The girls swim team had been looking forward to the sectional championship meet all season for a number of reasons but one that stuck out the most, was the chance to winning the first official team crown. That’s just what the ladies did.
EHS won the meet with 287 points beating out second place Springfield with (201) and Chatham Glenwood in third with (187.5). This was the first year the Tigers were eligible to score points at any IHSA competitions.
“This is a great feeling for everyone involved. The girls have been looking forward to this for a really long time. I’ve been looking forward to this for a really long time. It’s been a pretty spectacular day,” said head coach Christian Rhoten. “This was one of our many goals we looked to accomplish.”
Although the whole team performed well, two girls in particular from EHS stood out to the crowd: junior Kate May and sophomore Bailey Grinter. Both May and Grinter won two events. May was victorious in 200 individual medley (IM) and 100 butterfly, while Grinter took sectional titles in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
May is seeded first heading into finals in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 IM. Grinter is seeded second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 backstroke.
“Those two swam some pretty smoking times today,” Rhoten said. “We’re looking forward to how we stack up with the rest of the state for next Friday and Saturday.”
Rhoten was alluding to IHSA state finals coming up on Nov. 21-22.
May is looking forward to showing what the “downstaters” are made of. “I am really, really excited for state. I’m definitely more excited for state than I was for the sectionals,” May said.
The Tigers qualified two relays as well for state. The 200 medley relay of Grinter, Caroline Caton, May and Sahar Rabei took first. Then the 200 freestyle relay of May, Jane Russo, Grinter and Rabei came out on top too. Both relays have great chances at scoring points which has never been done by any EHS relay on the girls or boys side.
Along with May and Grinter, the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays qualified and took first place Saturday. Also qualifying individually for state was junior Elizabeth McPherson in the 100 backstroke taking second behind Grinter. EHS had its first ever diver qualify as well, freshmen Taylor Seilheimer.
After the meet concluded and the water had settled, Athletic Director Brad Bevis handed Rhoten the championship plaque. The girls then continued swimming tradition and forced Rhoten into the pool.
“It was really refreshing. I don’t know what felt better, winning or being pushed into the pool,” Rhoten joked as he dried off a champion.