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Evanston’s faculty data within the 50-yard freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 particular person medley might all fall by the top of the 2025 women season.
And that’s what it takes to succeed on the Illinois High School Association state finals, the place each lane is a quick lane.
Senior Annika Wartowski, junior Vanya Gojakovic and sophomore Nina Gatchell are poised to problem these varied data for the Wildkits, who open their season this weekend with meets at Loyola Academy and Lake Forest.
All three have been state qualifiers a 12 months in the past and are coming off profitable membership seasons this summer season. The subsequent step? Making it to Saturday — the final day of the season — when the IHSA state finals are carried out.
And if these data come off the board, it received’t simply be a coincidence. That trio performed key roles a 12 months in the past when Evanston completed twenty eighth within the crew standings at State. Gojakovic did attain the state finals within the IM as a sophomore, inserting twelfth, after profitable the sectional title in that occasion in a time of two:05.50 that was simply off the varsity document of two:04.96 set by Clio Hancock again in 2:017.
Gatchell will in some unspecified time in the future take down Ana Woods’ ETHS breaststroke document of 1:04.59 in 2014, having clocked a season greatest 1:05.88 a 12 months in the past, and both Wartowski or Gojakovic might check the 50 freestyle mark set by state champion Heidi Toft approach again in 1990 at 23.78.
Ask head coach Kevin Auger and he’ll inform you it’s only a matter of time, in the event you’ll pardon the pun, earlier than that document board must be re-written.
“But even if you’re setting records, it’s a giant leap to make it to State, and another giant leap to make it back to Saturday,” mentioned the Evanston coach. “Those three women are already below the state cuts (primarily based on summer season performances in lengthy course competitors). And in the event you break data right here, the chances are you’ll be again to swim on Saturday (at State).
“I think Vanya can be the best we’ve ever had in two or three different races,” Auger mentioned. “My aim is to find the best two races for her to succeed in as an individual. She’s always competed in the backstroke and breastroke in USA Swimming (club), but we’re still looking at all the options for her.”
Gojakovic’s enchancment within the freestyle stroke was dramatic on the finish of final season and pushed her into the state finals within the IM. Possible mixtures for her are the IM/backstroke, the 50 free/backstroke and even presumably the IM/50 freestyle, though these two races are held back-to-back and can be troublesome to tug off in a championship sort meet like a sectional or State.
“That’s a long shot as far as the 50 and IM. But Vanya isn’t your two lengths and she’s done type of swimmer,” Auger identified. “99 p.c of women aren’t going to attempt something like that, however they don’t have her sort of versatility.
“Vanya swam a 23.6 within the spring (50 free) however Annika really beat her greatest time in the summertime (27.0 at 50 meters, akin to a low 23 clocking in yards). That was a really spectacular swim (in a meet in Minnesota).
“Nina Gatchell had a great summer, too, Auger said. “She won the 200 breaststroke at the Senior State meet and she’s really going to help us on the medley relay this year. We’d like to get all three relays to State again, but we need to find another flier (after the graduation of Cameron Corbett). Cameron had a great senior year last year and losing her hurts. My hope is that Nina can make a bigger difference for us (by going faster in the breaststroke). She’s fast in the 100 breast and 200 breast, but she still hasn’t that 50 breast (for a relay leg).”
Seniors Tacy Jamison and Merrill Short ought to present a stable core for the freestyle relays, each the 200 and 400, and Jamison might make an impression in both the backstroke or butterfly, too. Short and junior Susannah Mulhern are prime contenders within the distance freestyle races, the 200 and 500, and senior Meital Halpern ought to be an element within the IM, butterfly or breaststroke.
Juniors to look at embrace Keira Beaudoin within the breaststroke, Maggie Brennan within the backstroke, and Susannah Keller within the 200 and 500. Top sophomores hoping to make a splash are Brooke Bowman within the fly and Clara Wartowski within the distance freestyle races, and freshman Maddie Baxter will lend assist within the backstroke.
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