GIRLS SWIMMING NOTEBOOK: Barbs rolling along as postseason approaches
By JAMES NOKES
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sports@daily-chronicle.com
DeKALB – Back to the drawing board for the DeKalb/Sycamore girls swimming co-op.
Not because the Barbs are struggling in the homestretch of the season, but rather since the majority of the goals they have set are now obsolete.
“I am surprised with all the success we’ve had lately,” Barbs’ coach Leah Eames said. “We haven’t cut back at all.”
The Barbs beat a deep Byron team on Saturday 131-121 in a triangular with IMSA. They knocked off Bartlett last Tuesday and on senior night Thursday, swept Elgin 118-38.
While on a roll as a team, Casey Jepsen notched a state qualifying time of 59.95 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle against Elgin.
“It’s comforting come sectionals time to already have that time,” Eames said. “I wasn’t expecting to see state times right now.”
Carly Primrose won the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Alex DeWitt won the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke and Molly Olson won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke in a night where the Barbs swept every event.
The success has spread through the team like fallen leaves in a wind storm.
The Barbs hope the momentum carries into the Fox Valley Invitational today; a meet known for a fast pool and talented field.
“The last three meets have really brought the team together,” Eames said. “We are feeding off each other’s energy right now. We are headed into an Invitational with some of the top teams in the state.”
Mackenzie Powers
There is no let up for members of the Rosary swimming team.
Sycamore resident Mackenzie Powers still leaves home at 5 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday for weight training and at 4:15 a.m. on Friday for practice. The focus for Powers is the championship season.
“We swim tired all season,” Powers said. “You’ll have to perform when tired. We don’t taper for sectionals or wear our fast suits. We taper for state.”
Powers already has posted state qualifying times in the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 50-free style. Each Rosary relay team has also posted state times.
“Everyone pretty much is under the state times,” Powers said. “We have a very competitive team.”
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