Oh Brothers! Loyola Wins State Swim Title

Photography by Joel Lerner, chief photographer for The North Shore Weekend newspapers.

For the second time in six months, a fully clothed Hengelmann brother got drenched — after achieving a first.

Loyola Academy girls swimming and diving coach Mike Hengelmann and his Ramblers celebrated in Evanston Township High School’s pool after capturing the program’s first state championship on Nov. 22. His older brother, Daniel, guided Loyola Academy’s boys water polo team to that program’s first state title in late May and survived the subsequent joyous commemoration in chlorinated water.

“This is sweet,” a smiling, dripping Mike Hengelmann said. “This probably won’t hit me until [Nov. 24]. Right now I’m happy for the girls.”

His girls amassed 148 points, including 32 for earning their lone event victory of the day in the 400-yard freestyle relay — the last event of the meet.

Downers Grove North and Rosary tied for runner-up honors with 118 points apiece. Fourth-place Lake Forest High School fell only four points short of claiming a state trophy.

LFHS coaches react to a race at the state meet.

Loyola Academy senior Grace Tierney anchored the Ramblers’ victorious 400 free relay (3:27.05), anchored the fifth-place 200 free relay (1:36.26), touched second in the 200 free (1:50.47) and placed fifth in the 500 free relay (4:57.83). Classmate Libby Jardeleza flew to a runner-up showing in the 100 butterfly (55.43) and a fifth-place effort in the 100 backstroke (56.22).

Other notable performances from Ramblers: senior Katie Rourke (fourth place, diving, 414.55 points); sophomore Ella Tierney (sixth, 500 free, 4:58.39); junior Maria Kyle, Ella Tierney and sophomore Olivia Andrew preceded Grace Tierney in the 400 free relay; senior Claire Rushin, Andrew and freshman Cassidy Coughlin swam the first three legs of the 200 free relay; and Jardeleza, junior Claire Voss, Kyle and Coughlin combined for a 1:45.84 (fifth place) in the 200 medley relay.

Lake Forest sophomore Daria Pyshnenko took second in the 50 free (23.44). The Scouts’ 400 free relay of sophomores Madeline Smith and Ella Needler and juniors Haley Nelson and Reilly Lanigan also silvered (3:27.18).

LFHS sophomore Ana Kohout swam in all four races for athletes with disabilities.

New Trier’s top entrant at the state meet was its runner-up 200 free unit (junior Morgan Conley, sophomore Lydia O’Connell and seniors Nicole Retondo and Brittany Bishop, 1:35.49). The Trevians placed 11th (43 points).

Glenbrook North senior Abigail Rosenberg finished third in the 100 free (51.28) and helped two Spartans relay crews (200 free, 400 free) place sixth. Glenbrook North ended up ninth (48 points) in the team standings.

Deerfield senior Ruby Powell took sixth in the 100 back (56.31).