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42 | November 8, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot SPORTS
newlenoxpatriot.com
Girls Swimming and Diving
Program’s first sectional championship in Knights’ sights
Central looks to
send a slew of
swimmers to state
once again
RANDY WHALEN
Freelance Reporter
Sierra Maze was asked
if she was aware that the
Lincoln-Way Central girls
swimming team has never
won a sectional.
No, we haven’t, the Central
junior swimmer replied.
“Not yet.”
The emphasis was on the
“not yet,” as the Knights believe
that their time is now.
Central has never won a
sectional championship. Not
before, when it was just one
school, and not after since
District 210 first split in
2001. But the Knights certainly
has a good chance to
win one now.
This Saturday, Nov. 10,
the Knights will be at the
Lincoln-Way East Sectional.
There they will be the favorite
to capture their first-ever
sectional championship. But
they also know the host Griffins,
along with upstart Lincoln-Way
West and others,
will have something to say
about that before it’s over.
“It would be amazing,”
Central sophomore Keara
McGowan said of winning
a sectional. “It would show
that all the hard work has
paid off.”
The Knights have a bevy
of swimmers with state experience.
Junior Madi Jager
has qualified for state every
year with the program, and
senior Cetta Senese is another
two-time state qualifier.
Both qualified for state
in multiple events each of
those years. Diver Rebekkah
Schimick also made
it last year, and McGowan
made it as part of the 400
Lincoln-Way Central senior Cetta Senese is aiming to end her high school swimming
career as a three-time state qualifier Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Lincoln-Way East Sectional.
22nd Century Media File Photos
Sophomore Keara McGowan has had a huge year, breaking two individual Central pool
records this season and was part of more pool records at Lincoln-Way West during the
SWSC meet last month.
freestyle relay.
The hard work has paid
off for McGowan in her
sophomore campaign as she
set two individual pool records
and was part of a pair
of relays that also set pool
records on Oct. 27 as the
Knights put on a clinic in
winning the SouthWest Suburban
Conference Red Division
championship at crosstown
Lincoln-Way West.
There Central (289 points)
won the SWSC Red for the
fourth straight season. Lincoln-Way
West (239) was
second, followed by Andrew
(157), Bradley-Bourbonnais
(151) and Thornwood (66).
McGowan captured the
100-yard backstroke with a
new pool standard of 58.98
seconds. That easily outdistanced
her senior teammate
Belle Dutka (1 minute:
02.78 seconds), who placed
second. Then in the 100-yard
butterfly McGowan (:59.27)
edged Senese (:59.84) to set
a new record.
The Knights also broke the
pool records in the 200-yard
medley relay as McGowan,
Senese, Dutka and Jager
came in at 1:53.53. Then in
the 400-yard freestyle relay,
it was Jager, freshman Autumn
Hufnagl, Dutka, and
McGowan with a new pool
Please see Knights, 39
Knights sprinter Madi Jager will attempt to make it to
state a third time in as many years with the Central swim
program.
Freshman Autumn Hufnagl won two events at the SWSC
meet, and will have her first taste of sectional action on
Saturday.
The Knights girls swimming and diving team pose for
a picture with the SWSC Red plaque after winning the
conference meet Oct. 27. Photo submitted