The LaPorte girls swimming and diving team finished 6th at the Duneland Athletic Conference Championship Meet in Valparaiso on Saturday, showcasing impressive performances and significant time drops across the board. The results put the Slicers in a strong position as they prepare for sectionals in 2 1/2 weeks.
The meet began with a 5th-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay. The team of Cali Hatala (backstroke), Noor Hakim (breaststroke), Megan Zolvinski (butterfly), and Lily Siford (freestyle) clocked a season-best time of 1:58.73, two seconds faster than their previous best.
Individual Highlights:
- 200 Freestyle: Isabel Barron placed 13th with a season-best time, while Katelyn and Sarah Peterson achieved lifetime PRs, finishing 17th and 18th respectively.
- 200 Individual Medley: Cali Hatala finished 12th with a nearly 3-second drop, and Liz Luna cut 12 seconds to finish 17th. Maddi Griffin also posted a 2-second improvement.
- 50 Freestyle: Megan Zolvinski and Lily Siford finished 14th and 15th, both with strong times.
- 100 Butterfly: Zolvinski placed 10th, and Hakim came in 13th, both with season-best performances.
- 100 Freestyle: Barron (13th), Siford (16th), and Katelyn Peterson (17th) all dropped time, with Peterson achieving a lifetime best.
- 500 Freestyle: Regan Hughes (16th), Sarah Peterson (17th), and Liz Luna (18th) all delivered solid swims, with Peterson dropping 10 seconds.
- 100 Backstroke: Hatala (14th), Hughes (16th), and Lyla Bannwart (18th) all achieved season-best times, with Bannwart cutting 10 seconds for a lifetime best.
- 100 Breaststroke: Hakim finished 11th, while Nala Hammoud placed 17th with a strong swim.
Relay Performances:
- 200 Freestyle Relay: Siford, Peterson, Zolvinski, and Barron finished 5th with a season-best time.
- 400 Freestyle Relay: The team of Barron, Peterson, Hatala, and Hakim closed out the meet in 6th place, dropping 10 seconds. Peterson, Hatala, and Hakim all achieved lifetime-best splits in the thrilling finale.
The Slicers have concluded their regular season and will now focus on fine-tuning their performances ahead of the sectional meet in three weeks.
