the metal - Defeat Hersey
Thursday Sept 28 - The Knights kept the pressure on the MSL by defeating the Huskies 113-73 at Wheeling. All three relays were won by the Knights along with individual victories in the IM (Amy), Diving (YEAH Tanya), 100 free (Julia), 500 (Sarah), and 100 back (KC).
This Knights team has been exciting to watch all year. Their hard work at practices shines through at the meets. I am hoping to see some changes in the record board when this season is over.
Wednesday, October 4
Knights Tame St. Viators Lions
Prospect restarts friendly rivalry with St. Viator
By Kathy Rudolph
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Wednesday, October 04, 2006
St. Viator has two natural rivals close to home: Hersey and Prospect High Schools. Oddly enough, the Lions hadnt met Prospect in a dual swimming meet in at least the last nine years. That changed when the teams got together in Prospects home pool at Wheeling on Tuesday afternoon.
Its one of those rivalries we wanted to set up. Theyre just down the street from us, said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen. "Its nice to cultivate a rivalry in a good way, said St. Viator first-year coach Adam Clementi. Some rivalries are bad and it leads to negative competition. There was no bad blood in Tuesdays meet but it was another one-sided win for Prospect, which scored 114 points to 69 for the Lions. This was definitely unexpected, Mortensen said. I thought it was going to be a lot closer.
Prospect won every event except the 100-yard backstroke, which went to St. Viators Nikki Holladay in 1:02.75, and the 400 free relay, which the Lions Tori Lardner, Holladay, Lauren Gallagher and Samantha Belbin won in 3:55.81. We all swam specialist events where I put together the strongest lineup I could because the girls were very excited swimming against Prospect, Clementi said. Prospect is a very strong team. We knew they were going to be very fast.
Winning diving again was Prospects Tanya Walter. The senior, who posted a score of 177.90, was just 3 points off the school record. In her previous meet she was only 10 points off the school mark. I just like to win, Walter said. Im just not happy if I feel I havent done my best. I want to get better every week and if I dont, I dont feel Ive done my job. Walter has expanded her repertoire by adding three new dives this season. Ive been kind of trying to perfect them and now is the time to add them to my lineup, said Walter, whose favorite dive is a back-and-a-half. Its pretty hard. I just like the way I got it in. I hit it in a meet and ever since then its been good every time.
 | | PHS v Viators Oct. 3 - 50 Free |
Friday, October 6
Prospect Rolls Wheeling
Unsure if it has ever been done before but the Knights swept the meet by winning every event against Wheeling:
Prospect 130, Wheeling 55
200 medley relay Prospect (Spacapan, J. Andracki, A. Andracki, Sohn); 200 free J. Andracki (Pros); 200 IM Sohn (Pros); 50 free Dix (Pros); diving Walter (Pros) 176.85; 100 fly Dix (Pros); 100 free Sohn (Pros); 500 free J. Andracki (Pros); 200 free relay Prospect (Schueler, A. Andracki, Warner, Dix); 100 back Nordyke (Pros); 100 breast A. Andracki (Pros); 400 free relay Prospect (Sohn, Nordyke, Dix, J. Andracki).
JV Prospect 140, Wheeling 55
Sunday, October 8
Knights WIN at Hersey Jamboree
The Knights had great performances up and down the line-up. Everyone was swimming some of their best races of the year.
Diving: Tanya 9th
200 MR: KC, Amy, Sarah, Julia FIRST
200 Fr: Michelle dropped 2 seconds, Molly 4th
200 IM: Margaret dropped 3 seconds
50 Fr: KC had a great start and won her heat, but I didn't get her final place.
100 Fl: Amy 4th, Sarah 2nd
100 Fr: Molly 6th, Julia FIRST
500 Fr: Sarah 3rd
200 FR: Amy, Molly, Sarah, Julia FIRST
100 Bk: KC and Margaret tie for 4th (they were seeded 5 and 6)
100 Br: Julia and Amy FIRST AND SECOND simply awesome.
400 FR: Michelle, KC, Margaret, Molly take 4th (they were seeded 7th) impressive
scores:
227 PROSPECT
206 Mundelein
202 Warren
157 Buffalo Grove
113 St. Viators
110 Hersey
109 Maine West
?? Cary Grove
?? Niles West
?? McHenry
?? Elk Grove
?? Oak Forest
It was great to finally put Warren in their place, behind Prospect!!
Too bad Sarah's picture in the Herald was more of a silhouette, but here is what else they had to say:
Another good day for Knights
By Kathy Rudolph
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Sunday, October 08, 2006
Before the season started, Prospects girls swim team suspected this was going to be a good year. The Knights have proven that almost every time they hit the water. They won the Buffalo Grove Invitational for the first time a week ago, and Saturday they claimed their first title trophy at the Hersey Jamboree. The front half of the meet, before the break, they did a phenomenal job, said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen. They were not placing first and second. They were placing third and fourth where they were expected to get 13th place.
Mundelein started out strong in diving, the first event of the meet, and held the lead until the 100-yard backstroke. The Mustangs finished first and fourth in diving behind Courtney Wilhelm (218.70) and Holly Hirt (201.35). Weve always had a strong diving group, said Mundelein coach Rahul Sethna. We knew coming in it was going to be a four-way meet with us, Prospect, Buffalo Grove and Warren. We needed diving to hold off Prospect.
Prospect remained in second place until the backstroke. The Knights KC Dix and Margaret Spacapan tied for fourth in that event. But Prospects comeback didnt stop there. They took the top two spots in the breaststroke behind Julia (1:06.14) and Amy Andracki. Then they finished up by placing fourth in the 400 free relay after winning the other two relays. They showed up today, said Mortensen, aware that his team could have been distracted by homecoming festivities this weekend. I was very impressed. Mundelein jumped out to a big lead and we spent most of the meet catching up.
Prospect, which finished fourth a year ago, won the meet with 227 points. Mundelein, last years champion, came in second with 206. Warren was third with 202 points, moving up two spots from a year ago. The first half of the meet didnt go very well for us, said Warren coach Erik Rogers. I dont know if we were tired or what, but our times werent what they should be. In the second half we were able to make a run at Mundelein. If we started the way we finished, we would have had a chance to win the meet.
Led by Erin Rodriguez, who won the 200 IM (2:12.97) and the 500 free (5:14.85), Buffalo Grove finished fourth with 157 points. St. Viators Nikki Holladay won the 100 back (1:01.70) to help her team place fifth with 113.5 points. Hersey, which came in sixth with 110.5 points, got a first place finish from Nicole Gill in the 100 fly (1:00.89). Joanie Cullens first place finish in the 50 free (25.88) helped her team end up seventh with 109 points.
 | | FIRST Place Relay |
Thursday, October 12
Knights REPEAT as MSL East CHAMPS
WOW - What an impressive season. The Knights defeated a talented Buffalo Grove team to win the MSL east division for the second year in a row. The Knights strength was not in one or two swimmers, but in the depth they have shown across many swimmers and divers. It is impressive to see great swims from the stars, and also from their teammates. It looks like the Knights are in good shape going into Sectionals and hopefully a number of girls will head to State.
Big finish helps Prospect to repeat in East
By Kathy Rudolph
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Thursday, October 12, 2006
Nine events into Wednesdays meet between Prospect and visiting Buffalo Groves girls swimming teams, the meet was dead even at 70-70. It was at that point the Prospect Knights knew the meet was theirs. They went on to take first and second place in the 100-yard backstroke and in the 100 breaststroke, and that led them to a 104-82 victory. Both teams came into the meet with 4-0 records in the Mid-Suburban East. Prospects win meant that it successfully defended its East division title. I had it scored 96-90, so we actually had a little more breathing room than I expected, said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen.
Both Mortensen and Bison coach Tom Mroz knew the key to victory. We had to account for where Erin Rodriguez was going to swim, Mortensen said. As a team we decided, let her have her events. Thats how much we respect her. Rodriguez remained unbeaten in her two individual events, the 100 fly (1:00.20) and the 500 free (5:23.21). Putting the Knights over the top was their performance in the relays. They won the 200 medley and the 200 free.
Its relays where they hurt us, Mroz said. We took 12 points out of three relays. That tells you everything right there. Unfortunately Prospect has more depth than we have. When it comes to relays, you cant expect to win when you come in second and fourth. I wasnt too worried about individual events but I knew the relays were going to cost us. Once he won two relays, they only needed to get one other race.
Prospects Margaret Spacapan and KC Dix finished first and second in the 100 backstroke, giving Prospect the lead with 88 points. It also meant that all the Knights needed was 5 points from the breaststroke and 400 free relay combined. And with Julia and Amy Andracki swimming the breaststroke, the meet was all but over after the backstroke.
I knew we were ahead of them. I didnt know how much, so I gave it my all, said Julia Andracki, who won the breaststroke (1:05.38) with her best time of the season. She set her personal best (1:03.99) last March while swimming for the Arlington Alligators. This was the second year in a row that Buffalo Grove finished second to Prospect in the final East division standings.
Friday, November 17
Prospect Records Fall at Sectionals
From the Herald:
Fillies prevail at Stevenson
By Kathy Rudolph
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Sunday, November 12, 2006
Barringtons swim team didnt go to the Stevenson sectional with the intention of winning it. The Fillies merely wanted to qualify as many individuals to next weekends state meet at Evanston High School as they possibly could. Along the way, though, Barrington did win the meet over an incredibly competitive field. The Fillies finished with 297 points. Stevenson was second with 239 points while Glenbrook North was third with 178.
Prospect placed fifth with 130 points, Buffalo Grove was sixth with 84, Maine West ended up seventh with 72 points, Palatine was eighth with 67 and St. Viator was ninth with 60. It was a good day, said Barrington coach Jim Bart, whose team qualified 17 out of a possible 19. That was the only goal. If we won sectionals along the way, thats great. We had some kids step up and make the cuts. We cant wait til next week. Barrington won all three relays and set the pool record in the 400 free (3:32.12). The Fillies also set four school records the 200 medley relay (1:47.22), Alexa Hamilton, who won the 200 IM (2:07.59) and finished second in the breaststroke (1:04.07), and Angela Yu, who also placed second in the 100 free (52.20). We set our goals pretty high, said Barringtons Lizzie Stetson, who won the 100 fly (58.59) and also advanced in the 500 free. We worked our butts off all season. We wanted to show everyone who we are. Senior Emily Molzahn placed second in the 50 free (24.58) and junior teammate Sam Simon (24.78) also advanced in that event. Other individual qualifiers for the Fillies were seniors Jacie Dick and Christie Byron in the 100 backstroke, freshman Emily Fogle in the 100 breaststroke, junior Sara Fogle in the 500 free and the 200 free and Kim Steelman in the 200 free.
Stevenson advanced all three relays to the state meet. Martha Van Lieshout, a junior, won both the 200 free (1:53.04) and the 500 free (5:03.31). Freshman Kerrin Seymour won diving for the Patriots with a score of 425.25. Tori Alland advanced in both the 200 free and 100 free. Other individual Stevenson qualifiers included Ashley Wanland in the 200 IM, Erin Cunningham in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, April McKee in the 100 fly, Michelle Pliskin in the 500 free and Sarah Dolejs in the 100 breaststroke.
Prospect set four school records in the third-place medley relay (1:51.24), the fifth-place 200 free relay (1:41.23), and Julia Andracki, who won the breaststroke (1:03.37) and came in fourth in the 100 free (53.18). All but the 200 free relay advanced.
We had a very good day, said Prospect coach Dick Mortensen. This was a heck of a sectional. Our medley relay surprised me a lot.
Also advancing for Prospect was Amy Andracki, who was fourth in the breaststroke (1:07.01).
Marissa Reeve finished seventh (5:14.48) in the 500 free to become Wheelings first state qualifier since 1987. She also broke Kristin Stoudts school record in that event.
In diving, Palatines Alyx Korn took third (410.15) and Barringtons Erin ODaniel, fourth (390.70) and will have to wait to see if they qualify to state at-large. Her dives went well, said Palatine diving coach Donna OBrien of Korn. She got an 8 on her back dive. Thats the highest score on our team all year. Im not worried about Alyx making it. Im not worried about her next week, either. Buffalo Groves Erin Rodriguez qualified in the IM, where she finished third (2:09.36), and the 500 free, where she also placed third (5:09.25).
Maine Wests Joanie Cullen advanced in the 50 free, where she took third (24.61), while Herseys Nicole Gill qualified by placing sixth (24.90). Cullen also placed third and qualified in the fly (59.01) while Gill came in fifth (59.73) and also advanced.
St. Viators Nikki Holladay made it through in the back, where she placed second (58.39).
Friday, November 17
More Sectional News from the Journal
State Stage Is Set For Area Swimmers
By DWIGHT ESAU
A parade of girls swimming state qualifiers led by Prospect's Julia Andracki is stepping up to the top level of Illinois competition this weekend. Sophomore Julia Andracki had a monster day in the Stevenson pool at the Patriot sectional last Saturday, advancing to state in three events and setting, or helping set, four school records in the process. Andracki will lead a group of four Prospect swimmers to the state finals at Evanston this weekend, Nov. 17-18. They include her sister, Amy, and 200 medley relay teammates K.C. Dix and Sarah Sohn. Prospect's four qualifiers lead area schools. Maine West, Hersey, St. Viator, Wheeling, Maine South, Conant, and Elk Grove have one each.
All Julia Andracki did at Stevenson last Saturday was win the breaststroke in a school-record time of 1:03.37, making her the state's top seed in the event; finish 4th in the 100 freestyle in a school-record 53.18, and anchor the medley relay in a school-record time of 1:51.24. The medley team also includes Dix, Sohn, and Amy Andracki. Julia, Sohn, Molly Nordyke, and Dix actually set a fifth school record in an event for which they didn't advance to state. They swam the 200 free relay in 1:41.23, beating the old Knight record by about two seconds. Their time was just over a second off the state qualifying time, however, as the foursome finished 5th at Stevenson.
"Julia had a rotator cuff strain earlier this year and she rested it to heal it until well into September," said her coach, Dick Mortenson. "She lost two months of practice and early competition, but she did a lot of kicking, and switched from the medley to freestyle to rest her shoulder. Her achievements this fall are even more extraordinary when her rehab is considered."
Amy, a Knight senior, also qualified individually in the breaststroke with a 4th place sectional time of 1:07.01. This is the fourth straight year she has made it to state in this sport.
Also turning in impressive performances at Stevenson were Joanie Cullen of Maine West, and Nicole Gill of Hersey, both of whom advanced to state in two events. Cullen, a Warrior senior, swam the 50 free in 24.61 to beat the state qualifying time by .29 of a second, and did the butterfly in 59.01, more than a second lower than the state qualifying standard. This is her second straight year at state. She competed in the 50 free last fall. Her times put in the state's top 15 in both events in the IHSA seedings. A slight improvement in each event this coming weekend would probably get her a state top-12 medal. "These were her best times ever, and she has worked so hard and steadily progressed to this point in four years," said coach Ryan Klaus. "She has committed herserlf not only to these events but to the sport totally, and it's now showing. All she has to do is drop her times a bit to get that state medal ."
Gill was 6th in the 50 free in 24.90, just .1 of a second lower than state qualifying, and 5th in the butterfly in 59.73. She has won these events several times locally this past regular season.
In a somewhat unusual development, Prospect's medley group is the only relay to represent the Journal area this fall.
Other state qualifiers from the area include:
* Divers Kelly Hendricks of Conant, who won the York sectional with 405 points, and Mikala Mareno of Elk Grove, who scored 315.45 points to finish fifth.
* Marissa Reeve of Wheeling, who swam the 500 free in 5:14.48 to become the first Wildcat state qualifier in 19 years. She also broke Kristin Stoudt's school record in the process.
* Nikki Holladay of St. Viator, who was 2nd in the backstroke at Stevenson in 58.39.
State final prelims in all events begin about 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 at Evanston. Finals start at about 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Friday, November 17
Girls All have Awesome Swims at Sectionals
From the MP Times:
Record-setting Knights march on
November 16, 2006
By KEN KEENAN | Assistant Sports Editor
Prospect is off to State in four events a second year in a row, earning the berths with a slew of record-setting performances during Saturday's Stevenson Sectional -- mostly at the hands of superstar sophomore Julia Andracki, who continues causing jaws to drop, meet after meet after meet.
Not only did she make the cut in three events, repeating her 2005 sectional accomplishments, Andracki did so in astonishing fashion. For starters, she helped the Knights' 200-yard medley relay (with K.C. Dix, senior sister Amy Andracki and Sarah Sohn) advance with a third-place finish in a school-record 1 minute 51.24 seconds. Julia Andracki then made State in the 100 free, finishing fourth in a school-record 53.18 seconds, Prospect's best time in that event since 1983. She then capped her day by winning the 100 breaststroke -- in a personal-record/school-record/pool-record 1:03.37.
"It feels really good. I'm really happy and excited for State (set for Friday and Saturday at Evanston)," Julia said. "I hope to well, and I'm happy the medley relay got there, too. It's more fun when you have a team with you, and it makes it easier, too."
Last season, she placed third at State in the 100 breast and is seeded No. 1 this time around. She also competed in the 200 individual medley at State in '05, and with the 200 medley relay as well.
"She really got the motor going (in the 100 breast). It was her race throughout the whole thing," said Knights head coach Dick Mortensen. "She was in control, and she hasn't lost that event all year. Last year, she was third (at State), and now she has a legitimate chance to win. She's got the big target on her back, yet she's fearless. She'll take on anybody -- head-on. I've never heard her say she's nervous. It's always, 'I'm pumped and ready to go.' She's rewriting the record books at Prospect, no question, and in the state as well. Her name is plastered around the record boards at pools all over."
Not to be forgotten is the fact that Amy Andracki also made State in the 100 breast -- in 1:07.01 -- for a fourth consecutive season. In addition, the Knights veteran qualified for the second straight time as part of the medley relay, same as Dix, in the first event of the day.
"K.C. Dix set a blistering pace in that relay. She's a kid you want leading off all the time -- we go how she goes," Mortensen said. "The others just followed. I'm very happy for Sarah. She wasn't on it last year, the other three were. And this sectional was, arguably, the fastest sectional around. It qualified more athletes than any other sectional. The atmosphere was like a mini state meet -- all tough teams."
The Andracki sisters agreed that such stiff competition -- powerful Barrington (297) placed first, followed by Stevenson (239), Glenbrook North (178), Glenbrook South (163) and Prospect (130) -- inspired each of them bear down even more.
"Knowing how fast the sectional was, it helped us get more ready for it. We knew we had some good competition, and that helped us prepare better," Julia said.
"We knew it was tough going in, so it motivated us a lot more," added Amy. "We realized how fast the others are, so it builds your adrenaline. It's a positive atmosphere to be in."
Case in point: Prospect's 200 free relay (Dix, Molly Nordyke, Sohn and Julia Andracki) finished fifth in a school-record 1:40.19 but didn't advance to State.
"That shows you how fast this sectional was," Mortensen said. "Teams keep going faster in that event, and we kept dropping (time), too. But all four girls are back next year, and they want that relay to be part of State, too."
For the Andrackis, making State is old hat. That should prove helpful when things get underway on Friday.
"Being there before definitely helps," Julia said. "Last year, I kind of knew what it would be like because of my sister, but I was a little scared. This year, I know what it's like, so I want to do even better and go even faster. I realize where I'm seeded (in the 100 breast), but I don't feel pressure. I have some goals in mind -- place higher and get a better time than (at sectionals). The 100 breast is my main focus, but I'll try to balance it out for the whole meet to do well in the other events, too."
Amy said, "It feels great to make (State) again. It's really good to know all my hard work, from when I started swimming to getting competitive, it's really paid off. I feel I've earned my way there, and this year I feel a lot more confident. I know what to expect. And with the relay going, too, it's a lot more exciting. You have your team with you, and we are a team -- not just individuals."
Mortensen said that his team's successful run the last few seasons, especially this year and last, goes hand in hand with the four-year varsity career of six-time State qualifier Amy Andracki.
"I told her, the day before (sectionals), it all goes back to Amy," he said. "She was the key component that started this snowball effect of success, and she's been taking it with her. And it gets bigger and bigger each year. She's just the core of consistency. Four years ago, we were happy to get a couple of (sectional) medals. Now, we want to be at the state meet, and not just one or two people, but everybody. Last year, it was a new experience for us -- except for Amy. This year, we know what we're doing, and we proved that we belong."
Sunday, November 19
WOW!! JULIA IS THE STATE CHAMP!!!!
Julia took the State Championship in the 100 Breastroke and in awesome fashion. She won by more than 1.5 seconds over second place. That was the biggest differential between first and second of any event, including the 500 and the 400 free relay. Truly impressive
Sunday, November 19
Report from the State Meet prelims on Friday
In the Medlay Relay, KC, Amy, Sarah and Julia finished in 14th place just two positions and 1.5 seconds from advancing to finals on Saturday.
Julia won the prelim in 100 breastroke by a full second and it was only 2 seconds sepearating the next 11 spots. Amy finished 21, just 1.2 seconds from advancing to Saturday.
In the 100 free, Julia finished 14th, just 0.2 seconds from advancing to swim on Saturday. Places 1-12 get to swim on Saturday in a finals heat for 1-6 and a consolation heat for 7-12.
It was a fun day.
Tuesday, April 24
Swim News - April 24, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Illinois, April 22. UP-and-coming stars for the WAVES, Monica Drake and Lindsay Gendron, produced a pair of impressive times Friday night during a sanctioned time trial meet. The third-place finisher in the 1500 freestyle at the recent USA Spring Championships, the 16-year-old Drake broke a 20-year-old Illinois record in the 500-yard free with a time of 4:46.24. The former standard was 4:48.00, set by Bridgett Bowman in 1987. As for Gendron, the 14-year-old posted a Senior Nationals qualifying time by swimming the 1650 free in 16:45.51.
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