Loyola Academy’s girls swimming and diving team qualified three relays and seven swimmers for 11 individual races at the IHSA state championships after finishing second at the Glenbrook North Sectional on Saturday, Nov. 7, according to IHSA qualifying records.

The Wilmette school's Ramblers won four events, sweeping all three relays and qualified three relay teams and seven individual events for state, according to the Loyola Academy athletics department. Head coach Mike Hengelmann, a Loyola alum, was named Sectional Coach of the Year.

The IHSA state championship meet runs Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

Relay sweep anchors the result

Loyola's relay squads won all three events at sectionals. The 200 medley relay team of Maeve Atwood, Kate Kelly, Kinsley Fitzgerald and Kennedy Fitzgerald clocked 1:44.85 for first place.

Kennedy Fitzgerald, Kinsley Fitzgerald, Kelly and Lia Roggi won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:36.13. Jane Vaughan, Kinsley Fitzgerald, Kennedy Fitzgerald and Roggi took the 400 freestyle relay in 3:28.78.

Individual qualifiers

Roggi won the 50 freestyle. Her time: 23.61 seconds. Kinsley Fitzgerald won the 100 butterfly in 56.54, with Roggi third in 56.73.

Atwood qualified in two events: third in the 200 individual medley (2:07.05) and fourth in the 100 backstroke (57.05). Freshman Elle Mesch placed fifth in the 200 IM at 2:07.68. Vaughan took third in the 100 freestyle (52.93), Kennedy Fitzgerald fifth in the 100 backstroke (57.33) and Kelly fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.91).

Conference champions head to state

The sectional result caps a strong postseason for Hengelmann's squad. The Ramblers won both the varsity and junior varsity titles at the Chicago Catholic League/GCAC Conference Swim Meet on Oct. 24-25, hosted at Loyola. Kinsley Fitzgerald earned Varsity Senior Swimmer of the Year at that meet, and Hengelmann was named Coach of the Year.

Twelve swimmers made the sectional team: Jacque Abbasi, Atwood, Kennedy Fitzgerald, Kinsley Fitzgerald, Kelly, Mesch, Samantha O'Hara, Roggi, Victoria Simon, Ellie Tolentino, Ryan Tolentino and Vaughan.

Defending state champion Stevenson is among the teams looking to contend at state, according to the Journal & Topics.