First-year Fenwick girls’ swimming and diving head coach Bryan Lee knows this season is developmental in nature with plenty of newcomers. But that doesn’t mean a non-competitive year is ahead, at least not with an experienced core of swimmers and divers who have been state qualifiers.
At the Friar Invitational held at the Dan O’Brien Natatorium, Sept. 12, Fenwick placed second with 415 points, with St. Ignatius winning the championship with 518 points. While Lee thought the Friars fared solidly overall, he believes they can still get better.
“There were good swims, but I think this isn’t the best the girls have,” he said. “We’re still in mid-season, they’re still dropping times and trying to figure things out. They’ve made a great amount of progression, but I can’t say that this is their best.”
Senior Maggie Raniere was Fenwick’s only event winner for the day as she won the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.20 seconds. Her classmate, Maeve Ryan, was second in 25.64. In the 100 freestyle, Raniere was third in 54.76 and Ryan fifth in 55.84.
Juniors Audrey Munley, an Oak Park resident, and Sam Stowe also had solid days for the Friars. Munley finished fourth in the 500 freestyle in a season-best time of 5:24.01 and got fifth in the 200 freestyle (2:00.75). Stowe came in second in the 100 backstroke with a season-best 59.95 and fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:00.56).
The quartet of Munley, Raniere, Ryan, and Stowe combined to finish second in both the 200 (1:40.17) and 400 (3:41.15) freestyle relays. Fenwick’s 200 medley relay unit of Maya Chlopek, Jill Peele, Lily Mullins, and Eden Ling placed fifth (1:59.67). Peele, a senior, was also sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.01).
“Some of my lower-tier swimmers showed a lot of improvement and gave me something to think about once the championship season rolls in,” Lee said. “Our upperclassmen pulled through as always. They know what they’re doing and it’s a joy to see them swim.”
TRINITY
Trinity was also competing at Fenwick. Though the Blazers finished seventh with 83 points, first-year coach Cailey Mazur liked her team’s effort and enthusiasm.
“It was great. They didn’t give up, and that’s all that matters,” she said. “Keep it positive.”
Trinity received three personal-best performances: junior Diana Fedorovicz in the 100 backstroke (1:30.84), sophomore Sofia Vargas in the 100 freestyle (1:09.49), and senior Frida Morales in the 100 breaststroke (1:52.41).
“We’re definitely going to work on our streamlines and our turns and keep our positivity on to the next meets,” Mazur said.
Mazur realizes that building up a program requires patience and is committed to the process.
“We’re building their social and emotional (wellness) as well as their physical work in the pool,” she said. “That’s really important.”