Hinsdale Central sends seven to state

Updated: November 12, 2011 7:38PM

Linsday Pavich completed one half of what could be a memorable day for the Pavich family of Hinsdale.

The Hinsdale Central senior advanced to next weekend’s state meet at New Trier in two individual events and two relays Saturday at the Lyons Sectional. After the meet, Lindsay drove to Normal with some members of her family to watch her younger sister, Brittany, play middle hitter for Benet in the Class 4A state girls volleyball championship Saturday night against Cary-Grove.

“This is awesome. My parents and me are going back down [state to volleyball],” Pavich said. “It’s so much fun. My parents (Lisa and Tom) were texting Brittany the whole day to tell her how I was doing during the meet.”

Pavich will return to state in three events and added a fourth by qualifying with the 200-yard freestyle. She won the 100 breast (1:06.51) and finished second in the 200 individual medley (2:08.88) to Illinois-bound teammate Jen Coady (2:07.88). Pavich also returns in the 200 medley relay after winning with Hannah Lillioja, Genna Heidkamp and Coady (1:46.43). Pavich combined with Kerry Grosshans, Coady and Heidkamp to place second in the 200 free relay (1:37.57).

Hinsdale Central (319 points) topped host Lyons (281) to win its 18th sectional title and 10th in the last 12 years. The Devils will send seven individuals to the state meet in eight different events and advanced all three relays. The team’s only individual swimmer to win two events was Lillioja with wins in the 100 fly (58.42) and 100 back (58.40).

Lyons won two relays in the 200 free (1:37.46) with Louisa Hoffman, Kristine Rosenberger, Jennifer Weigand and Elly Vitek and the 400 free (3:32.90) with Rosenberger, Hoffman, Lizzy Kozin and Vitek. Vitek won the 200 free (1:52.71), Rosenberger took first in the 50 free (24.84) and Hoffman was victorious in the 100 free (52.20).

Mother McAuley junior Meghan Dragel scored 411.80 points in diving to become the only event champion in the meet from a school other than Hindsale Central or Lyons.

There is a good chance Hinsdale Central freshman Meghan McCarthy (396.65) will advance with an at-large berth after finishing as the sectional runner-up in diving.

“We’re not interested in winning [sectionals]. We’re interested in cuts,” Devils coach Bob Barber said. “It’s such a nerve-wracking meet. For the girls, you have to do it today or it doesn’t count.”

Barber said he expects Hinsdale Central to finish in the top 10 at New Trier after taking sixth in last year’s state meet. All of the Devils’ individual qualifiers are seniors led by two-event qualifiers such as Pavich, Lillioja and Kristen Worthington (200 and 500 free).

“Our relays are strong. We have been a relay-based team for quite a long time,” Barber said. “I hope our relays swim on Saturday [for finals]. That’s the goal. The meet is won or lost on Friday [for preliminaries].”

Hinsdale Central’s Abbey King added a win in the 500 free (5:03.05) over Worthington (5:04.68). Other qualifiers include Heidkamp in the 100 fly and Fotini Kaufman in the 100 free.

“It’s been a great run. It helps that we’ve all gone to state before,” Kaufman said.

“We’ve known everybody on the team for so long, it has paid off,” Pavich said.

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