A Phoenix Rising on the South Side

A Phoenix Rising on the South Side

by: Beau Alexander

The South Suburban Swim Conference Red Division will be saying goodbye to the Great Illinois Swimmers - GILLS, at the end of this season after the club took home a tight first place victory in the division’s conference meet last Saturday. GILLS will move up next season to the conference’s blue division.

This is a great achievement for the GILLS, who placed last in the 2015 South Suburban Swim Conference Blue Division and were demoted to the red division. In what many thought would be a rebuilding year, the GILLS surpassed their own goals and are sending 15 swimmers to regionals this year, competing in 34 events, as well as, moving up into the more competitive division.

Congratulations to the following GILLS Swimmers that will be going to the 2016 Winter Regional Championship Meet on February 26-28, 2016, hosted by the Homewood Flossmoor Swim Club.

Grace Abramic, Tinley Park

Tre Alexander, Tinley Park

Anthony Bartolotta, Tinley Park (participation contingent on high school state championship)

Hannah Davis, Tinley Park

Teagan Gutsch, Tinley Park

Lindsay Kasper, Orland Park

Collin Landers, Tinley Park

Emma McGuirk, Tinley Park

Megan Melody, Tinley Park

Cullen Murphy, Tinley Park

Sam Ruchala, Tinley Park

Martha Sikora, Orland Hills

Emma Susami, Tinley Park

Lauren Vanderberg, Tinley Park

Eric Villasenor, Tinley Park (participation contingent on high school state championship)

In the past few years, GILLS was plagued with lower than expected registration and declining performance. With fewer swimmers, it was difficult to keep a point advantage to larger rival clubs. As a result, the club was on a downward trajectory. Hoping to gain its former glory, this Fall the club enlisted Shawn Walsh as Head Coach and Ariel Hesse as Head Age Group Coach to get the team back on track. They both join GILLS with an abundance of swimming experience.

Shawn Walsh coached Gannon University’s swim team, in Erie, Pennsylvania. He produced several Division II All-American Swimmers, and built the team into a highly recognized Division II swim program. He was also an assistant coach for Gannon University’s Water Polo team, a Division I team. Most recently over the past year he was the head coach for Oak Forest Swim Association (OFSA).

Ariel Hesse began her swimming career at the age of 10 with the Tinley Park Sharks. She swan for Tinley Park High School and received a swimming scholarship to Robert Morris University. While at Robert Morris, Ariel was the team captain and set school records for the 200, 500 and 1650 freestyle events. She placed top 15 in the NAIA National Championship for the women’s 1650, the mile swim. After graduating Robert Morris University, she began her coaching career as an assistant coach for the Tinley Park Thunder.

The GILLS will be hosting their Summer 2016 registration on March 21, 2016 at Andrew High School in the commons from 6:00 – 8:00pm. Visit our their website for more details about joining the swim team www.gills-swim.org.