In the past, swimmers from Edwardsville have qualified for Olympic trials. Yet no swim relay team qualified for the ‘A’ final at state until this year.
For the first time in school history, an Edwardsville relay team, the 200-yard freestyle relay, finished inside the top eight at the IHSA state final swim meet.
The relay team, which consisted of juniors Scout Jackson and Grace Oertel, sophomore Reilly Curry and freshman Laine Curry, finished in seventh place – one of five medals EHS earned.
“Being part of the first relay team to ever [make] A final at state will always be extra special because I was able to do it alongside my sister, which was such a fun experience,” Reilly said.
The team as a whole set new school records in both points and medals at state, finishing with 48 points and five medals.
“It felt really good to have set a record for highest placement,” said senior Karis Chen, who medaled as part of the 200-yard medley relay team. “We worked really hard this season, and it was nice for it to pay off.”
The team’s record-breaking performance at state continued from their sectionals meet, where they broke five school records in their 11th sectional title in school history.
“We just set the bar higher this year,” Jackson said. “We thought it would be impossible to top last year’s sectional meet, but this year’s was the best we’ve ever had. We just knew we wanted one of our relays to be in the top eight at state.”
To push themselves past last year’s sectional record, the team had many new talented freshmen that helped improve the team overall, according to Reilly.
“We knew that the incoming freshmen were all … talented swimmers that would play a role on the team,” she said. “Knowing our team would become even better than last season with them a part of it really motivated us.”
In order to stay in peak condition for the season, the team had to practice extensively as well as focus on smaller things outside of practices in the water.
“Outside of practice I make sure I’m hydrated consistently and eating good and stretching,” Oertle said. “The little things … really make the difference.”
Two weeks before the state meet, the team tapered which according to Chen was “shorter and less extensive practices to let our muscles recover.” During those practices, the team built greater cohesion between members to continue strengthening the team.
“We all clicked together not just in the water but outside of the water,” Oertle said. “We knew we had it in us, and we all kept each other motivated throughout the season. Our results came with that.”
For Chen, the state meet was a bittersweet moment, being the culmination of memories of breaking school relay records and travelling for meets across many years.
“I’ve known some of [my teammates] since I was seven, and that was the last time swimming with them,” Chen said. “But as a senior it was good to leave off on a high note.”