Lyons Girls Swimming 4-1 After Soundly Defeating York

The Lions girls varsity swim and dive team walloped York High School at home (LTHS South Campus) on Thursday, 118-68, to improve to 4-1 in dual meets. The Lions won 10 of 12 events, and placed highly across the board.

LTHS leapt out to a quick lead as divers Emma Meyering, Kate Wolz, and Allie Johnson placed first, second and third with several well-executed high-degree-of-difficulty dives. Meyering posted a whopping 213.50 score across six dives—her highest score ever by over 20 points—including a 41.80 on her 104C (front double tuck,) the best-scoring dive of her career.

"I've been working on that for a long time, the turn in particular, getting it high enough and tight enough," Meyering said. "Our coach really focuses on the details of our dives—we work on a lot of boardwork, a lot of specific degrees and positions in the air, and I think that makes the difference."

"We're working on consistency, now that we have our dives for the season—we're focused on getting up there and putting it all together, all six dives, no mistakes," added dive coach Christie Williams. "There's more diving to do, but I'm happy with where we are."

The rout didn't stop there. The foursome of Gigi Groya, Madeline Moeller, Kristine Rosenberger and Katie Foran cruised in the 200 medley, winning by over eight seconds, and Elly Vitek eked out a win in the 200 IM by only .27 seconds over York's Tori Larsen. Lions Groya, Louisa Hoffman, and Kim Gabriel proceeded to dominate the 50 freestyle, taking all top three places.

Elizabeth Kosin won the 100 butterfly by just under three seconds, and Foran and Rosenberger took both top places in the 100 free (55:52 and 56:22, respectively.) Jennifer Weigand and Vitek repeated that feat in the 500-yard version, with Weigand winning by a comfortable eight seconds. Groya demolished all competition in the 100 backstroke with an impressive 1:00.79, and Moeller won the 100 breaststroke by 5:84.

LT's final triumph came in the prestigious final event—the 400 freestyle relay—as Vitek, Foran, Weigand, and Groya combined for a 3:46:18, victorious by 5:38 over York's closest foursome.

The one thing LT couldn't conquer: 200-yard freestyle. York won both the 200 freestyle and the 200 freestyle relay. Shannon Sullivan beat out Kosin by only 0:33 in the former, and the Dukes team of Ali Marquess, Anna Pankau, Abby Riehs and Jessica Sacksteder won commandingly over Lions Sarah Cordell, Grace Good, Lizzie Everett and Marie Zahorik.

"We had a tough week this week [in practices,] so… it was a really good win for us," said Foran after the meet. "The girls put a lot of effort into it after a long week and pulled out what we could."

"The team is really supporting of each other," added Groya. "We all have a lot of fun at practices and during meets, and getting psyched for the 400 free relay and the medley relay is always fun to be a part of. I'd say we're just where we want to be. "

LT has previously beaten Stagg, Hinsdale Central and Naperville Central, but dropped a meet to powerhouses New Trier. They next travel to Downers Grove North on Thursday.