Downers Grove North Girls Swim And Dive Team Advances To State

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The Downers Grove North Girls Swim and Dive Team earned second place at the IHSA Sectionals on Saturday, securing them a spot at the IHSA State Finals on Nov. 17 and 18 in Winnetka. The team placed second out of 12 teams at the Sectionals, which was hosted at Downers Grove North. The only team to place higher was Glenbard West.

At the state finals, senior Ellie Benge will compete in the 100-yard butterfly, following her victory in the event on Saturday with a time of 56.64 seconds. Her sister, Libby Benge, a sophomore, broke a team record for freshman and sophomores with her 100-yard breaststroke time of 1 minute, 6 seconds.

Ellie Benge, Emma Roche, Elizabeth Candel, and Jaye Sevcik, clocked just under 3 minutes, 36 seconds in the 400-yard freestyle relay, which means they'll take on that event at state. In the 200-yard medley relay, Sevcik, Roche, and Libby and Ellie Benge earned third place and will perform in that relay at the state finals.

Juniors Madison Johnson and Mia Marconi will also be competing at state. Johnson placed second in the diving competition at sectionals and Marconi placed third.

The team's overall victory was aided by a third-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle by freshman Vanessa Lopez, a third place finish in the 100-yard backstroke by Sevcik, and a third place finish by sophomore Jessica Phillips in the 50-yard freestyle. Elizabeth Candel placed fourth in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle races.

Congratulations and good luck at state, girls!

>>Image via Pixabay