Girls swimming: Stevenson will send 12 entries to state meet

Updated: November 15, 2011 7:10PM

Things went swimmingly for this sister act.The Stevenson High School swim team

received a big lift from senior Michelle Hannon and freshman Rebecca Hannon at Saturday’s sectional at Barrington. The pair earned a trio of individual state berths.

Michelle Hannon advanced in the 200 individual medley by placing third in 2:11.07.

“Michelle is having a great senior year,” said Stevenson coach Karl Milkereit, who his team take runner-up honors (236 points) in the team standings behind the host Fillies (256). “She had some issues with her back (last year) that affected what she could do. But she had a real good end of the summer and she carried it over into the high school season.”

The elder Hannon is a team captain and the only senior among the state-qualifying swimmers.

Rebecca Hannon extended her freshman year in both the 100 butterfly (3rd, 58.61) and 500 free (3rd, 5:06.14). Both efforts were personal records for the fab frosh.

“Rebecca has a good stroke for distance and middle distance,” the coach said. “She’s also tenacious, so she’s not going to give up.”

While the Patriots would’ve liked to hoist the sectional plaque, the most important number is 12 — the number of entries Stevenson qualified to state, which will be held Friday and Saturday at New Trier.

Sprint star: Julia Wawer has been an ace freestyler over the years. The Stevenson sophomore delivered state-qualifying efforts in both sprint races.

Wawer punched her ticket to the state meet by taking fourth in the 50-yard free (24.65) and fourth in the 100 free (52.94).

While she’s headed to state in the short distances, she’s hardly a one-trick pony.

“She is an overall great freestyler,” said Milkereit. “If she swam the 200 and 500, she would qualify for state in those events as well. It just so happens she does the 50 and 100.”

Room to move: A trio of Patriots were not tapered for this meet. So, look for more time drops for Wawer, Riley Kirby and Madison Blaydes.

“You really only have one shot at a taper,” Milkereit noted. “You have to do it for the biggest meet of the year.”

Both Blaydes and Kirby hope to make a splash in the 100 backstroke. Blaydes was second in sectional (58.94), while Kirby grabbed the fourth-place medal (59.53).

“Madison has always been good in the backstroke,” Milkereit said. “She swam a 57.5 in club, so we knew that was an event we wanted to try.”

Blaydes was a state place-winner in both the 200 free (11th) and 500 free (11th) at last year’s state meet.

Kirby is also a versatile swimmer. The sophomore proved it by claiming a North Suburban Conference title in the 100 free two weeks ago.

The other Patriot individuals headed to state are Cheryl Xiang and Leah Bloodgood. Xiang advanced in both the 200 free (2nd, 1:54.52) and 100 free (6 th, 53.78), while Bloodgood earned a slot in the 100 breaststroke (5th, 1:08.25).

“We expected all of those kids to qualify,” Milkereit said.

Relay magic: Stevenson also will send two relays to state. The 200 medley team of Blaydes, Bloodgood, Rebecca Hannon and Kirby took second in1:49.81, while the 400 free foursome of Wawer, Xiang, Kirby and Blaydes placed second in 3:35.58.

The success of the 200 medley team gave the Patriots a spark.

“You always want the first relay to be a good one,” the coach said.

As the Patriots prepare for State, Milkereit is hoping to have a busy second day.

“We’re hoping to get both of our backstrokers (to the finals),” the coach said of Blaydes and Kirby. “And we’d like to bring one of our relays back.”

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