Season ends for Highland Park with no State bids

• Reprints

Talia Fishbein of Highland Park competes in the 200 IM in Saturday's sectional at Glenbrook South. | Joe Cyganowski~For Sun-Times Media

Article Extras

Updated: December 18, 2011 8:56AM

Last season, as sophomores, Samii Asher and Talia Fishbein helped the Highland Park High School 200-yard medley relay squad set a new school record. 

Asher and Fishbein returned this season, but 50 percent of the relay graduated. Fortunately for HP, freshmen Emily Scheinman and Erin Reynolds proved to be valuable additions. The duo made a seamless transition to high school swimming, and meshed well with Asher and Fishbein. 

Everything came together for the relay during Saturday’s Glenbrook South Sectional. The four girls did not qualify for State, but their time of 1:54.40 was good for a new school record — by more than a full second. 

“They were close to doing it at the conference meet, and everyone went a little faster at sectionals,” said HP coach A.J. Block. 

Asher loved watching the reaction of the freshmen. 

“I was so happy to be on the record board last year,” she said. “It was really special to see (them celebrate this year).” 

Fishbein said everyone swam their best at the most important time. 

“We all dropped time and I was so proud of everyone,” she said. “We were able to accomplish our goal of breaking the record.” 

Highland Park’s 200 medley relay wasn’t the only speedy relay. The loaded sectional featured multiple State qualifiers in just about every event. Even some swimmers in the second heat qualified. 

“It was a little overwhelming,” Block said. “It was an incredibly fast meet.” 

Though no one from Highland Park advanced to State, it was quite a day for the Giants. 

In addition to the 200 medley relay, Asher broke her own school record in the 100 backstroke by nearly two seconds (1:01).  

“State was a goal of mine, but I gave it all I could,” she said. “I killed myself on the first 50. I still felt good, and I brought it home as strong as I could.” 

In the 100 breaststroke, Fishbein posted about the same time as she did at conference. She was right around her season-best, and won her heat to place seventh. 

“I wanted to drop time, but I was really happy to get points for my team,” she said. 

Scheinman recorded a personal-best (1:03.6) in the 100 butterfly. That was a second faster than her time at the conference meet.

Reynolds added a season-best (1:10) in the 100 backstroke. 

“They really (demonstrated) their toughness,” Block said.  

Anna Potetti notched a season-best (1:15) in the 100 breaststroke. Maddie Cavanaugh recorded a personal-best (59.5) in the 100 freestyle. 

In diving, senior Maggie Cullather performed well, but fell just short of qualifying for the state meet with 366 points. 

With many of the team’s top swimmers set to return, Block expects the Giants to continue to progress next season. 

“We’re not losing that many (swimmers) and we have a strong freshman class coming in,” she said. “I’m encouraged.”