Girls Swimming: New Trier claims sectional title

Updated: November 12, 2011 6:39PM

In arguably the deepest sectional in the state, even Olivia Smoliga and Barbra Brottman managed to shine brightest in the crowded pool of stars at Glenbrook South.

The juniors were the only two-time winners Saturday. Smoliga won the 50-yard freestyle (23.03) and the 100-yard freestyle (50.22). Brottman took the distance honors, finishing first in the 200 free (1:51.82) and the 500 free (5:03.00).

Glenbrook South coach Kelly Timson and Smoliga decided earlier in the week she would swim the 100 free instead of the 100 backstroke, an event where she’s the defending state champion.

“It’s about the spacing,” Smoliga said. “I will get to rest more, so I can really go hard.”

Smoliga, who also is the defending state champ in the 50 free, also likes to challenge herself.

“It’s going to be a great race,” she said of the 100 free, where she will compete again against New Trier’s Samantha James, last year’s state champion. “There’s so much competition in that race, and I like to entertain the crowd. If I was swimming the 100 backstroke, the people would like, ‘Oh, she’s swimming the backstroke again.’

“Like my dad said, it’s no guts no glory. That’s the way I see it too.”

New Trier finished first in four events and won the sectional championship with 302 points. Loyola was second with 256, while the host Titans took third with 213 points.

New Trier’s Caroline Grant totaled 468.50 points to edge out North Shore Country Day’s Juliette Corboy (465.40). Anna Peterson won the 100 butterfly (57.68), and two Trevian relay teams won sectional titles.

Loyola featured multiple first-place finishes. Mallory Remick won the 200 IM (2:08.45), and Michelle Garland was first in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.81).

“It was definitely nice to race,” said Remick, who beat Garland in the IM. “You can get kind of an idea of what it will be like next week.”

The state meet starts Friday at New Trier.

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