The West Chicago Community High School girls’ swim team delivered an impressive performance at the Upstate Eight Conference Championships on October 26, securing first place overall.
With standout results at both the JV and Varsity levels, the team demonstrated depth, dedication, and strategic focus across multiple events, from relay races to individual heats.
“The meet, overall, was really good for West Chicago: we won, so that was nice. I think, in every event, it was a heat full of West Chicago people, so there wasn’t much competition: we were more so racing each other. It was a fast meet – lots of energy,” senior Mia Marin said.
The JV squad showcased their dominance with multiple top-six finishes in nearly every event, frequently sweeping podium positions. In key events like the 200 Individual Medley, the team secured every podium spot, placing first through sixth, led by standout finishes from Marin in first, sophomore Katherine Smith in second, and freshman Gabby Clasen in third.
Similarly, in the 50 Free, freshman Julia LaPlata captured first place, followed closely by fellow freshmen Ruth Jezioro in second and Ava Nelson in third. The team’s depth also shone in the 100 Fly, with Marin and fellow senior Tessa Banasiak taking first and second, underscoring the team’s comprehensive talent pool.
“The last lap was death. I dropped five seconds from my entry time, which felt really great. Mia and I hugged after – we were really happy with our times,” Banasiak said.
At the Varsity level, the team earned top spots in 11 out of 12 events, with key victories in the 200 Medley Relay, anchored by freshman Claire Simon, sophomore Ryann Lehan, freshman Jenna Bilut, and sophomore Maddie Seykora. The 50 Free was led by junior Claire Conklin, who not only took first but set a meet record alongside her record-breaking performance in the 100 Free. Both events saw strong support from teammates sophomore Claire Schumacher and Seykora, who secured additional podium finishes, boosting the team’s score substantially. In the 100 Fly, Bilut and senior Megan Sego delivered first and second-place finishes, adding crucial points to the team’s overall performance.
“Winning conference is more or less an expectation for this team. We’re very talented top to bottom and have great, hardworking swimmers throughout our team,” May said, attributing their success to disciplined training and team camaraderie.
Beyond the relay wins, the team captured top-three finishes in the 100 Free, with Conklin, Schumacher, and Seykora securing first through third places. At the JV level, consistency was equally evident in the 500 Free, with junior Claire Lindstrom claiming first, followed by sophomore Natalie Brown in second and senior Ella Mott in fourth. The 200 IM saw complete domination by JV swimmers, led by Marin, Smith, and Clasen once again.
Though winning the conference title was a key achievement, the meet also provided an opportunity for athletes who may not move on to Sectionals to reach personal milestones.
“For many of them, this meet was huge as they were able to achieve new personal bests in multiple events,” May said. “Not only did we win, but we also saw a lot of athletes meeting their goals. Overall, it was a great day for us.”
With a title win in hand, they are looking to the upcoming Sectionals meet on Nov. 9 at St. Charles East High School. May explained that preparation for Sectionals will follow the same rigorous taper schedule they used for Conference.
“The rest helps the swimmers as they become physically and mentally prepared for the competition,” May said, emphasizing the team’s ongoing commitment to high-level performance.
With a clear vision and strong results, the girls’ swim team’s success at Conference underscores both the skill and unity of the program. The team will carry this momentum forward as they set their sights on Sectionals, aiming to replicate their hard work and success on a larger stage.