Girls Swimming: Sandburg 200M relay sets pool record as Eagles dominate sectional
By Randy Whalen
Correspondent
When Sandburg strode into Lockport for a dual meet in September, some Eagles swimmers noticed something on Porters’ pool record board.
The record for the 200-yard medley relay was 1:49.16, set by Lockport’s Lindsey Merk, Oliwia Wolek, Emily Johnson and Kayley Uy during a 2017 sectional.
Eagles coach Donna Driscoll told her 200 medley relay team of freshman Samantha Barry, junior Maya Dobry, and seniors Julia Barry and Maureen Flannery they could be the ones to set the new record.
They did, shattering the old mark by more than 3 seconds with a time of 1:45.92 at the Lockport Sectional on Nov. 5. Their effort helped Sandburg capture the sectional championship with 260 points.
“We knew we could get that pool record at the sectional and we crushed it,” Driscoll said. “It was really great.”
The Eagles finished first in five events and won their second sectional in the past three seasons. It is the 25th sectional title in program history.
The state finals are Friday and Saturday at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
Julia Barry will be going to state in three events. She placed first in the 100-yard butterfly and set the school record in the event with a time of 56.64. She also helped Sandburg win the 200 medley and 200 free relays, the latter with a time of 1:37.64 that tied the team from Lincoln-Way East.
“I’m looking forward to state,” Julia said. “It’s my last swim meet ever, so I just want to drop time and have fun. It’s been a long time. I’ve been swimming since I was 6 and I’m just ready for new things.”
Driscoll is in her second season as Sandburg’s coach.
“It’s super cool to coach these young women,” said Driscoll, who was named the sectional’s coach of the year. “We knew this was going to be a competitive sectional and that we were in for some good races. But with our depth we felt good about it.”
Dobry won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:05.81 to qualify for state in the event for the second consecutive season.
“Just knowing how to pace yourself in that stroke is the key,” she said. “I’m excited for state and hope we do well.”
Other champions for Sandburg were sophomore Aimee Crnich, who captured the diving competition with a score of 402.35.
“Aimee was amazing and has a great future ahead of her,” Driscoll said. “We’ve had a strong season and I’m very happy with how we did at the sectional.”
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