The Evanston girls swimming team plans to improve on last year’s record. Last year, the Wildkits finished second in the Central Suburban League Conference, having lost only two meets the entire year, one of which was against archrival New Trier. Overall, they placed eighth in the State.
“We aren’t as deep (this year) but we have the talent and expect to place as well or better than last year,” said head coach Kevin Auger. The Kits are counting on both the experienced swimmers and the younger ones to come together as a team to reach those expectations. As of Sept. 9, the Chicago Sun Times ranked the Kits number five in the State.
Some of the stronger swimmers on the team include Jane Munro, who, Coach Auger said, “is currently ranked first in the State in the 100 backstroke. Kristina Walsh is also ranked in the top six in the breaststroke and in the top 12 in the 200 IM. Becky Ramsey is ranked in the top 12 in the 500 and after a great summer is expecting to do even better.”
The Kits are counting on a number of swimmers including SarahThompson, Claire Strunk and Abby Bailey in the distance freestyles, Maddie Giegold, Meg Schroeder and Munro in the sprint freestyles, Julia Ticus, Anna Duke and Melissa Mohrenweiser in the butterfly, and Walsh, Roxy Capron, Rose Prullage and Amelia Rapisarda in the IM. Notable swimmers who compete in the backstroke include Munro, Ticus and Mohrenweiser. Munro, Walsh, Roxy and Rosy Capron and Julianne Locher are notable in the breaststroke.
“We expect big things from all of our swimmers,” added Coach Auger.
The team’s main goal this year is to finish better than or just as good as last year. “We are looking to be in the top 10 at state and the top two in Conference and Sectionals. We are training 9-12 times per week and competing twice per week. The girls are getting fit and having a lot of fun,” said Coach Auger.
In the first three meets this season, the Kits beat Loyola on Sept. 4 (109/77); beat Lake Forest on Sept. 12 (121-65); and tied Barrington on Sept. 13 (93-93). For individual stats on the Sept. 13 meet, visit evanstonroundtable.com
The Kits have upcoming home meets on Sept. 20 against Naperville North and Maine South on Oct. 3. The Evanston Invite will be held at home on Oct. 4. The last two home meets during the regular season are against Glenbrook South on Oct. 17 and Rockford Guilford on Oct. 25.
If all goes according to plan, the Kits should make a big splash for the remainder of the season.