At various times, seniors Audrey Cavaliere, Lauren Jablonski and Ella Jean Kelly believed their competitive swimming days might end as soon as the Nov. 16 state meet.
Being four-year members of the Lyons Township High School program fueled their interest to continue. Now multiple all-staters Cavaliere (Illinois), Kelly (Iowa) and Jablonski (Bowling Green) are headed to NCAA Division I programs.
“I would say 95 percent of my friends are swimmers. It’s given me my entire social circle. I think it teaches a lot about character,” Cavaliere said.
“I also think this (LTHS) team is the sole purpose of why I am swimming in college because of just the way people stand for things, come together to become one. I love it about this team and it’s helped me to get a new vision of swimming.
Swimming’s really never just been for me being in the water and moving your arms and legs. Swimming has given me a new perspective of life.”
The trio went out strong at their final state meets, contributing to seven school records in the final season for retiring Scott Walker, the Lions’ head coach since 1994.
The 200-yard medley relay with Jablonski (breast stroke) and Cavaliere (freestyle) finished third (1:43.04) after a school-record 1:33.61 in state prelims.
The 200 free relay with Cavaliere, Jablonski and Kelly (school-record 1:33.21) and 400 free relay with Cavaliere and Kelly (3:25.09) both were fourth and Jablonski was eighth in the 100 breast (1:04.12).
Cavaliere’s 10th-place 50.43 in the 100 free broke her 50.77 school record from 2023 and her 23.16 on the opening leg of the 200 free relay broke Kelly’s 50 free school record of 23.33 from 2023. In prelims, the 400 free relay (3:24.45) and Jablonski (1:03.56) broke their previous school records.
“I’ve noticed when I have the most successful seasons are when I’m enjoying myself and having fun,” Kelly said. “That’s why I think high school season is so successful because all 60 girls are connected and I’ve just met most of my best friends. You’re always standing up cheering for people. I think that’s why we succeed.”
Cavaliere and Kelly finished with nine and seven all-state honors, respectively. They began considering college swimming after multiple all-state efforts in 2023.
A four-time all-stater, Jablonski reconsidered this past summer following her great club season that included national cuts.
“I didn’t want to stop just because of how much I grew to love the sport,” Jablonski said. “My entire social circle is people from (my FMC club team) and LT. When you’re around such hard-working people, you all share similar values and that’s who I want to surround myself with.”
Kelly visited Illinois with Cavaliere but chose Iowa after an uplifting unofficial visit.
“I just loved seeing the dedication because so many girls decided to stay over the summer and train with the coaches and all of them were really nice and accepting. I just felt like I belonged there,” Kelly said.
The Lions finished fifth at state after taking fourth in 2023. For Walker, hearing the girls’ love and stories of team meant so much more.
“I think it just shows the influence, power of a team and swimming for one another rather than yourself. Plus I really believe that the environment, the pool is truly their sanctuary,” Walker said. “I’m excited for them to be able to have another sanctuary when they’re away from home, which is the pool, and another family they will grow with, which will be their teams.”
Jablonski already had special swimming bonds with her father, Scott, also an LTHS all-starter who competed at Division III Kalamazoo (Mich.) College, and retired FMC coach Conor Ozog.
Bowling Green junior Morgan Sokol, an FMC teammate from Naperville Central, also helped in her consider the Falcons.
“I really loved the atmosphere. The girls were so nice and welcoming. It was what I wanted out of a team in college — supportive, hard-working. The coaches were just the icing on the cake,” Jablonski said.
“Swimming also been an outlet for me. I’ll come if I’m having a bad day. Most of the time I’ll leave the pool feeling better. It helps me clear my mind.”
Cavaliere was content with attending Illinois strictly as a student – even after Illinois sophomore swimmer and 2023 LTHS graduate Maggie Adler told her the coaches would be contacting her. Now they’ll be teammates, along with Riverside Brookfield senior Hailey Vlcek.
“I haven’t been dreaming of swimming in college when I was little so it was kind of a pleasant surprise,” Cavaliere said.
“I always saw myself going (to Illinois) and then I went and I absolutely loved it. I loved the team. I already know girls on the team. The team atmosphere reminds me a lot of LT swim and dive. I love that the coaches are awesome. I think it will be fun.”