Fenwick takes down Rosary

Updated: October 1, 2011 4:54PM

Fenwick is going to be a force to be reckoned with in girls swimming this fall.

The Friars demonstrated that by beating perennial power Rosary in a dual meet on Tuesday. It was the first dual meet loss since 1999 for Rosary, which has won 10 trophies since then, including state titles in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

“To be the first team to do that was amazing,” Fenwick senior Maureen Barron said. “The team we have this year is incredible so far. We get along so well, we’ve been working hard together, so knowing that it’s paying off is really exciting.”

Fenwick won its first trophy when it took third place in 2009. The Friars, who were fifth last year, hope to capture some more hardware at next month’s state meet and seem to have the right mindset.

“I think their attitude [is the key],” Fenwick coach Renee Miller said. “I think the older kids who were here when [current Notre Dame star] Kelly Ryan and we got third place realized the hard work and ethic that it took. Last year I think we were just a little young and it took us a little while to peak. This year they’re more ready.”

Despite being in the middle of their most grueling stretch of training, the Friars were tough Saturday at the Sandburg Invite, winning all three relays and taking second with 308 points, just six behind Neuqua Valley. Sandburg was third with 208 and Rosary, which was without standouts Molly Coonce and Rachel Burke because of recruiting visits, was fourth at 186.

“This meet is always really hard for us every year because it’s at that point in our training when we’re just going to be so tired,” Barron said. “We came out and swam harder. Compared to last year we did really well, so for how tired we are, we’re happy with where we ended up.”

Fenwick won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:48.15 behind Maggie Sheean, Haley Wickham, Mimi Schneider and Barron. Schneider, Paulina Kaminski, Wickham and Barron teamed up to capture the 200 free relay in 1:38.71 and the 400 free relay in 3:34.68. All three of those times are the best in the state so far.

Barron and Schneider also won their only individual events, with Barron prevailing in the 50 free (24.62) and Schneider in the 100 free (52.64).

“I thought we had a great meet,” Schneider said. “I think this year what really helps us is that we’re such a close team, so we all get along so great and how we swim in the water just shows that.”

Times, more than places, are important to the Friars, who weren’t upset at falling just short of Neuqua Valley.

“Neuqua is an amazing team,” Schneider said. “They’re going to be really tough to beat this year, but I thought we all swam well.”

Neuqua has been unbeatable so far in invitationals, winning all four it has entered. Gia Dalesandro won the 200 individual medley in 2:07.75 and 100 backstroke in 57.66 and Megan Childs took the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.41.

The Wildcats were second in all three relays, with Maggie Maxstadt anchoring the medley and 200 free and Childs the 400 free.

“Maggie sort of had her coming out today,” Neuqua Valley coach Brandon King said. “She had all best times today.

“It’s really those girls that I think that don’t get talked about a lot who have stepped up huge. I’m really proud of them. They’re trying to compete with those top dogs and that’s showing in the meets because they know they can compete with some of the top swimmers in the state, so when they’re swimming against them, they have that confidence.”

Confidence is something Fenwick has in abundance after the win over Rosary, which again will be in the trophy hunt.

“It’s really exciting because I think [the Friars] have always held Rosary up on a pedestal and I think they set them as the standard,” Miller said. “Each year we’ve gotten closer and closer and this year to be able to beat them it gives them some confidence that, yes, it’s very feasible to beat Rosary, which it hasn’t been in years.”

Rosary’s Emily Launer won the 200 free in 1:56.87 and the 500 free in 5:07.82, while teammate Sarah Sykstus captured the 100 butterfly in 58.01. Fenwick’s Michelle Kalupski was the diving champ with 341.55 points.

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