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Sports

Lake Forest Girls Set Lofty Sectional Swim Goals

History, tradition pushes Stoehr, Hlavin to set the pace.

Everywhere you look around the Scout Aquatic Center, there are reminders of the faces and times which have elevated the program to one of the best in the area.

The Scouts look to continue that strong tradition at Saturday's Sectional meet after winning last weekend's North Suburban Conference meet. Lake Forest will play Sectional hosts starting at 9 a.m. with diving followed by swim finals at 1 p.m.

The swimmers are always eyeing records set by their predecessors. When girls' swim coach Carolyn Grevers stares up from her office desk, she sees a picture of her younger brother Matt, a former Scout swimmer, wearing one of the Olympic gold medals he won at the 2008 Beijing games.

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Perhaps no one is being looked at more this weekend than Rachel Stoehr, a junior who finished sixth in the 500-meter freestyle at last year's State meet as a sophomore and 12th in the 200 freestyle. Her season best time of 5:02.12 puts her in Illinois' top three, yet she keeps gazing skyward.

"Swimming has been my whole life," said Stoehr, who began competitive at age 5. "My older siblings were swimming before me. It's part of the family."

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She always finds herself looking up at her brother Mitch, a Stanford University freshman who was the 2010 state champion in the 100 and 200 freestyles. Rachel Stoehr also glances up at the 5-minute standard she needs to break in her marquis event to be recruited by Division I universities.

"It's been really hard to live up to him (Mitch)," said Rachel. "He's an A+ AP (advanced placement) student.  I've always been looking up to him and my drive comes from watching him."

When it comes to her swimmers, Grevers is not looking up, she is looking directly at Stoehr and the Scouts' other star, Mika Hlavin, another junior, whose times in their specialties assure them of advancing past sectionals to state, set for Nov. 19-20 at Evanston. Hlavin swims the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley, where she placed 12th at state last year.

The top finisher in each sectional event advances to State along with any swimmer who meets the automatic qualifying time. Rachel Stoehr and Hlavin have times well below the standard.

"Most of the girls are preparing for the sectionals, but Rachel and Mika are tapering for state," Grevers said. "Rachel is focusing on her pace and timing. She's aiming for the right time each and every lap."

Elle Chody, Caitlin Lanigan and Olivia Campbell are on the cusp of joining Rachel Stoehr and Hlavin at the state meet. Chody, a sophomore, swims the 100 butterfly; Lanigan, a freshman, competes in the 100 backstroke while Campbell, another junior, hopes to qualify in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley. Grevers sees sectional success for all five as well as the Scout relay teams.

Rachel Stoehr, Hlavin, and Campbell will join junior Lilly Wang on the 400 freestyle relay team while Rachel Stoehr, Hlavin, Wang and Christine Hoelterhoff, a senior, form the 200 freestyle relay quartet. Grevers expects both squads to qualify for state.

After a successful sectional and state meet, it may be time for Rachel Stoehr to stop looking up and just look ahead. A top student who "will definitely be recruited by Division One schools," according to Grevers, she is already a leader. Her college choice may give her some relief.

"I would like to be in a top program where I'm not the one looked up to," said Rachel Stoehr.

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