North's Prorok a Surprise Sectional Swim Champ

Just a few weeks ago, Naperville North sophomore Rachel Prorok was an unheralded breaststroker trying to work her way off the junior varsity squad.

On Saturday, she was crowned a sectional champion after a dazzling time of 1:05.93 topped a talented field at the Metea Valley Sectional.

Prorok’s fast time in the 100 breaststroke race sends her to the IHSA state meet with some confidence and also helped the Huskies place second in the team standings, edging third-place Neuqua Valley 215-214. Rosary topped the field at 247 and Benet Academy was fourth at 204.

“I didn’t feel like I was going that fast; I was really surprised,” said Provok, one of many talented sophomores on the Huskies' roster. “I started out on JV, so I had to work really hard to get here.”

The work surely has paid off. The 100 breast race featured Rosary runner-up Rebecca Hatcher (1:06.15) and Metea Valley’s Megan Sellers, who took fourth in the state last year and third at Saturday’s sectional. In all, eight swimmers from the sectional made the state cut in the event, including Megan Childs and Courtney Taylor for Neuqua.

Hard work also had paid off for Naperville Central sophomore Julia Roller, who won the 500 free in a personal-best 5:07.08 and also qualified for state while taking seventh in the 100 fly in 58.53. Thirteen swimmers swam fast enough in the 100 fly to advance to state, including the Huskies Jen Law (2nd) and Lexi Nash (9th), Benet’s Tori Bertschy (5th) and Taylor Lifka, and Wildcats April Niccolai and Brooke Bedford.

“I never expected things would be like this, especially in the 500,” said Roller, who narrowly missed scoring in both events at state as a freshman. “I’m so amazed I did that well. Next week at state should be interesting.”

In the 200 medley relay, Neuqua took first with a time of 1:47.60, but six squads advanced to state, including quartets from Naperville North and Benet. The Redwings also advance a pair of sectional championship relays after wining the 200 free in 1:37.96 and the night’s final event, the 400 free relay, in 3:34.45.

“I’m very excited. The girls swam great,” Redwings coach Sarah Maggio said. “They’ve worked very hard and they deserve it.”

Benet’s Cristina Favia and Maddi Webb helped the relays shine and also qualified for state in the 200 free, while Webb added a state berth in the 100 free and Favia did the same in the 500 free.

The 100 free was won by Neuqua’s Gia Dalesandro (52.23) and the Wildcat sophomore also won 100 back with a time of 57.20.

“The great thing about Gia is she’s a leader, not just in the water but by character,” Neuqua Valley coach Mac Guy said after Dalesandro shied away from reporters. “She wants to prove it in the water, not by talking to you guys.”

Neuqua’s Lauren Mikulecy won the diving title with a score of 451.25, while North’s Law and Benet’s Bertschy went 1-2 in the 200 IM. The 50 free was won by North’s Amy Novak in 23.73, but Central’s Lauren Gunn also advances to state.

Plainfield’s Maddie Mikrut turned in a state-qualifying time of 59.38 in the 100 fly, while Waubonsie Valley’s solid efforts included a second from diver Taylor Eggenberger and a state berth in the 100 backstroke by Julianne Horne.