November 09, 2024
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Girls swimming: 7 local swimmers qualify for state meet

R-B’s Eleni Gewalt, Huntley’s Ella Young among repeat qualifiers

By Northwest Herald staff report
Crystal Lake Central Co-op's Avery Watson swims in the 100 Butterfly event during the Woodstock North Co-op swimming invitational on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Woodstock North High School in Woodstock, IL.

Crystal Lake South co-op's Avery Watson competes in the 100 butterfly at the Woodstock North Co-op Invitational on Sept. 18 at Woodstock North High School. Watson was one of seven local swimmers to qualify for next weekend's IHSA Girls Swimming and Diving State Meet. (Tony Gadomski for Shaw Media)

Seven local swimmers on Saturday qualified for next weekend’s IHSA Girls Swimming and Diving State Meet at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, including a double qualification by Richmond-Burton senior Eleni Gewalt.

Gewalt will go to state for the third time after finishing runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.11) and third in the 100 free (52.19) at the Barrington Sectional to beat both state-qualifying times.

Gewalt went to state two years ago and took fifth in the 100 breaststroke, which is the best finish in school history. She also qualified as a freshman. There was no state meet held last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Woodstock North co-op will send two to state, which begins Friday with preliminaries. Senior Hannah Blaksley was third in the 50 free (24.02) and senior Haley Halsall was fourth in the 500 free (5:08.95).

Crystal Lake South co-op sophomore Avery Watson was first in the 100 butterfly (57.78) to qualify, while Cary-Grove sophomore Maggie Bendell was runner-up in diving (484.15 points) to advance.

Marian Central junior Tessa Jones will go for the Hurricanes after a fourth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.06).

Huntley senior Ella Young will go to state for the second time after she placed third in the 100 butterfly (57.89) at the St. Charles North Sectional. Young was a state qualifier two years ago as a sophomore and placed 30th in the same event.

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