Lake Forest Seeks Sectional Swimming Crown, State Qualifying Berths

While their focus for this Saturday is about the team, Rachel Stoehr and Mika Hlavin took some time Wednesday to celebrate personal accomplishments.

Both Lake Forest swimmers inked national letters of intent Wednesday, which was the early signing day for high school athletes. will take her talents to the University of Arkansas, while is headed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 

Stoehr immediately was attracted to the Razorbacks program and looks forward to competing at the collegiate level in the Southeastern Conference. “I knew it was the right place once I got there,” she said. 

Hlavin is not looking just at swimming as she embarks on a career that could have her spend 12 years in the military. “I want to serve as an orthopedic surgeon,” she said, noting the lengthy commitment to earn an undergraduate degree and become a doctor. 

“I’ll have a job I really like,” Hlavin said. “In this economy, it’s good not to have to think about that.”

'Sectional is About Team'

On Saturday, the duo will work toward advancing as individuals to the following weekend’s state meet, while trying to bring as many of their teammates with them as possible. The Scouts compete in the 15-team Vernon Hills Sectional, which starts at 1 p.m.

 “Sectional is about team, helping the team win,” Stoehr said.

“The relays are for seeds. We want to swim in a good lane,” Stoehr added, referring to crucial placements in the state meet arising from a good sectional performance. 

Lake Forest has captured the team title at the sectional meet the last three years, and expects the same in 2011. “We’ve won three years in a row,” she said. “We’re going to be strong and want to qualify people in every race.” 

Stoehr is a favorite to win gold medals in the 200-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle at state. Last year, she took second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 500. Everyone who finished ahead of her has graduated. 

Both Stoehr and Hlavin easily have surpassed the qualifying standards for the state meet. They are focused on swimming good races, winning sectional titles and helping their teammates achieve success. 

“Hopefully we can inspire everyone,” Stoehr said. “We want to get everyone pumped up.”

Hlavin Seeks Redemption

Hlavin, who will swim the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly, enjoyed a good sectional meet a year ago but was not pleased with her performance at state.

“This time I’m tapering for state,” Hlavin said. “I concentrated too hard on sectional last year. I want to be in the top six” at state.

She won’t be alone. Stoehr, , Caitlin Lanigan, Margaret Carney and Anne McArdle also have reached the necessary plateau to qualify for the state meet and will begin their tapers next week. 

The rest of the team is primed for sectionals to swim the best time possible so they can compete another week. “They’re going to go all out,” Grevers said. 

In addition to individual efforts, the Scouts hope to qualify all three relay races, which earn double points at state and improve their chances for a better team finish. 

Campbell, Stoehr and Hlavin will compete in both the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Carney will join the trio in the 200 and Eleanor Meeks will complete the 400 freestyle quartet.