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By TR HARLAN

You can never take a Sectional title for granted, but when you’ve won 10 straight its hard not to look ahead to the State Finals.

The Chesterton girls swim team did what was necessary in running its consecutive Sectional title streak to 10 and posted 393 points to best second place Valparaiso (267) Saturday at CHS.

“I felt like we were flat on Thursday and today was just the opposite,” Chesterton coach Kevin Kinel said. “I really thought we were ready. The kids responded. We had some tremendous swims and set ourselves up real nice for next weekend.

“They don’t get easier. The other teams always really rise to the occasion. We were trying to do some things to set up for the State Meet, but it’s hard because everybody gets so fired up and lights up the pool. Anytime you get a win and keep the streak going, I’m happy. “

The Trojans started hot from the start by setting a Pool and Sectional record in the 200 Medley Relay. That held form throughout the meet as all three Trojan Relays set Sectional records.

“Our relays were phenomenal,” Kinel said. “We had some kids unshaved in all the relays and we still have some maneuvering to do.”

Chesterton got double individual Sectional titles from Olivia Kabacinski and Meaghan McLaughlin, while sending at least one participant in seven of eight individual events.

“We swam great up and down the line,” Kinel said. “The kids really did what they needed to do. We feel like we still have our best meet to come next weekend.”

Kabacinski took top honors in the 200 (1:53.14) and 500 Free (5:01.92) with McLaughlin winning the 200 IM (2:10.41) and the 100 Fly (59.65).

“Today was a lot of fun,” Kabacinski said. “I swam the way I wanted too. I wanted to be around my best times to get a good seed for Indy. This was just a little taste of what State will be like.” 

“I think you have to go through this,” Kinel said. “It is tense and a lot of people don’t believe that you have to do it in the finals. Your time in the prelims doesn’t matter. You have to do it on the final day and that’s a lot of pressure.”

Other individual winners for the Trojans included Brittany Fozkos in the 50 Free (24.12) and Maddie Miller in the 100 Back (59.28).

“Maddie’s backstroke was probably a surprise to everybody but her,” Kinel said. “She’s been showing signs of that. She was dynamite in everything she did today, especially the last leg of the last relay.”

Other Trojans who will make the trip to the State Meet in Indianapolis next Friday night include Milana Socha (200 Free), Mallory Przybylinski (50 Free, 100 Free) and Shauna Foor (100 Free).

Team Scores

1. Chesterton, 393; 2. Valparaiso, 267; 3. Portage, 250; 4. Wheeler, 129; 5. Michigan City, 107; 6. Merrillville, 81; 7. LaPorte, 51; 8. North Judson, 37; 9. Hobart, 36; 10. Gary West Side, 16; 11. Knox, 10; 12. Calumet, 4.

Individual Results

(Sectional Champion and times under the 

State Cut advance to next weekend’s 

State Finals in Indianapolis)

200 Medley Relay – 1. Chesterton (Brittany Fozkos, Olivia Kabacinski, Meaghan McLaughlin, Mallory Przybylinski), 1:48.65 (SECTIONAL RECORD); 2. Portage, 1:51.08 (STATE CUT); 3. Valparaiso, 1:51.63 (STATE CUT); 4. Michigan City, 2:00.25; 5. Wheeler, 2:01.41; 6. Merrillville, 2:03.02.

200 Free – 1. Olivia Kabacinski (C), 1:53.14; 2. Milana Socha (C), 1:56.03 (STATE CUT); 3. Shauna Foor (C), 1:57.27; 4. Jessica Anderson (P), 1:57.32; 5. Tayler Bayer (P), 1:57.74; 6. Jessica Dranchak (P), 2:02.26.

200 IM – 1. Meaghan McLaughlin (C), 2:10.41; 2. Maddie Miller (C), 2:12.54; 3. Alissa Johnson (V), 2:14.69; 4. Sierra King (P), 2:15.62; 5. Lauren Foor (C), 2:17.03; 6. Katrina Edling (MC), 2:21.08.

50 FREE – 1. Brittany Fozkos (C), 24.12; 2. Cristina Gonzalez (P), 24.27 (STATE CUT); 3. Mallory Przybylinski (C), 24.32 (STATE CUT); 4. Basia Niziolek (V), 24.74; 5. Allie Lamberson (V), 24.98; 6. Claire Lichnerowicz (P), 25.22.

1-METER DIVING – 1. Madelyn Miskulin (V), 536.05 (SECTIONAL RECORD, POOL RECORD); 2. Jeanne Nolan (V), 350.60; 3. Kari Ricard (C), 309.90; 4. Paige Huck (V), 309.00; 5. Darcy Richardson (P), 304.40; 6. Cary Johnson (C), 292.15.

100 FLY – 1. Meaghan McLaughlin (C), 59.65; 2. Claire Lichnerowicz (P), 1:00.89; 3. Alissa Johnson (V), 1:01.01; 4. Elizabeth Eberhart (C), 1:01.05; 5. Gabriella Popovich (W), 1:01.42; 6. Megan Szabo (P), 1:01.78.

100 FREE – 1. Cristina Gonzalez (P), 52.53; 2. Mallory Przybylinski (C), 53.08 (STATE CUT); 3. Brittany Fozkos (C), 53.35 (STATE CUT); 4. Shauna Foor (C), 53.74 (STATE CUT); 5. Allie Lamberson (V), 55.43; 6. Ashlee Sweeney (W), 55.97.

500 FREE – 1. Olivia Kabacinski (C), 5:01.92 (SECTIONAL RECORD, POOL RECORD); 2. Milana Socha (C), 5:14.59; 3. Tayler Bayer (P), 5:21.18; 4. Katrina Edling (MC), 5:28.08; 5. Emily Metheny (L), 5:35.20; 6. Marissa Hoshaw (V), 5:37.07.

200 FREE RELAY – 1. Chesterton (Brittany Fozkos, Shauna Foor, Milana Socha, Mallory Przybylinski), 1:37.55 (SECTIONAL RECORD, POOL RECORD); 2. Valparaiso, 1:41.26; 3. Portage, 1:43.69; 4. Merrillville, 1:45.83; 5. Wheeler, 1:46.51; 6. Michigan City, 1:50.17.

100 BACK – 1. Maddie Miller (C), 59.28; 2. Danielle Radosevich (V), 59.59 (STATE CUT); 3. Jessica Anderson (P), 59.92; 4. Lauren Foor (C), 1:00.43; 5. Jennifer Melton (C), 1:04.54; 6. Bridget Callaghan (MC), 1:04.83.

100 BREAST – 1. Sierra King (P), 1:09.34; 2. Jessica Campbell (C), 1:11.72; 3. Monica Dorligh (M), 1:13.26; 4. Gabriella Popovich (W), 1:14.32; 5. Erin Kelley (C), 1:15.25; 6. Jillian Ridder (V), 1:15.93.

400 FREE RELAY – 1. Chesterton (Shauna Foor, Milana Socha, Meaghan McLaughlin, Maddie Miller), 3:34.77 (SECTIONAL RECORD, POOL RECORD); 2. Portage, 3:37.02 (STATE CUT); 3. Valparaiso, 3:53.46; 4. Wheeler, 3:54.53; 5. Michigan City, 3:58.22; 6. Merrillville, 4:07.40.

Posted 2/9/2009