2023 IHSA Swimming and Diving Sectionals Rambler Recap

Things got kicked into another stratosphere as Greta Kavanagh ‘24 literally rose above the competition posting a score of 518.90 and won the Sectional! Greta currently sits as the 2^nd highest scoring diver in Rambler History on both her 6 and 11 dive performances!

 

The swimmers made their first splash a memorable one! The 200 Medley Relay Team of (Maria Cheng ’25, Georgia Andrew ’25, Gaby Simon ’26, and Sophia Friestedt ’27) achieved the IHSA State Standard posting a time of 1:45.52, placing 2^nd overall. This performance was the 6^th fastest performance in Rambler History!

 

The combination of Reilly O’Hara ‘25 and Zizi Mateja ‘24 got their day off to a very fast start in the 200 Freestyle. Both Ramblers surpassed the IHSA State Standard! O’Hara won the Sectional clocking in at the time of 1:53.19! Mateja from the outside lane further electrified the Ramblers clocking in at the time of 1:55.75, placing 4^th overall! Reilly O’Hara rose the charts and is now the 6^th fastest performer in Rambler History!

 

Sophia Freistedt ‘27 arrived in her first sectional appearance in a big way surpassing the IHSA State Standard in the 50 Freestyle! Sophia flew through the competition in the 2^nd to last heat in an outside lane and posted the time of 24.14, placing 5^th overall! Sophia is now currently the 7^th fastest performer in Rambler History!

 

Maria Cheng ’25 wanted a part of the action as she surpassed the IHSA State Standard in the 100 Butterfly! The underwater specialist did her thing posting a time of 56.81, placing 2^nd overall. Maria is now currently the 4^th faster performer in Rambler History!

 

Reilly O’Hara ‘25 and Gaby Simon ‘26 had some unfinished business, and business was good. The dynamic Rambler duo both surpassed the 500 Freestyle IHSA State Standard! Reilly O’Hara once again won the Sectional clocking in the time of 5:06.81! Gaby Simon raced her heart out from and outside lane, while being brought along by her teammates who lined the side, posted the time of 5:12.82! Reilly O’Hara once again writes the history books as she is now the 7^th fastest performer in Rambler History!

 

The Relay Team of (Zizi Mateja ’24, Georgia Andrew ’25, Sophia Friestedt ’27, and Reilly O’Hara ’25) blew the barndoor open! The foursome surpassed the IHSA State Standard in the 200 Freestyle Relay posting a time of 1:37.41, placing 2^nd overall!

 

The Rambler All American wasn’t done with her day as Maria Cheng ‘25 raced to the IHSA State Standard in the 100 Backstroke! Maria raced to a season best time of 56.22, placing 2^nd overall, and is ready for the big stage next week at FMC!

 

The Relay Team of (Reilly O’Hara ’25, Georgia Andrew ’25, Sophia Friestedt ’27, Zizi Mateja ’24) also weren’t done as this 400 Freestyle Relay closed out the day with yet another IHSA State Standard posting a time of 3:34.74!

 

Without the support of their team many of these performances that surpassed the IHSA Standards may not have been possible. Many other jaw dropping performances further elated an already electric sideline!

 

Simone Abbasi ‘25 bringing another big bounce for the Ramblers, 14^th overall in diving.

The Simon Sisters (Gaby Simon ’26 & Victoria Simon ’27) in the 200 IM placing 6^th and 8^th! Naima Prusaitis ‘25 bringing the heat in the 50 Freestyle racing to a 17^th place finish!

Nika Barkmeier ’25 blasting her way through the 100 Butterfly to a 12^th place finish!

Zizi Mateja ’24 and Ava Jefson ’25 excelling through in the 100 Freestyle, placing 4^th and 12^th!

Emma Farris ’26 and Victoria Simon ’27 broke their heats in the 100 Breaststroke, 8^th and 12^th!