Warrior Swimmers Seek Top State Finish

With three relay teams and four individuals favored to reach the finals, girls’ swimming team is primed finish among Illinois’s top teams today and Saturday at the State Meet at New Trier East in Winnetka. 

A relay finish is worth twice the points as an individual top 12 spot making the Warriors team depth one of its assets as it heads into the State Meet. 

“If all of the girls swim to their potential they can reach the top 12 in the state,” said. “They are shaved and tapered and ready to go,” he added referring to the fact the top Warriors have primed for this event all season. 

The 200-yard medley relay team of swam the seventh best Sectional time in Illinois. The top 12 finishers in today’s preliminary round swim in Saturday’s finals. 

Levin, Powell and Melchiorre will be joined by in the 400 freestyle relay. The same quartet will participate in the 200 freestyle relay. The team in the 400 is seeded ninth while the 200 squad is slotted 10th. 

Brottman gives the Warriors their best chance for a double medal winner. She is ranked third among the participants in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 500 Freestyle. Levin will also swim the 200. 

Powell and Scanlan will swim the 100 backstroke. Powell is the third seed in the event. Melchiorre will seek individual honors in the 50 freestyle. 

Diving is another Warrior strength with Erin Purdy and Christine Stitcher both favored to advance to Saturday’s finals. Purdy boasts the state’s sixth best score in Sectional competition while Stitcher is 12th. 

Should the Warriors finish among the state’s elite teams Sullivan gives much of the credit to Head Coach Nancy Reese. The two of them work with the athletes together. Reese handles them through much of the off season. 

“She works with the girls in the winter, spring and summer,” Sullivan said. “Without her the program wouldn’t have the success it does. We work together on the same page.”