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SPORTS
Reporter Wednesday, December 26, 2012
2012 CHAMPION YEAR OF THE
TAYLOR KRAMER Benet girls diving Number to know:
11.05
Number of points by which Kramer trailed leader Allegra Codamon of Zion-Benton heading into the finals Trophy trail: A sectional champ at Metea Valley with a point total of 426.60, Kramer found herself in second place after the first series of dives at state. With three dives left in the finals, the senior had a double-digit deficit to overcome, and that’s exactly what she did. She surpassed the leader, Allegra Codamon, and scored well enough to hold off Fenwick’s Michelle Kalupski for the title with a score of 414.25. Kramer’s effort helped the Redwings to a 21st-place finish as a team. Quote of note:
“One of our concerns for Taylor over the years was her ability to concentrate and perform well in competition. This year she overcame those inabilities, and I think that is what she is most proud of in winning the state meet. That also is why she was able to come from behind to win — she was consistent and strong through the entire meet.” — Gerry Petit, Kramer’s coach at DuPage Diving Academy
Benet’s Taylor Kramer. Erica Benson — ebenson@shawmedia.com
Bolingbrook’s Kimberly Azie. Bill Ackerman — backerman@shawmedia.com
4 X 100 RELAY Bolingbrook girls track and field
Downers Grove North’s Gabby Sims. Matthew Piechalak — mpiechalak @shawmedia. com
Benet’s Brittany Kmieciak. Matthew Piechalak — mpiechalak @shawmedia. com
GABBY SIMS Downers Grove North girls swimming Number to know:
3 Total number of state medals Gabby Sims earned at the state meet, including the 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle relay Trophy trail: Sims won a pair of solo sectional titles (in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle), but the junior had more reasons to be pleased at the state meet. Looking to break the 50-second mark in the freestyle, she did it twice: she touched the wall in 49.65 with the fastest time in the prelims, then went even lower with a 49.57 in the finals to win the championship by more than a second. It was her third state title (200 medley relay as a freshman, 100 backstroke as a sophomore) and her 12th state medal overall. Quote of note: “It was really cool. I kind of went into the meet with the goal of going under 50 (seconds). When I looked up at my time, it was one of the most amazing moments of my life.” — Gabby Sims
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Benet Number to know:
16, 24 Length of two separate winning streaks for the Redwings on the way to their second straight state title Trophy trail:Benet was wearing the bullseye after claiming the state title in 2011, but instead of succumbing to the pressure the Redwings thrived. They were pushed to three games just four times during the regular season and won four tournament titles (Benet, Wheaton Classic, Mizuno Cup and Autumnfest) before storming to regional, sectional and supersectional titles. Benet was finally tested in the Class 4A semifinals and finals, losing the first game to Libertyville and New Trier, respectively, but came back in both matches to take home their third state trophy (second in 2008) in five years.
Number to know: 1.08 Margin of victory, in seconds, for the Raiders’ quartet in the championship race Trophy trail:The 4 x 100 relay — seniors Rosemary Onyegbule, Kymbriona Taylor and Kimberly Azie with freshman Jessica Watkins running second in the finals — actually had to overcome some adversity on their way to the state title. Third runner Kymbriona Taylor pulled her hamstring at the conference meet two weeks prior to state and she didn’t run in the state prelims. No worries. Bolingbrook won its prelim race by more than a second and did the same in the finals to bring home the title. Quote of note: “Winning the 4 x 100 was a great feeling for the girls because they were dealing with some tough issues as a unit and they overcame them. One of the primary concerns was the leg of Kym Taylor, but she helped the team run a personal best of 46.58 seconds, which helped us to earn the school record and win the title.” — Howard Birmingham, Bolingbrook coach