Schools
Combination of Old and New Should Keep Swimming Hornets Successful
Returning 2010 state qualifiers Maya Rodrigues and Hannah Veselik lead a veteran Hinsdale South girls swimming and diving lineup that could receive a boost from some promising freshmen.
HINSDALE SOUTH GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING PREVIEW
COACH: Frank Kuchta
2010 RESULTS: 7-1 dual record; won West Suburban Conference Gold Division Meet (308 points) and overall title; fourth at Downers Grove South Sectional (166 points); did not score at state meet
RETURNING 2010 STATE QUALIFIERS: Seniors Maya Rodrigues (100-yard breast stroke) and Hannah Veselik (100 butterfly)
OTHER KEY VARSITY RETURNEES: Seniors Nicole Blachowicz, Katie Favia, Emma Smoczynski and Dana Vinyard; and juniors Kelsey Barry and Rachel Steinhaus
KEY VARSITY NEWCOMERS: Junior Gabby Dupont; sophomores Brianna Kirin and Kiana Shin; and freshmen Marissa Dupont, Victoria Frank and Rachel Hawken
OUTLOOK: Last season, the Hornets won their second straight overall Gold title, broke two school records and had multiple two underclassmen compete at state for the first time since 2007.
“Our numbers aren’t great (33 athletes) but we ought to be OK,” Kuchta said.
At the 2010 state meet, Rodrigues finished 25th in the 100 breast (1:07.76) and Veselik was 34th in the 100 fly (59.63) after their respective third-place sectional times beat the respective state cuts. On Sept. 30, Rodrigues swam a school-record 1:07.13 in the 100 breast, breaking her 1:07.91 from Sept. 8 that eclipsed her 1:08.18 record set in 2008. A 1:07.13 would have finished 17th in the state preliminaries.
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They’re just part of a strong returning group that also includes fellow returning 2010 all-conference performers Favia, Smoczynski, Vinyard, Steinhaus and current junior Allegra Wozniak, who is out for the season after shoulder surgery. One key graduation was 2010 team MVP Eleni Murphy.
“Hannah swam during the offseason and so did Vana and both had really good summer performances. Maya didn’t swim in the summer so once she gets into shape she’ll do really well. Last year at the state meet she was kind of ticked off (with her finish).”
The Hornets also could have a strong state lineup in the 200 medley relay after Wozniak, Rodrigues, Veselik and Vinyard swam a school-record 1:52.47 last season. This year’s state cut is 1:50.90.
Hawken, among several strong freshmen, could be the fourth link at backstroke.
“She’s going to be the one that we need to fill in the shoes of Eleni Murphy,” Kuchta said. “She’s very, very good but still has a ways to go. She’s a hard, hard worker.”
Other top freshmen are Frank, a solid middle- and long-distance freestyler, and diver Marissa Dupont, younger sister of fellow diver Gabby Dupont.
In the Gold, the Hornets are seeking three consecutive outright or shared titles for the first time since the WSC split into Gold and Silver divisions in 2000. Hinsdale South also has won or shared Gold titles in 2000, 2001 and 2004.
Gold champions last year were Veselik (200 IM and 100 fly), Rodrigues (100 breast), Smoczynski (200 free) and the 200 medley relay (Wozniak, Rodrigues, Veselik and Favia).
The Hornets shared the 2009 title with Downers Grove South. Last year, they secured an outright title by beating Addison Trail/Willowbrook by 21 points at the Gold Meet after winning their dual 108-77.
“I think that (outright title) gave them a great boost,” Kuchta said.
Hinsdale South will play host to its annual 12-team Hornet Relays Sept. 10 with starting times 8 a.m. (diving) and 1:30 p.m. (swimming). Awards are given as usual in individual events, but team points in those events are based on the combined results of the schools’ two entries.
