Rosary, first-time winners make history

Rosary's Mackenzie Powers competes in the 100 Butterfly.
(Stacia Timonere/For Sun-Times News Group)

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Adrienne Bicek, Kelly Hagerty and Emily Fogle made history on a day of firsts at the girls swimming state finals Saturday at Evanston. The trio became the first swimmers in the history of their respective schools to win individual state championships.

Bicek, a Downers Grove North senior, won the most dramatic victory by unseating defending state champion Olivia Scott of Rosary in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:01.30, the fastest winning time ever. Scott was second in a school-record 2:02.28.

“It’s quite an accomplishment to be the first person at North to win,” said Bicek, who swam 2:00.94 in Friday’s prelims. “It’s pretty exciting, especially to see the crowd cheering.”

Bicek could not duplicate her feat in the 500 freestyle, the event she broke a 22-year-old state record in Friday, finishing second in 4:54.88. Normal’s Caitlin Hamilton won in 4:47.81 as Bicek tired toward the end.

“There’s no question [I got tired], but you go fight and do your best,” Bicek said. “I gave it my all. Caitlin did a nice job.”

Hagerty, a Glenbrook South junior, captured the 50 free in 23.58 seconds, edging Homewood-Flossmoor senior Anna Dobben by .07.

“I didn’t think I was going to win but I gave it my all and didn’t look anywhere except down the whole time,” said Hagerty, who later took third in the 100 free. “The 50 is all start-turn-finish and that’s really what won it for me. I worked on my start all season and usually the turn is not my strong point but I felt like I really nailed it today.”

Barrington’s Fogle had her sights set on the 100 breaststroke title all year and got the job done in 1:02.61, holding off fellow junior Angie Chokran of St. Charles North by .59.

“It’s really special,” Fogle said. “It was the most nervous I’ve ever been, so my coach had to calm me down. I was shaking. I wanted it and I knew Angie wanted it but I think I wanted it a little more.”

Rosary junior Mackenzie Powers wanted a title, but for a different reason. Powers won the 100 butterfly in 55.51 to keep that title in house after Scott, the two-time defending champion, was disqualified in Friday’s prelims.

“I really wanted to win it because I wanted to defend the title for Rosary,” Powers said.

Rosary became the fourth school to win three consecutive team titles, doing so in dominating fashion. The Beads’ 184 points were 83 more than New Trier and Hinsdale Central, who tied for second place. It tied the largest margin of victory in state history.

“This whole weekend has been unreal,” said senior Elisabeth Tavierne, who swam a leg of the victorious 200 medley relay. “Yesterday we did amazing and today was even better. I’m crying with joy I’m so happy.”

Rosary also won the 200 free and 400 free relays, with the 200 free team of Kara Savegnago, Scott, Kally Fayhee and Katherine Hare lowering their own state record .01 to 1:33.88.

Other winners were New Trier senior Paige Grant in diving (422.25 points) and Evanston junior Jane Munro, who won the backstroke in 55.62, .34 ahead of Sarah Galvin, who was trying to become Benet’s first champion.

“I’ve been thinking about this for months and months, and it’s finally here,” Munro said. “I kind of died on the third leg and I was like, ‘I can’t lose,’ so on the last leg I went for the wall just praying I won.”