Zitkus sprints to pair of wins over Trevians
By MATT HARNESS mharness@pioneerlocal.com October 4, 2011 10:22AM
Maine South's Hannah Ferstel gets the Hawks off to a flying start in the 200 medley relay during their dual swim meet at New Trier. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 15, 2011 12:42PM
Don Kura figured Friday’s meet against New Trier to start the CSL South season was as good of a time as any to change things up for his girls.
The Maine South swimming coach presented several of the Hawks chances to swim events they normally don’t compete in as a way to stay fresh during the long season.
Jenna Zitkus showed her versatility by winning the 200-yard and the 100-yard freestyles in Maine South’s 145-40 loss to the defending state champion Trevians, who are favored to win another title next month.
“She’s been swimming pretty well lately,” Kura said of the sophomore. “She’s carrying over from her work this summer.
“I was surprised to see how well she swam Friday. I didn’t expect that. She probably got psyched up from the competition and because she was swimming some events she hasn’t swam in.”
Zitkus swam career-bests in both races Friday. She touched out in 1:59.62 for the 200 free and 54.93 for the 100 free.
“That was the first time she swam the 200 all year and probably the first time she swam the 100 since the very beginning of the year,” Kura said. “I think there was some excitement there for her.”
Zitkus also participated on the third-place 200 free relay and 400 free relay. She was joined by Anne Marie Pavlis, Maddy Coffey and Lauren Buszydlo in the 200 free foursome that finished in 1:44.04, while she teamed with Hannah Ferstel, Christina Kaminsky and Tyler Gooding on the 400 free relay that clocked 3:49.35.
New Trier won 10 of the 12 events, including sweeping the top three places in eight events.
Two other noteworthy swims were registered by Izabella Matczuk and Buszydlo. Matczuk swam a personal-best 59.27 in the 100 free, and Buszydlo recorded an individual record of 5:34.90 in the 500 free.
“Everybody’s swimming well,” Kura said. “Everybody’s also tired. We basically want to mix things up to give the girls a chance to see a positive result during a time when they are not feeling great. It was a good meet to do it for us.”
Maine South is back in the water Thursday against Glenbrook South, which features two-time state champion Olivia Smoliga. The Hawks then compete at Hersey’s invitational on Saturday.
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