Naperville Sun swimming notebook

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:26PM

Since finishing just out of the medals in the 200-yard individual medley at state last year, Neuqua Valley junior Courtney Taylor has been focused on getting into the top 12 at next month's state meet.

"She's been consistently two or three seconds faster than her in-season times for last year," Neuqua Valley coach Mac Guy said. "And she's headed toward the end of the season with confidence."

Guy said Taylor blossomed last year as a swimmer, but she didn't swim the way she wanted to at the end of the year.

"But, now she's been to state and she knows what's coming," Guy said. "And she definitely has the ability to compete for a spot in the Top 12. Courtney has a quiet intensity about her. She works hard every day and she's very consistent. We can rely on her wherever we put her."

At last week's Sandburg Invitational, which was won by Rosary, Taylor was a member of the winning 200 freestyle relay team along with Gia Dalesandro, Maggie Maxstadt and Megan Childs that finished under the state cut at 1 minute, 40.06 seconds.

The Wildcats finished 7th at state in the 200 free relay last year and they were 20th in the overall team standings.

"Many of our girls committed to improving as a team from last year to this year," Guy said. "They came into the season in great shape and swam fast times from the beginning." At Sandburg, Dalesandro swam a 57.99 in winning the 100 backstroke. That was just .06 off Melissa Marik's school record.

THEIR UPS AND DOWNS: It was a roller coaster kind of week for Naperville North. On Sept. 30, the Huskies won every event in overwhelming visiting West Aurora 149-28. Two days later, they went to face powerful New Trier where they were soundly beaten 130-55.

"We didn't have a lot of best times at New Trier," said Naperville North coach Kristy Holben. "But the girls were really exhausted and New Trier is one of the best teams in the state. Against West Aurora, the girls had the chance to swim their off-events."

The Huskies did get victories from Jen Law in the 200 IM and Amy Novak in the 50 freestyle against New Trier.

"At this time of the year I'm not concerned with where they place in the race," Holben said. "They're just trying to swim the best they and improve their times."

Holben reports that she hasn't decided upon the lineup for any of the relays at this point, a situation that has sparked fierce competition among the contenders.

In the medley, Michelle Law is the leading candidate in the backstroke, while Jen Law and Lexi Nash are vying for the butterfly.

There's a three-way battle in the breaststroke among Caitlin Pilgrim, a transfer from Benet, fast-developing sophomore Rachel Prorok and Becca Bogle, who is battling back from an injury. There are a number of sprint freestylers who are possibilities for the anchor leg.

"Becca doesn't have her endurance back yet," Holben said. "But she's strong doing the 50 in the relay and still working on the 100 breaststroke. She improves with every meet, and I'm confident she'll be where she needs to be by sectionals."

Novak, Nash, Becca Bogle, Jen Law and Michelle Law are all in the mix in the 200 freestyle relay, while the 400 free relay leaders are Nash, Novak, both Laws and Lauren Bogle.

The Huskies could have two state qualifiers in diving.

Returning state qualifier Paige Bloodgood is hoping to score, while senior Kate Noreen is coming on strong and could make the state cut.

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