A Rosary Repeat

It's easy to say, as some have said, that Rosary's second consecutive state championship had been in the works all along.

But it's another thing to go through the season, qualify enough athletes for the state meet and then finish the job of clinching the state title.

The Beads did just that, and earned their second consecutive state title at New Trier, defeating charging host New Trier 154-139 to earn the right to take the first place trophy for a swim in the Trevians pool.

"A lot of people were asking me if I was ready to come back to the state meet for my coronation," Rosary coach Bill Schalz said. "I said, 'Oh heck no.' We had to come out here and get it done."

Rosary was made to work for its title not only by New Trier, but by third-placed Stevenson, which scored 131.5 points. A slip by the Beads at a critical point might have opened the door for either the Trevians or the Patriots.

"This group was a different group," Schalz said. "We lost two All-America's from last year's team. The sophomores and juniors were the bulk of our scorers a year ago, and they came back this year and worked hard. I'm excited for them and excited for the school."

Rosary continues a tradition in that every state champion since 1979 has returned and retained its title at least once.

But Rosary started solidly and then got a pair of monster swims to energize the team and make the eventual championship a reality.

The first of these was Olivia Scott's 200-yard individual medley. Seeded fourth after Friday's prelims, Scott swam 2:03.41 and won the event.

Scott went to win the 100 butterfly and the sophomore now has three individual state titles.

"I feel really good -- finals is a lot more exciting," Scott said. "There was a lot of energy for me."

The second key swim came in the 500 freestyle where Kally Fayhee held off all the competition and won her first state title. Fayhee had earlier finished fifth in the 200 freestyle.

"I think I got my nerves out of the way in the 200," Fayhee said. "I was so nervous. It was horrible. I was shaking. Going into the 500, I wasn't nervous."

Rosary had a series of other solid individual performances. Mackenzie Phillips was third in the 100 butterfly, Kara Savegnago was fourth in the 100 freestyle and Sara Coghlin -- the only senior on the Beads' state team, was 12th in the 500 freestyle.

Rosary's relays were solid. The 200 medley relay finished second, the 200 freestyle relay was fourth and the meet-ending 400 freestyle relay was third.

St. Charles East's Caitlin Dauw concluded her high school career by finishing third in the 200 freestyle and then pushing Scott in the 100 butterfly before finishing second.

"I was very happy with my 200 freestyle," Dauw said. "I felt I had a little left in the 100 fly, but it just wasn't there today."

Dauw swam a lifetime best in the freestyle and was near her personal best in the butterfly.

"I can't really ask for too much more," Dauw said.

Dauw's swims end her high school career. She heads to Michigan next year and will continue her career in college.

"When I look back at this point in the meet last year, I had just gotten 12th in the fly," Dauw said. "I'll take it. I'm very happy this is my last state meet and I'm happy the way I leave it behind and I'm looking forward to swimming in college."

St. Charles North's Angie Chokran finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke. Chokran earlier suffered a disqualification in the 200 individual medley but had plenty of reason to smile after the breaststroke competition.

"I had an unfortunate start to the meet, but I was able to pull it together and show everyone what I'm made of," Chokran said.

Chokran said she worked on turns and breakouts during the time after the individual medley and prior to the breaststroke and said she was thinking a little more than usual in the middle of her breaststroke race.

"It's hard to think during a race," Chokran said. "Usually I just let go and do everything I can. But thinking can be a positive or a negative, and I think it was definitely a positive for me."

St. Charles North had a frustrating day. In addition to Chokran's disqualification, the North Stars 200 medley relay was also disqualified.

Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com

Rosary's Olivia Scott, right, gets a hug from Barrington's Alexa Hamilton at the awards ceremony after winning the 200 individual medley at the state finals in Winnetka.

Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com

St. Charles East's Caitlin Dauw, left, gives a high-five to New Trier's Kate Shumway at the end of the 200 freestyle.