Valparaiso High School was the site of the 2021 IHSAA Girls Swimming Sectional Championship. Competing teams included Chesterton, Hobart, Portage, Calumet, Kankakee Valley, Knox, La Porte, Merrillville, Michigan City, North Judson – San Pierre, and Valparaiso.
Going into the meet, Hobart’s Emma Wright, a four-time state finalist, was one to watch in freestyle. She has committed to swim for the University of Houston. Swimming for Chesterton, Maisyn Klimczak was going to give Wright a challenge. Klimczak had broken the school’s 400-yard freestyle relay record earlier in the season. In the fall, Klimczak will be swimming for the University of Wyoming.
Emily Gaylord of Wheeler was looking forward to watching the 50-yard freestyle.
“It’s always been my favorite because how fast the girls swim” said Gaylord. “It’s crazy! I’ve seen some swim it with one breath and I’ve seen some swim it with no breath.”
From the start it was an exciting meet as Chesterton’s Maisyn Klimczak broke the meet record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.61. In the 500 freestyle, she again broke the meet record with a time of 4:53.88. The senior couldn’t have been happier.
“That meet record was actually mine when I was a freshman,” said Klimczak after the 500 freestyle. “It feels good to finally break it.”
Additional records were broken in the 100-yard breaststroke by Alaina Jardenil of Chesterton with a time of 1:04.49 and in the 400-yard freestyle relay when Chesterton’s’ team of Veronika Ozimek, Rachel Dildine, Alana Jardenil, and Sophia Gill completed it with a time of 3:27.13.
A surprise came from Chesterton’s Freshman Rachel Dildine when she finished the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 55.64 seconds and the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:05.91, claiming first place in both races. Dildine showed all in attendance that she is one to watch for the next few years.
While Emma Wright did not break any records, she did take home the championship win in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.43, as well as the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 50.05. The smiling senior finds motivation in challenging herself every meet.
“I’m just trying to get my personal best before I leave high school,” said Wright. “I’m just always trying to better myself.”
In the one-meter diving, Valparaiso’s Lindsey Giesler set a record after finishing with 405.65 points. Following in second was Alivia Ahner of Hobart with353.75 points, and Sarah Webner of Michigan City took third with 341.30 points.
Additional results of the events were as follows:
200-yard freestyle relay: first place - Chesterton (1:35.82)
100-yard backstroke: first place - Mady Elliot (57.67)