Girls Swimming: Lincoln-Way East holds on for sectional

Updated: November 12, 2011 5:26PM

While the final score was much closer than it had been over recent years, the end result was still very much the same for Lincoln-Way East Saturday at the Homewood-Flossmoor sectional.

Led by Taylor Jach, Sloane McDermott and Jana Witulski, the Griffins held off a charge from rival Lincoln-Way North to take the sectional team title, winning 268-259. The title was East’s fifth in a row.

“It’s crazy, but it’s what we wanted to do,” East coach Kate Gabey said. “We accomplished what we wanted and qualified all the girls and relays for state we thought should. To get a sectional title on top of that, it’s a bonus.”

All first-place finishers from Saturday’s meet advanced along with any swimmer or relay team finishing under a state cut.

Jach finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.99) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:11.34) for East. McDermott won the 100-yard backstroke (:57.91), setting a pool record, and also advanced to the state meet in the 200-yard IM (3rd, 2:10.93). Also advancing for the Griffins were Witulski in the 100-yard backstroke (3rd, :59.47) and the 200 (1st, 1:39.73) and 400-yard (2nd, 3:37.56) relay teams.

Diver Kyleigh Seibert (402.45 points) finished second in diving and remains eligible for an at-large bid.

“This year we’re really gunning for next weekend (at the state meet),” Gabey said.

For Lincoln-Way North, Cheyenne DeGraff led the way, winning the 200-yard IM (2:08.21) and finishing second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.35). The 200-yard medley relay (1:50.57) and 400-yard free relay (3:36.07, pool record) were also first-place finishers for the Phoenix.

Jenna Tasic finished third in the 100-yard butterfly (:58.78) to advance to state.

For third-place Homewood-Flossmoor (197 points), Rebecca Mathews cut 4.5 seconds off her seed time to win the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.26).

Fourth-place Marian Catholic (163) was led by Katelyn Kresal in the 100-yard freestyle (1st, :54.16) and Abby Kresal in the 200-yard IM (2:10.19).

Hannah Schultz set a pool record in the 100-yard butterfly (:58.14) while also winning the 50-yard freestyle (:24.56) for Tinley Park (5th, 143 points).

Danijela Jackovich finished second in both the 100-yard butterfly (:58.23) and the 100-yard backstroke (:59.31) for Lincoln-Way Central (6th, 139 points).

Rounding out the team standings were T.F. South (9th, 26), Bremen (10th, 20), Crete-Monee (11th, 14) and Morgan Park Academy (12th, 12).

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