Riverside-Brookfield High School senior girls swimmer Emma McVicker has learned to endure the 500-yard freestyle and come right back to anchor the 200 free relay that immediately follows.
“I like doing that because it’s, in my opinion, easy to go from a 500 to 50,” McVicker said.
Those were just two of the Bulldogs’ medal-earning efforts at their 34th annual home invitational on Sept. 10.
Sophomore Hailey Vlcek, who added to her school records, and freshman Maria Ellis were individual event champions for RBHS (215 points), which finished third behind Oak Park and River Forest (321) and Plainfield co-op (295).
Perhaps the greatest accomplishment happened even before the meet.
Senior captains McVicker, Aja McKay and Riley Daun helped the Bulldogs organize and raise at least $220 in donations for Cal’s Angels, a pediatric cancer foundation started in 2007. Ellis’ brother, Chris, died from neuroblastoma cancer just after his seventh birthday.
“I know the whole team was so proud to do that in memory of Chris Ellis,” McVicker said.
Vlcek set another school record in winning the 100 butterfly (59.14 seconds) and captured the 200 free (1:55.01) by 5.84 seconds. On Sept. 6, Vlcek set the school record in the 200 individual medley (2:10.00).
Ellis won the 100 breaststroke (1:11.20) and was second in the 200 IM (2:17.29).
The 200 medley relay of senior McKay, freshman Maria Ellis, Vlcek and junior Kate Ryan was second (1:55.18). The 400 free relay of McKay, Vlcek, McVicker and Ellis (3:45.64) was third. McKay was fifth in the 50 free (26.49).
After taking fourth in the 500 free (5:42.97), McVicker provided a relay-best 26.49 anchor split to move the 200 free relay with Ryan and juniors Caroline Strubbe and Emily Baartman into sixth (1:48.41).
“I feel pretty good that we can get one of our or multiple relays to state and I definitely want to be a part of it,” McVicker said. “I think it would be so much more fun to go with a relay.”
Lions splash to title at LTHS Relays
Lyons Township High School senior Becky Phillips has state meet experience not only in girls swimming but track and field.
“There’s a couple of months that overlap for sure, but I’ve learned how to manage my time and how to balance both,” Phillips said. “I love both sports so I can’t just completely stop one.”
After seeing the Lions girls swimming team win their annual LT Relays on Sept. 10, this should be another successful and long season.
The Lions captured six races and compiled 350 points over second-place Neuqua Valley (304) and Rosary (274). All victories were by at least three seconds.
The Lions won the 500 free relay with Ella Jean Kelly, Libby Langan, Phillips and Maggie Adler (4:41.32); the 200 medley relay with Kylie Thompson, Dylan Jorgensen, Lindsay Forebaugh and Audrey Cavaliere (1:52.05); the 200 free relay with Adler, Cavaliere, Amelia Mariano and Phillips (1:38.27); the 300 backstroke relay with Kylie Thompson, Olivia Kowalczyk and Ellie Baum (3:04.06); and both flights of the 400 free relay with Adler, Cavaliere, Mariano and Phillips (3:34.59) and Grace Karan, Bebe Wright, Forebaugh and Kelly (3:44.87).
