Taylor a leader at Neuqua Valley

Updated: October 13, 2011 8:07PM

Courtney Taylor adds a light-heartedness to the Neuqua Valley swimming and diving team that is infectious to her teammates and helps keep everything loose at practice.

But, when it comes to swimming Taylor, a senior, is a serious, dedicated athlete, who’s having a breakout year.

“Courtney will be a huge part of our success when the end of the year comes,” said Neuqua Valley coach Brandon King. “We know she’s going to deliver at meets because of how hard she works. She leaves everything in the pool. She also provides a quiet leadership. But she can be really comical and help to keep the spirits high.”

At last week’s St. Charles North Invite Taylor had the kind of day that proves to her coach that she’s setting herself apart from the pack this year.

She started the day with a 29.85 in the breaststroke on the Medley Relay team that came in second even though it set both the school and the meet record with a 1:48.68

Taylor then won the 200 IM in 2:10.66. Last year Taylor finished 13th at state last year in the IM and she’s determined to move up and score this year.

“She’s very solid in the IM,” said King. “And her win was pretty impressive considering the competition. It would be great if she just got to Saturday this year.”

Then Taylor produced her best time this season in the 100 breaststroke, a 1:07.51, though she finished second to Metea Valley’s Megan Sellers whose 1:05.30 is currently the fastest time in the state. Rachel Prorok of Naperville North is now fifth in Illinois with a 1:06.72 and Taylor is seventh.

“Courtney was seventh at state last year and this is her chance to break into the top six,” said King. “That will be one of the best races at state because there are so many outstanding girls competing.”

And, while King hasn’t decided on his sectional lineup for the freestyle relays, Taylor has a good chance to make one of them her fourth event.

“She’s just such a solid swimmer all around,” he said. “We’ll just have to spend the next few weeks putting the final touches on those free relay teams, so we come up with the perfect four.”

Neuqua Valley’s Gia Dalesdandro’s 57.66 is currently the second fastest time in Illinois in the 100 backstroke and she’s third in the 200 IM with a 2:07.75.

Another Naperville swimmer “who’s really starting to get into her groove” is Naperville North’s Jen Law.

“Jen doesn’t have an off-day,” said Naperville North coach Kristy Holben. “She always works hard at practice and no matter how tired she is she pushes through. She’s constantly analyzing her four strokes in the IM and, when she sees a weakness, she works hard to improve each of them.”

Last year Law finished fifth in state I both the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly.

Holben said that one of Law’s great strengths is the mental part of swimming.

“She rises up to the challenge and doesn’t succumb to the pressure,” Holben said. “If she feels she’s slipping in the wrong direction she can catch herself and turn it around. Here attitude is ‘I haven’t been working my tail off this long to get here and not do well.’ She has the ability to not let anything get in the way of her concentration.”

Law is currently carrying the eighth fastest time in the state in the IM, a 2:09. 59 and she’s third in state in the 100 butterfly with a 57.85.

Maddie Hunt of Waubonsie Balley is currently ranked ninth in the state in the 50 freestyle with a 24.67.

Benet’s Tori Bertschy is 10th in the 100 fly with a time of 58.95

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.