L-W Swim Association Gators Dominate Waters in Regional Championships

The Lincoln-Way Swim Association hosted a three-day regional championship, which concluded Sunday, at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox.

The host Gators were dominant, registering 20 first-place finishes.

"It was an outstanding meet and we had some great swims," said Lincoln-Way head coach Ryan Counihan, who is assisted by Mark Hoffer. "The way I coach is (that) a best time in my book is a first place in my book. Not everyone gets first; it just can’t happen."

Eleven-year-old Makayla Varga and 12-year-old Kimberly Bernhard led the female Gators with three victories apiece. Earlier this year, Varga broke a state record in the 50-meter butterfly that had stood since 1998.

In the regional, Varga won the 100 freestyle (58.74 seconds), 100 breaststroke (1 minute, 15.16 seconds) and 200 freestyle (2:10.42), while Bernhard secured titles in the 400 individual medley (4:56.75), 100 butterfly (1:05.32) and 1650 freestyle (18:52.70) late Sunday afternoon.

"That was a personal best time for Kimberly in the 1650," Counihan said.

Other multiple winners on the girls side included 11-year-old Caitlyn Schreiber and 13-year-old Susan Stelmar. Schreiber was victorious in the 12U 100 backstroke (1:08.16) and 50 freestyle (27.60), while Stelmar took top honors in the 14U 100 backstroke (1:03.78) and 200 backstroke (2:19.62). Stelmar finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.25).

Michaela Mitchell won the 12U 100 individual medley (1:08.69), Allison Goldsmith captured the 14U 100 butterfly (1:04.24), and Morgan Parkinson, a Lincoln-Way North student, finished in the top three in multiple events, including first in the 50 freestyle (25.89).

A couple of Lincoln-Way East swimmers—Brittany Felice and Taylor Jach—had third-place finishes in the 200 freestyle (2:02.58) and 400 individual medley (4:54.82), respectively.

Alexandra Wohelert was second in the 100 butterfly (1:04.39), 9-year-old Delaney Janosek took second in the 50 breaststroke (41.77), Julia Porco claimed third in the 200 butterfly (2:56.15), and 14-year-old Elizabeth Klock did the same in the 400 individual medley (5:06.88).

"This is a qualifying meet, and you have to qualify to get into this meet," Counihan said. "The kids (who) already have age-group state times for those events can't swim in this meet, but it was also a qualifying meet for the age groups. It was a great meet for the kids to get to the next level so they qualify to get into this meet. I had some kids who had state times and they didn't have all the state times so they could swim in some events this meet."

On the boys side, there wasn’t anyone as busy as Lincoln-Way East’s Tom Vander Velde. The 17-year-old finished in the top three in seven events. He won the 200 backstroke (2:06.44), was third in the 200 individual medley and took second place in the 100 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle. Vander Velde was runner-up to teammate Andrew Gramont in three events.

Gramont, who also is on the Lincoln-Way East swim team, dominated the freestyle events, winning the 50 (22.44), 100 (49.11) and 200 (1:47.95). He took second in the 500 (4:59.40) and added a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke.

Another Lincoln-Way East student, 17-year-old David Drewes, won the 200 breaststroke (2:25.21) and was second in the 200 individual medley.

Other boys winners included Jared Blair and Dylan Sterling in 12U. Blair was tops in the 200 breaststroke (2:49.53), and Sterling won the 50 backstroke (32.05). Ryan Murphy had a second-place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:09.82). In the 10U competition, 9-year-old Maximus Pignotti took second in the 50 backstroke (35.57) and third in the 100 freestyle.

When the regional concluded early Sunday evening, the Gators had produced 48 top-three finishers.

"They come in and work hard, and they taper for this meet if this is the last one and get their best time or state time," Counihan said. "To see them smile is great, and we always swim well at this meet. It’s always 90 percent best times or better, which is pretty exciting."

Members in the 14U and younger divisions will compete at the state meet in Kenosha, Wis., this Thursday through Sunday.

"Last winter we took fifth in state, which was great," Counihan said. "We won a state relay and three individual events, which was fantastic. I hope we can repeat that and still do well. It's a beautiful pool up there."

In addition to his athletes’ strong efforts in the pool, Counihan wanted to recognize the efforts of the board members and parents who committed to three days of volunteering at the regional.

"Our parents do everything—keeping times, volunteering with concessions and everything," he said. "Without them we couldn't have had this meet. I've been told that this is one of the best-run meets in the state, and that puts a smile on my face."

As did the efforts of his swimmers.