The Lyons Township girls swimming team fell one point shy of registering a top 10 finish at the state finals last year. Despite Benet edging LT 45-44 on the scoreboard for that coveted spot, the Lions’ 2008 season was by any measure a success.
Lyons won the Downers Grove South Sectional and finished second in the tough West Suburban (Silver) Conference to complement their 11th-place state mark.
“We were disappointed that we didn’t make the top 10 [at state], but the girls did everything within their power to get that done,” LT coach Scott Walker said. “We bloomed at the right time.”
The buzz around LT swimming entering this season carries familiar feelings of high expectations and optimism.
Erika Ronning, who finished fifth in the 100-yard freestyle (51.86) and 11th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.32) in the state finals, returns for her senior year. She is also the lone returnee from the Lions’ state finals 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that captured 11th and 10th place, respectively.
“Last year was a breakout year for Erika,” Walker said. “She’s a quiet leader. Erika is learning how to do what her body is trained to do, and leave the mental aspect out of it.”
Madeleine Moeller also returns after taking 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.94) at state. Moeller and fellow junior Gigi Groya made up half of the LT 200-medley squad that garnered an impressive fifth place showing with a time of 1:47.71 in the state finals. Groya qualified in the 100-yard backstroke as well.
Other returning state qualifiers are Annie Radville (100-yard butterfly), Hillary Weigand (200-yard freestyle) and the diving tandem of seniors Jenny Grimes and Kristi Carling. Jennifer Weigand, another versatile swimmer, appears ready to help the loaded Lions.
“We have good depth in the making,” Walker said. “There are some freshmen with good backgrounds who can also develop during the year.”
Although the Lions lost Sarah Norris, Meg Vertovec, Katie Giger, Megan McNichols and Margaret Swanson to graduation, Walker feels their influence will resonate with his current bunch.
“That (2008) class was a very good group of leaders,” he said. “When our seniors graduate, they leave a legacy of how the team should be run.”