This season, the camaraderie bonds for the Riverside Brookfield High School girls swimming and diving team are as strong as ever. Now they even have the chain to prove it. After the dual Sept. 18 meet at Joliet West, junior Carly Romero became the first recipient of the new Bulldog Award – a giant blue cosmetic chain with an RBHS Bulldog head attached presented after every meet to a team member based on individual performances and team support and spirit.
“I won it [the day] before homecoming so I wore it to school. I wore it to the pep rally. That was really fun,” Romero said. “All of my friends got to see me with it. I had people taking pictures with me. I thought it was an amazing day to get it.”
Senior Maria Ellis and juniors Isabel Rosa and Brynn Gizewski, the Bulldogs’ team captains, envisioned the award. Ellis said club teammates from Rosary High School have a Bead of the Meet, and they wanted to award something similar.
RBHS swim coach Mike Laurich found the actual physical award via Etsy.
“It looked like it would be a little smaller. Then it was really big and really shiny. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is awesome,’” Ellis said. “We wanted a really big chain, something that stood out. [The Bulldog] came with the chain. It was awesome. I was so impressed.”
So far, the award has received rave reviews. The next recipients were freshman Josie Chase (York Invite, Sept. 26), sophomore Mariam Abdelhafez (South Elgin, Sept. 23), junior Sophie Simpson (Bartlett, Sept. 25) and freshman June Manning (Hinsdale South triangular, Sept. 30).
“[Laurich] was talking with me so I thought I might get it [that meet],” Chase said. “I was excited. I like it. I think it’s cool.”
“It symbolizes being part of your team and not only cheering for yourself and your own personal bests but everyone as a whole,” Abdelhafez said. “It’s definitely an honor. I feel really cool and I hope everyone else on the team gets it at some point.”
Laurich said he has agreed with the award selections. The recipients certainly had strong performances, but Ellis emphasized the award goes beyond that.
“I was thinking it would be awesome if we could have some sort of award to honor our teammates who put forth a great effort and then also are being great sportswomen, presenting great sportsmanship,” Ellis said. “It’s one thing to swim really fast but we don’t want to award it to someone who’s sitting in the bleachers on their phone the whole time.”
As the first recipient, Romero swam a personal-best in winning the varsity 500-yard freestyle and nearly broke six minutes.
Chase achieved personal bests in the 200 individual medley and 100 breast stroke. Abdelhafez dropped her 100-yard breast stroke best by 10 seconds to 1:34 and her breast split in the 200 medley relay by .9 to 42.08.
On Sept. 26, Ellis introduced the first of Friendly Fridays, where anonymous notes that praise a teammate are read aloud. This past Friday, the Bulldogs unveiled smiley faces as part of World Smile Day.
“I love to cheer my teammates on,” Romero said. “It’s such a nice feeling when you’re in the water and you can kind of peek out on the sidelines and all of your teammates cheering you on. I just want to give them the same feeling.”
LTHS football
Junior running back EJ Kuhlman rushed for four touchdowns as the Lions defeated Proviso West 51-0 Friday in Hillside. The Lions (4-2, 1-2 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) led 35-0 at halftime after Kuhlman (67 rushing yards, 70 receiving yards) had second-quarter TDs on runs of 1, 15, 3 and 1 yard.
Nick Linares caught a 32-yard TD pass in the first quarter from quarterback Brock Curtin (9-for-19 passing, 155 yards). In the third quarter, Nathan Fitzgerald recorded a safety and No. 89 returned a kickoff 61 yards for a touchdown. Caiden Kovel had a 19-yard TD run in the fourth. Dylan Wolf and Wolfie Ketterling 98 converted four and three extra points, respectively.
Ryan Pleviak had six tackles, two for loss. Aidan Webster (2 for loss), Brady Koren (fumble recovery) and Sean Malinowski had four tackles and Miko Zecevic had an interception.