Lake Forest Swim Club Hosted USA Swimming Speedo Sectionals for Olympic Qualifying Times

Lake Forest Swim Club hosted the USA Swimming Speedo Sectional Championship at the Rec Plex Aqua Arena in Pleasant Prairie, WI on March 10-13th. 752 swimmers representing 153 teams came from 13 different states to compete in the lightning fast 10 lane 50 meter Aqua Arena competition pool. Swimmers ranged in age from 13 to 40 and racked up 17 US Olympic Trial qualifying times over the course of the 4 day event. This is a record number of swimmers punching their ticket to the June 2016 Omaha Swimming Trials from this USA Swimming Sectional Championship. Event winners were all smiles on the podium when the LFSC hosts presented them with both a large medal and a foam cheese head.

Lake Forest Swim Club was represented in the meet by Michael Hambleton (10th in the 800mt free), Zeynep Kivanc (14th 400mt IM), Elyse Jacobs, Catherine Holecek (19th 200 fly), Lilly Hemesath, and Robin Bender. LFSC's Nathan Levy was unable to compete in the meet after injuring his ankle in a rock climbing fall in gym. Levy had been named Rookie of the Meet at the Illinois Swimming State Senior Championships in August.

The 2015-2016 winter season finished with LFSC ranking as the premier local swim club in the Regional and State Championship meets. The team rallied with 140 regional time cuts resulting in 70 award block medals. The team was represented by 18 swimmers in the State Championships meets seeing some serious superfast racing taking home 4 first place, 3 second place, and 2 third place positions on the podium.

Lake Forest Swim Club Coach Laurel Liberty has already been named to the staff of the 2016 US Olympic Team for Open Water Swimming in Rio. In addition to her open water expertise, Coach Liberty works with all ages of LFSC swimmers and specializes in preparing young swimmers for a long and successful competitive career. Coach Liberty will be conducting new swimmer evaluations at the Lake Forest College Pool at 5:30pm on March 17th, 24th, 31st, April 4th, and April 5th.

Evaluations are also available by appointment by contacting

Lake Forest Swim Club (www.swimlfsc.org) lfsc@sbcglobal.net, 847-735-5372.