Girls Swimming: Lockport will be represented at state

Updated: November 12, 2011 7:40PM

Lockport’s girls swimming team may have lost the battle, but it won the war Saturday afternoon at the Lockport Sectional.

Although the Porters took second to Sandburg for the fifth straight time, Lockport qualified at least one swimmer for the state meet in six different events.

“We don’t go home with the sectional plaque, but we gave it everything we had,” Lockport coach Grant Ferkaluk said. “Every kid swam a lifetime best time. You can’t do any better than that.”

Sophomore Amanda Moran and senior Jill Rothgery each advanced in four events. Senior Kirsten Zborek will compete in three events next weekend.

“Those three girls rocked it today and they have some good swims left in them,” Ferkaluk said. “It was exciting.”

The three along with Carly Breitbarth opened the meet by winning the 200-yard medley relay in 1 minute, 49.6 seconds, which set a school record.

“It all started from there,” Rothgery said.

“We lost a lot of seniors from that team (three), but we pulled it out,” Moran said. “We’re so proud of ourselves for getting first place here.”

The three teamed up with Abby Loughran to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:37.91.

Moran added sectional titles in the 100 butterfly (59.81) and 100 backstroke (57.61), setting pool records in the process.

“I just started swimming the butterfly last year,” Moran said. “I’ve been working hard and, obviously, it paid off.”

Rothgery advanced individually by taking second in the 100 freestyle (53.21) and 100 backstroke (59.79).

“We were expecting to do as well as we did,” Rothgery said. “Our team is a lot closer than it’s ever been and that’s why we did so well today.”

Zborek took third in the 100 freestyle in 53.49. Lincoln-Way West’s Emily Gallagher was fourth and her time of 53.89 was good enough for a state spot.

Breitbarth advanced individually by taking second in the 50 freestyle (24.56).

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