LOCKPORT – When a program has won three sectional titles in four years, it’s not likely going to distinguish which of the championships was better than the others.
But it’s understandable why Lockport girls swimming coach Grant Ferkaluk and his team were so encouraged after the Porters followed up on their first conference title of his tenure to win last weekend’s Sandburg Sectional, their second title in a row.
A year ago, Lockport qualified two relays and two divers for state, while in 2013, it advanced one relay, an individual in two events and a pair of divers. Last Saturday, the Porters got qualifying efforts from all three relays and also advanced three individuals in five events to this weekend’s state finals in Evanston.
And while those other sectionals were each won over Sandburg by less than 10 points, the margin of victory over the Eagles this time was 34 points.
“This is a great group of girls,” Ferkaluk said. “It’s a nice mix of seniors who have kind of been rocks of our program all the way through to some freshmen, who are significantly contributing. It’s a good situation for us going forward, and it also helped some of our seniors to find some success to get to the state meet and be able to swim on some of those relays.
“We’re getting good talent coming through and consistently finishing at the top of meets. The girls in this program now understand the commitment to being at that level and adhere to that so they’re willing to put the work in to help them get to that point.”
Freshman Lindsey Merk qualified in the 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke and on the 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relays, sophomore Oliwia Wolek is moving on in the 200-yard IM, 100 butterfly and the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays and sophomore Emily Johnson advanced in the 200-yard freestyle and the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Merk is in very special company because she posted the best sectional time in the 100 butterfly (:55.52). She also had the sixth-best time in the 100 backstroke (:56.83). The Porters have only had three medal winners who have placed in the top-four at state and none have finished better than third. Courtney Pope captured two top-four medals in 2009.
“Lindsey is one of those swimmers that come along every once in awhile,” Ferkaluk said. “She loves to work hard, is driven and knows how to handle the pressure. She’s been in the limelight and swam at big meets but it’s a little different when you’re swimming for your school. Oliwia moved here from Poland and has brought some diversity since she can swim the IM, breaststroke and the fly. And Emily has really done a nice job in the middle distance.”
Seniors Brittney O’Neill and Lauren Estes both qualified in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays while Estes also moved on in the 400 freestyle relay. Senior Makayla Kraus will also compete with the 200 freestyle relay.
The 200 freestyle relay features the same lineup as last year’s state squad while O’Neill and Estes also swam on the 200 medley relay at the 2016 state meet. Estes was also on a 200 medley relay that qualified for state during her freshman season.
“Lauren has been our rock at the back of our races,” Ferkaluk said. “She’s anchored our medley relay and our 200 and 400 free relays. She knows that she needs to bring it home for us. Brittney leads off the medley in the backstroke and also leads off in the 200 free relay and knows how to get us started. It’s great to have them as the bookends.”