Fillies Swim Team Wins Sectional Championship

It has been a busy couple of weeks for swimmer Erika Elliot. 

The senior’s November began with her helping the Fillies to their 20th straight MSL title. And just days before leading Barrington to their 14th sectional crown on Saturday, Nov. 12, she made one of the more important decisions of her life.

“I signed on Wednesday,” a proud Elliott said of her college plans to attend the Big 10’s Northwestern University. “It was the best feeling (to sign there).”

Elliot, who could be seen wearing her Wildcat’s purple fleece following the sectional meet held at Barrington, lead the Fillies to 256 team points with her four-first place finishes. 

“We wanted to qualify all three relays and a couple more events,” Elliott said following the meet.  “We had some strong individual (performances) and did well as a team, so it was still a good meet.”

Elliott is just one of a handful of Fillies to earn a trip to New Trier next week for the IHSA State swim meet as the team qualified in 9 of the 12 swimming and diving events held at the Barrington Sectionals over the past weekend.

One of the events Elliott will compete in at the state meet will be the 200-yard medley relay.  The first of Barrington’s powerful relay teams to qualify for state, Elliott along with freshman Kelsey Holmes, sophomores Olivia Hoffman and Mekenna Scheitlin finished first with 1:48.96.

Elliott would also qualify for the state meet by finishing first in the 100-yard freestyle (52.34) as well as the 50-yard freestyle (24.16).  She would finish a perfect four of four in the events she competed in on the afternoon.   

But Erika isn’t the only Elliott heading to the state meet.  Erika and younger sister Danielle (a junior) teamed up with Holmes and Scheitlin for the 200-yard freestyle relay, Barrington’s other relay team to qualify for state with their first place finish (1:38.70).  Danielle Elliott will also be participating in two other state events after posting qualifying times with her third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.35) and second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:05.94).

The spate of Barrington swimmers qualifying for state only added to the Fillies’ sectional lead which grew larger when Erika Elliott edged out Scheitlin (24.48) for first and second in the 50-yard freestyle.  

Like Erika Elliott, Scheitlin will also be representing Barrington in four state events.  She too will be competing in the two relay teams that qualified for state, and in the 50-yd freestyle, but also in the 100-yard breaststroke (fourth place finish with 1:07.84).

Barrington’s other senior to qualify for state was Justine Kaszynski in the 100-yard butterfly and diver Francesca Krohn (353.6).  Sophomore diver Tiffany Soto also earned a trip with her diving score of 323.45.

“We qualified just about everybody,” a wet Barrington swim coach Jim Bart said following his ceremonial dip/push in the pool after the sectional victory.  “Our kids across the board were solid and we had lifetime and season best on 90 percent of our girls.”

But qualifying isn’t just good enough for Erika Elliott who will be making her fourth appearance at the state meet.

“I didn’t wear a state chase (suit) so that I could go really fast next week,” she said knowing it was her last meet as a member of the Fillies.  “Hopefully I can do the best I’ve ever done at state.”