Here are the Chatham Glenwood, SHG girls swimmers striving for state berth this weekend
Sacred Heart-Griffin has not seen an individual swimmer advance to the girls state swimming and diving finals since 2018.
For Chatham Glenwood, the drought is even longer.
Several swimmers from both teams are aiming to change that this season at the Edwardsville Sectional set for Saturday at the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center.
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The state competition is Nov. 10-11 at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont. To qualify for it, a swimmer must win the event or beat the state qualifying time. Rochester’s Emma Best was the most recent Springfield area swimmer to make it individually, going in 2021 in the 200-yard freestyle as a freshman.
Olive Viele was the last SHG swimmer to reach state when she advanced in the 100 butterfly as a sophomore. Glenwood had two swimmers advance in 2015 after senior Alexis Preski made it in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and senior Sharon Kok got there in the 100 freestyle.
The new breed of swimmers for Glenwood appears to be hungry for the opportunity. Junior Erin Turk is one of those after she finished second in the 100 free and fifth in the 50 free at last season’s Chatham Glenwood Sectional at Eisenhower Pool.
Turk has a different approach this season and will swim the 200 and 500 freestyles on Saturday. Her time in the 500 free has seen a steady drop, and she said she has gotten more comfortable with the event.
“I’ve been swimming the 500 a lot more this season,” Turk said. “The 100 (free) and 500 are back-to-back, so I can’t really do both, and the next best event is the 200 (free). It would be great if I could go even faster at sectionals — suited up and tapered. We’ve been working towards this meet all season.”
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This season has revealed how much depth the Titans truly have. Freshman Kylie Sullens — a winner at the Central State Eight Conference meet in both the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke — will swim those events at the sectional. She also won the IM at the Capital City Classic Invite on Sept. 9.
Sophomore Maddy Yom, who won the 100 butterfly at conference, is a contender in that event at the sectional. Then there are seniors Kaleigh Bobb and Livy Harms, juniors Maja Dey, Ashleigh Maender and Hannah Poppenhouse and freshman Jocelyn Ely.
There is some promise that Glenwood could send a relay to state, too.
“We have a good core with me, Maddy, Kylie and Kaleigh, but we also have a lot of good competition from Edwardsville and O’Fallon, so it will be close,” Turk said of the relays.
In addition, Turk noted that this year’s team is more flexible in their swims.
“It’s a lot better than in past years. I think my freshman year we had like 10 people on the team,” Turk said. “It’s a lot nicer this year, knowing that everyone’s good at their individual events. It puts a lot more pressure on everyone because no one wants to let the team down.”
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For SHG sophomore Mac Gibbs, her goal was to continue what she started when she had a breakout freshman year, while trying to avoid a sophomore slump. She placed second in the 50 free in 25.01 seconds at last season’s sectional. The qualifying time is 24.36.
“I did really well all freshman year at (Springfield YMCA) club, too,” Gibbs said. “I was just hoping to keep up the fast times and stay out of a (possible) slump.”
So far so good for Gibbs, who was victorious in the 100 free (54.41) at conference and clocked a time of 24.89 in the 50 free at the Capital City Classic Invite. She admitted which event she likes best.
“The 100 is definitely my favorite,” Gibbs said. “I think I’m a little bit better at it, figuring out how to race it. I’m more excited for the 100.”
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Gibbs is also the anchor in SHG’s 200 medley relay that includes junior Izzy Canny, sophomore Hope Speiser and senior Annie Mizeur. That relay was crowned champs at the CS8 meet.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” Gibbs confessed. "It (anchoring) puts a lot of pressure on me, and I do it for my teammates. It’s been really fun. I love my teammates and being here with them. We all work really hard together.”
The Cyclones have two divers attempting to reach state in the 1-meter competition. CS8 champ Sophia Paul — a transfer from Glenwood — claimed second place at the Capital City Classic Invite. Senior Ella Mathews finished second at last season’s sectional, but did not receive enough points to reach state. She, too, was second at this season’s conference meet.
A diver must win the event or be among the top 32 sectional scores to get an at-large state berth.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA girls swimming: Erin Turk, Mac Gibbs pace Springfield area
