Like most of her teammates, Rosary swimmer Kate Canfield was a little embarrassed by her team’s 34th-place showing at last year’s state meet.
She had nothing to be ashamed of Saturday. Canfield won her first top-six medal by taking sixth in the 100-yard backstroke in 56.73. That helped the Beads to ninth place in the team standings of the state finals at New Trier.
“Last year was definitely eye-opening because we didn’t think we would do that bad,” Canfield said. “But we did and I think we took it positively and we really worked this past offseason and we’ve obviously proven ourselves. Top 10 in the state; that’s pretty good.”
Rosary did it despite having no seniors on the roster, a fact that could vault the Beads back into state title contention next year.
“Last night we had a meeting after the [prelims] and [Coach Bill Schalz] was like, ‘We could win this next year,’” Canfield said. “We were the only team in the top 10 with no seniors. All we’re going to do is get stronger.”
While the Beads had a few disappointing swims this weekend, they also had some surprises. Canfield’s showing in the backstroke was one.
“I was shocked that I even made the top six,” the junior said. “I was hoping top 12 because freshman year I was top 12 and last year I didn’t even (make the) final, so it was a shock to me. It was a great race.”
Rosary sophomore Annie Gosselin took fourth place in the 200 individual medley in 2:05.05 and eighth in the backstroke in 56.46, while junior Erin Hart was sixth in the 50 freestyle in 23.76 and 12th in the 100 free in 52.62. The Beads finished seventh in both the 200 medley and 200 free relays.
In other results, Metea Valley sophomores Amanda Burson and Madie Sandberg held their positions from Friday’s preliminary round by finishing 11th in the 50 free and 100 free, respectively, and Waubonsie Valley senior Madeline Hunt took eighth in the 50 free (23.86) and 11th in the backstroke (57.43).
Waubonsie’s 200 free relay of Alexa Steffl, Hunt, Emma Tinney and Avery Mathew was 11th (1:37.13), while Oswego East won two medals as Nelly Casas bounced back from being disqualified in the 200 free to finish 10th in the 500 free (5:01.53) and senior Justine Voss placed 12th in diving (347.10 points).
