Dukes compete in WSC Silver Division meet Saturday.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The York girls swimming team is gearing up for the two biggest meets of the season.
The Dukes will swim in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division meet Saturday and two weeks later will compete in the Downers Grove North sectional meet.
Recently, York took second in the Maine South relay invitational and also dropped WSC Silver dual meets to Hinsdale Central and Oak Park-River Forest. The Dukes were 3-3 in dual meets through late last week.
Coach Sarah Krizmanic has seen plenty of progress from her group in recent weeks. Junior Sarah Lewand has been a positive in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events.
The coach also has her eye on a pair of relays. The 200 medley relay team of junior Winona Asher (backstroke), senior Paula Nolte (breaststroke), senior Maggie Schlecht (butterfly) and Lewand (freestyle) are making strides and improvements, Krizmanic said.
The 400 relay team of sophomore Meghan Quinn, Lewand, junior Allie Orzak and Schlecht also is excelling.
“The 400 freestyle relay is the last event that competes at all swim meets,” said Krizmanic. “It’s tough to gear up for this race at the end of a long meet. Our relay team has gotten so much tougher and has been swimming more consistently as of late.”
Junior Amy Choi swims in the IM and 500. “Amy has been swimming well in her specialty events,” said Krizmanic. “Amy is an aggressive swimmer. She goes out fast and is motivated by other swimmers around her. It’s fun to watch her race.”
Freshman Nicole Bednarik competes in the breaststroke, IM and 50. “Nicole has impressed the coaches with her outstanding swims,” said Krizmanic. “She continues to record best times even during the longest and toughest stretch of our season.”
Krizmanic said the two conference losses to Hinsdale Central and Oak Park-River Forest were a good barometer of where her team is at.
“Though our last two meets were tough losses against Hinsdale Central and Oak Park-River Forest, the girls performed really well and are looking strong as we head into the conference championship,” she said. “Our conference is really tough and it’ll be tough to break the top three, but we’re hoping to have an abundance of best times at the championship meet.”
Krizmanic also is looking forward to the sectional meet on Saturday, Nov. 14.
“For the past three years our team has finished in the Top 3 at our sectional,” she said. “In 2014 we finished second to Downers Grove North who went on to be the runner-up at the state meet. This year I anticipate our team will contend for the win.”
