The sport of swimming first brought Kyle and Jamie Ruiz together in third grade. The 2004 Sterling graduates, who reconnected through swimming after college and eventually got married, are still giving back today as teachers and coaches.

Here is a look at the Morrison and Sterling girls swim teams this season. Sterling's Madison Austin is the lone returning state qualifier.

Sterling junior Madison Austin broke her own school record in the 100-yard freestyle Friday at the IHSA Girls Swimming and Diving State meet at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

The 2023 IHSA Girls Swimming & Diving State Meet will be held Friday and Saturday at FMC Natatorium in Westmont. This year, the Sauk Valley area will be represented by Sterling junior Madison Austin and a quintet from the Byron co-op.

Byron girls swimming won the 12-team field Saturday at the Rockford Jefferson Sectional with a 229 score, Hononegah took second with 199 and Sterling finished third with 181.

The Sterling boys cross country team and Dale Johnson won Class 2A Galesburg Regional titles, Polo volleyball took 2nd at the AFC Tournament and the Sterling boys soccer season ended in a regional championship loss to Dunlap. Plus more local results in Saturday's roundup.

Gallery

L-P Co-op hosted Sterling in girls swimming on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 at La Salle-Peru Township High School.

Newman girls volleyball picked up its 20th win of the season with a 25-23, 25-13 victory. Oregon and Polo were also among local winners in Thursday's roundup.

The Fulton volleyball team took down Eastland in an NUIC South match on Wednesday, and the Morrison girls swimming & diving team lost a dual against Monmouth-Roseville on Tuesday.