Lincoln-Way East gets it going with a win

Updated: September 6, 2011 8:17PM

Swimming in the team’s first dual meet of the season, Lincoln-Way East showed off its team unity and camaraderie Tuesday against visiting Stagg.

With returning state qualifier Taylor Jach singing the national anthem, her teammates on the deck joined in singing when Jach’s microphone went out.

Will that team bonding pay off come the postseason? Much is still to be decided for the Griffins, who started off the SouthWest Suburban season in positive fashion with a convincing 110-76 win over Stagg in Frankfort.

At this point in the season, East coach Kate Gabey wants her swimmers to focus on just competing, not about their times.

“I wanted to see them race and be aggressive, go after it,” Gabey said. “It’s not necessarily about the time right now, although there were good times today. Just race the competition and try their best to see what they can do.”

The Griffins won nine of 12 events, including all three relays. Erin Acklin was a winner in two events, taking the 50-yard freestyle (26.41 seconds) and the 500 free (5 minutes, 38.54 seconds).

Other individual winners included Sloane McDermott in the 200 free (2:03.75), Jach in the 200 individual medley (2:20.00), Brittany Felice in the 100 butterfly (1:04.91) and Jana Witulski in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.45).

The 200 medley relay (1:57.63), 200 free relay (1:44.77) and the 400 free relays (3:49.91) all finished first for East.

“This is the time of the year where you get a little bogged down and your body is tired,” Gabey said. “I’ve been thrilled with everyone. What I saw today, I’m happy with what they’re doing.”

Winners for Stagg included diver Allie Vallance (182.20 points), Sophia Shalabi in the 100 free (57.97) and Adrienne DiFoggio in the 100 backstroke (1:04.48).

First-year coach Christina Wallace was impressed with the Chargers’ efforts despite the loss to one of the conference’s better teams.

“The girls are looking really good,” Wallace said. “Some of them are swimming through sicknesses. We did well next to East, and our times were pretty good. We swam tired and still swam efficiently.”

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