Make no mistake, 
Jacobs takes title

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WOODSTOCK – Jacobs’ girls swimming team made sure history wouldn’t repeat itself Saturday in the Woodstock Invitational at Woodstock North.

The Golden Eagles outdistanced their competition to win the eight-team event with 569.5 points. Crystal Lake Central was second with 460 points.

Last year, Jacobs had a big lead on the Tigers but false started in the final two events to finish second. Brittany Podczerwinski, who won the 200-yard individual medley (2:20.39) for the Golden Eagles, said they were trying not to focus on what happened a year ago.

“We talked about it, but we weren’t nervous,” Pod-czerwinski said. “It felt really nice compared to last year.”

First-year Jacobs coach Michael Slowik said he was thrilled with his team’s performance.

“This whole season has been a rush so far,” Slowik said. “The results have been phenomenal.”

Also winning for the Golden Eagles were Nicole Sanchez in the freshman 100 freestyle (56.25) and the varsity 200 medley relay team of Jennifer Ogoban, Erin Jameson, Tatiana Reinbrecht and Keeley Quinlan (1:56.66).

Slowik said the difference this year is they are united as team and supporting and holding each other accountable in meets and during tough practices.

“It’s so easy to get down with these two-a-days (practices),” Slowik said. “They want to do better for the team now.”

Central was led by Marisa Barton, who won the junior 50 freestyle (24.75 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (1:03.60). Barton also anchored the winning varsity 200 freestyle relay with Nikayla Dahl, Jess Schwendau and Courtney Lefevre (1:43.74).

Barton’s 50 freestyle time was under the IHSA state qualifying standard of 24.84 seconds.

She said it’s nice to be under the state cut early in the season, especially in a race where she felt she messed up her flip turn and was taking breaths close to the wall. Barton wants to break 24 seconds this year.

“It makes it better because I can aim higher,” Barton said of swimming an early state qualifying time. “I’m a lot further at this point.”

Among other local schools, Cary-Grove took third (437.5 points), McHenry was fourth (435.5) Woodstock was fifth (432) and Huntley was seventh (412).

Woodstock’s fifth-place finish was up two places from a year ago. First-year coach Joey Arce said his team is dropping times and improving each week.

“They’re swimming ecstatic,” Arce said. “You cannot be happier with how they are performing.”

Allison DeWane led Woodstock with wins in the sophomore 50 freestyle (26.09) and sophomore 100 freestyle (56.89). She also anchored the winning varsity 400 freestyle relay team with Emily Albertz, Meghan Jensen and Lisa Sullivan (3:54.48). Sullivan also won the senior 50 freestyle (26.28).

Arce said his varsity 400 relay team had improved its time by 16 seconds from last year. DeWane said the improvement simply is working hard.

“Our times have improved a lot,” DeWane said. “I think we’re all just practicing a lot harder this year.”

Lauren Curtis won the 200 freestyle (2:00.66) and the 100 senior freestyle (55.72) to lead C-G.

Michaela Matthys led McHenry with wins in the 100 butterfly (1:01.49) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.08). Matthys also was a member of the winning frosh/soph. 200 freestyle relay team with Paige Jacob, Ashley Palmer and Lindsey Brenner (1:51.84).