Hawks may shuffle around relay lineups

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Maine South sophomore Jenna Zitkus returns to the Hawks this year after advancing to State in the butterfly an 200 freestyle relay. | Eric Davis~for Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 5, 2011 2:46PM

Don Kura couldn’t believe how far ahead the Maine South swimmers were when preseason practice started this year.

With the girls training close to 11,000 yards early last week, the coach said the August sessions seemed like October.

“We are way ahead than we’ve been in the past,” Kura said. “How that translates into racing, you never know. Even though some of the girls are veterans, it’s still hard to tell.

“But I am pretty excited to see where we can be by the end of September because we are well ahead of last year’s pace.”

That’s good news because the Hawks were strong last season. Jenna Zitkus qualified for the State Meet as a freshman in the 100-yard butterfly and also as part of the 200 freestyle relay. She was joined by Maddy Coffey, Lauren Buszydlo and Tyler Gooding on the team that established a program record last season. All four return.

“It will be a little different this year because last year we loaded up our relays for the sectionals,” Kura said. “I don’t know if we will do that this year. We will have to see how it plays out in the first four or five meets.”

Kura hopes that he can move other girls into the relays and let some of the swimmers, such as Zitkus, compete in more individual events.

“I’d like to think we have more than four girls that can get the job done,” Kura said.

Kura said Zitkus once again will swim the butterfly, but he also sees her swimming the 100 backstroke. The coach said her times this summer in the backstroke are on track to qualify for State.

Other girls contributing to the lineup are Christina Kaminsky, Sarah Arana and Hannah Ferstel. Ferstel and Kaminsky were alternates on the 200 free relay team.

“Although we have only one senior, it seems like they’ve been around for a long time,” Kura said.

Maine South gets a good look at its club Saturday at Highland Park’s invitational.