LF_112719

30 | November 27, 2019 | The lake forest leader SPORTS
LakeForestLeaderDaily.com
Posted to LakeForestLeaderDaily.com 3 days ago
King overcomes nerves, takes eighth at state meet
MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW,
Contributing Sports Editor
Coming off of a dominant
sectional performance,
it would have
been easy for Lake Forest
freshman Mary Grace
King to go into the IHSA
state finals with a high
level of confidence.
That wasn’t the case
though.
“This (weekend) was a
lot,” King said. “Yesterday
was more stressful
than today, but I’m really
happy that I got the state
final experience. I wanted
to come out and give it my
all and I’m really happy
with my results. Everyone
was telling me there’s so
many people, it’s so big
and then I got there, it
seemed like every other
meet.”
King overcame those
jitters well, however, as
she took eighth in the
500-freestyle in a time of
4:58.38 on Saturday, Nov.
23, at New Trier.
Coming into her high
school career, she wasn’t
sure what to expect on the
varsity level and how she
would be able to take it in.
That changed as the season
went along, however,
and she was able to continue
improving her times
and seeing the hard work
pay off in the pool.
“I improved a lot this
season,” she said. “Most
of the swims I did this
year ended up being my
personal bests.”
A big thing for the
freshman was not getting
in her own head and not
letting things get to her on
the mental side of swimming.
She can thank her
coaches, especially assistant
coach Cindy Dell, for
helping her through any
“I improved a
lot this season.
Most of the
swims I did
this year ended
up being
my personal
bests.”
- Scouts freshman
Mary Grace King
times she may have been
doubting herself.
“During prelims, she
was telling to just swim
my meet and not worry
about anything else and I
did,” King said. “Having
swam for the high school
team this year, it’s such a
different experience (than
club). There’s such a great
team environment and
everyone is so supportive
of each other. During sectionals
in my 500, I was so
scared, but everyone was
telling me ‘You got this.
You can do it.’”
With the high school
season coming to an end,
King starts her club season
right away. Literally.
Her first club meet with
the Lake Forest Swim
Club was Sunday, Nov.
24, the day after the IHSA
state finals. King planned
on swimming the mile at
that first meet.
King had also qualified
in the 200-yard freestyle,
but fell short of qualifying
for the finals. She was
also part of the state-qualifying
400 free and 200
medley relays, but neither
of those teams qualified
for Saturday’s finals.
Ashley Updike competes in the 100-yard freestyle in the IHSA state meet on Friday, Nov. 22, at New Trier High
School. Photos by Carlos Alvarez/22nd Century Media
Lake Forest had seniors
Ashley Updike and Kendra
Joachim qualify individually
for the meet as
well.
Unfortunately for the
Scouts, neither qualified
for Saturday’s final round.
The state meet ended a
stellar high school career
that saw Joachim make
the state finals her sophomore,
junior and senior
seasons.
The future is bright for
the Scouts, as they bring
back King and a number
of other underclassmen
swimmers.
RIGHT: Lake Forest senior
Kendra Joachim in the
100-yard fly race.