2004 – (4-3) Coach
Will Barker and Matt Hopkins started with 25 athletes, and kicked the season
off with a win against
2003 – Coach Will
Barker & Coach Matt Hopkins. The
Central girls’ swimming and diving team had an exceptional season. The Maroons had many great swimmers returning
and also finished the season with a nine-win record. Two highlights of the season were beating
2002 – Coach Will
Barker. The 2002 girls’ swim team
welcomed some new freshmen speed to their strong base of returning
swimmers. Alison Hobs, Becky Baird, and
Alexandra Penwell, the team looked forward to a great season. The team may not have won every meet, but the
season was filled with excitement.
Leslie Morrison placed 1st in the 500 free at the Twin City
Meet in
“Wiffle balls are absolutely horrible!” ~Andrea Dixon
2001 – Coaches Will
Barker and Amanda Crews. Captains Sara
Lockman, Allie Armstrong, Michelle Smith, and Jackie Hughes. The 2001-02 girls’ swim season started off
with a bang! They won three straight
meets against respectable teams:
2000 – Coaches Will
Barker and Katie Heinrick. Captains Natalie
Kenny, Erin Kirby, Maggie Evans, Molly Weber, Mary Darling, Mary Hough, and
Johanna Henry. The 2000 girls’ swim
season was successful. It started off
with some great times at the meet against
1999 – Coaches Will Barker, Eric Lazzari and Reed Evans. The 1999 Central girls’ swim team had an excellent year because they placed high in the Charger Invitational, the Bloomington Invitational, the Carl Sandburg Invitational as well as the Big 12 conference and sectional meets. Valuable members like captain Katherine Pickard, captain Erin Mitchell, captain Laura Herrell, Natalie Kenny, Maggie Evans, Erin Kirby, and Sara Lockman had high finishes at these meets. The season ended by Natalie Kenny qualifying in the 200 and 100 freestyle events for state.
1998 – Coaches Will Barker and Eric Lazari. Andrea Block had an outstanding sectional meet. she won the 100 backstroke, edging rival Centennial swimmer, with a time of 59.79. Central qualified four swimmers to the state meet. Andrea Block grabbed the seventh seed in the 100 backstroke and ended up finishing eighteenth at the State meet. Natalie Kenny qualified for both the 100 and 200 freestyle and was a member of the relay team. The 200 medley team consisted of Andrea Block, Katherine Pickard, Betsy Holder, and Natalie Kenny. The team had a disappointing state meet, but had a good season overall.
1997 – (6-4) Coaches = Will Barker and Jennifer Neuman. Individual Outstanding Performances: The medley relay team of Andrea Block, Katherine Pickard, Betsy Holder, and Emily Brinkmann had a great Sectional meet. They broke the school record with a state qualifying time of 1:53.42. The team qualified six people to the State meet. They qualified both the 200 freestyle and the 200 medley relay teams. Joanna Muster qualified for State in diving after finishing 4th at Sectionals.
“Despite low numbers we were very strong in our relays, and we had a great season.”
~Coach Barker
1996 – (6-3) Coaches Will Barker and Leeda Swan. Captains Amanda Crews, Lindsey Fields, Allison Pickard, and Lindsey Vaughn. Most Valuable Swimmer = Amanda Crews. Individual Outstanding Performances: The relay team of Andrea Block, Allison Pickard, Betsy Holder and Emily Brinkmann recorded a state qualifying time of 1:53.56 at the Sectional meet in the 200 yard medley relay. This time was also a school record. The same fabulous foursome qualified for state in the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1:42.09. This shattered the old school record. Other state qualifiers were Betsy Holder in the 100 yard breaststroke and Andrea Block in the 100 yard backstroke. Amanda Crews blew away the diving competition, winning the diving Conference and Sectional championships. One of the highlights of the Maroons’ season was the Sectional meet. Best times were recorded in all events except for one. The team placed third overall, just as they did at the Conference meet. Betsy Holder and Andrea Block were both Conference Champions, in the 100 Breast and 100 Back, respectively.
1995 – Coaches Will Barker and Leda Swan. Captains: Whitney Weber, Sarah Bachman, Jenny Olson, Gretchen, Block, and Leslie Amacher. MVP’s: Andrea Block for Swimming and Amanda Crews for Diving. Team Saying: “Bananas Unite!”
“The season went by so fast that it blew all the hair off of our arms!” ~Jenny Olson.
1994 – (7-2) Coach Will Barker. The 1994 girls swimming team exceeded its own expectations this year with an impressive 7-2 meet record. This year’s team was led by outstanding senior swimmers Janie Reed and Erin Snyder. Janie’s swimming specialty was the 100 individual medleys and Erin Snyder’s strength was in freestyle swimming. These seniors weren’t the only ones setting the winning pace for the season. Senior Anne Hendren also gave the team much needed help with her abilities in the 100 breaststroke. Juniors Whitley Webber and Sarah Bachman also proved throughout the season to be real competitors. Sophomores Annie Tock, Allison Pickard, and Lindsey Vaughn showed heart and spirit throughout the swim season.
1993 – The 1993
swim team exceeded its own expectations this year. With a new coach and a strong group of
freshman, the returning team was ready to go.
This years’ team was led by juniors Janie Reed, and Erin Snyder, and
Senior Erin Block. Jamie Reed was undefeated
in the 200 individual medleys and only lost in the 100 backstroke during
Sectionals. Erin Snyder’s strength was
in the 100 freestyle and Erin Block’s in the 100 backstroke. Junior Ann Hendren’s specialty was in the 100
breaststroke. Freshman Annie Tock, Allison Pickard, and Sophomore Whitney
Webber proved to be tough competitors as well.
Central’s All-freshman diving team, Amanda Cruz and Susie Miles, showed
its strength, too. Amanda Cruz placed 1st
in each dual meet except one in which she took 2nd. At the Big 12 Conference Meet, Amanda Cruz
took 2nd and Susie Miles placed 5th. The end of the season was undoubtedly the
highlight as the team placed 3rd in the Big 12 at Sectionals. Two relay teams and three individuals
qualified for state as well. The 1st
relay to qualify was the 200 medley relay team of Erin Brock, Janie Reed, Anne
Hendren, and Erin Snyder. The 2nd
was the 200 freestyle relay team of Erin Brock, Erin Snyder, Annie Tock, and
Janie Reed. The individual qualifiers
were Janie Reed and
1992 – Coach Leslie
Loyett. The team was not only suffering
from the loss of 12 seniors, but they were also working with a new coach. The challenge was too much for several who
quit early, and there were continually stressful moments, such as when
1991 – (10-2) Coaches Kim Schuh, Jane Scofield, and Keith Scorzza. The 1991 Girls’ swim season will not be easily forgotten. The Maroons successful season was not accomplished by nothing. Practices consisted of around 5000 yards a night, but that’s not all, there were morning practices also which consisted of weight lifting and running. This was clearly a team of varsity swimmers. And with a couple more great additions their goals were easily accomplished. First, the new assistant coach (Scofield) and their new diving coach (Scorzza). Even though they did not have any divers at the end of the year, Keith became an exceptional swimming coach as well. The team also proved themselves by winning the Centennial Invitational, Conference, Sectionals, and 22nd place at the state meet at New Trier.
1990 – Coaches
Kim Schuh and Al Ferreira. Some of the highlights include the team’s 1st
place finish at the Centennial Invitational, 3rd place finish at the
Conference Meet, and its 1st Sectional championship in nine
years. The team also sends 5 swimmers:
Erin Block, Julie Blixen, Jessi Wood, Rachel Thurston, and Brook Johnson, to
the state meet at
1989 – (7-4)
Coaches Kim Schuh and Beth Bach.
Captains Kim Hart & Leanne Gapsis.
The Central Girls’ Swim Team was definitely one of improvement. The team sent 5 girls to State in
“The season was successful” ~ Kim Schuh
1988 – (10-2) Coaches Debra Simmons and Pat Johnson. Although Central has had 5 difference coaches in the past 5 years, 1st year coach Simmons and assistant coach Johnson continued to winning tradition. The team’s efforts paid off by going undefeated the first half of the year, and finishing the season with a 10-2 record. Twelve freshmen added depth to the team, including Rachel Thurston, Brooke Johnson, Claire Kelly, Jessi Wood, and diver Rachel Libman. Next year’s team promises to be strong with the leadership and experience of five returning juniors.
1987 – Coach Nelson. Because of a very tough schedule, the talented Maroon swimmers were held to an overall record of 5-7, but proudly came in 2nd in the Big 12 conference. The team excelled in the state tournament where they placed 2nd in the regional and 17th in the state meet. Outstanding senior Laura Wilborne placed 4th in the 200 individual medley and 7th place in the 500 freestyle. Next year’s swimming team is expected to have a successful season also with the return of several outstanding underclassmen, such a Julie Summers, Kim Hart, Wendy Doddson, Leanne Gapsis and Shannon Noonan.
1986 – Coach Kirwin. The Central Girls Swim Team ended their season strongly, taking 2nd place in the Sectional Meet. The sectional meet was truly a team effort. Many season-best times were turned in, and several swimmers, including Jo Ellen Bruinson, Kimi Hart and Karen Phipps, earned personal-best times.
1985 – Coaches Folts & Jorgensen. Everyone on the team learned how to help out each other and support their school. The Lady Tankers ended up with a 2nd place at sectionals. The team has a state qualifying team in the 400 yard freestyle relay.
1984 – (8-2) Coach Rich Lore, 36 members, freshmen contributed to the strength of the team, 5 seniors, Freshman Laura Wilborn placed 5th in 200 individual medley and 9th in 500 freestyle at State, 3 team records, won 2 events in both Big 12 Conference Meet and Sectional, and swam on the State qualifying 200 medley relay.
1983 – (9-2) Coach Nancy Patterson and members of the team ended up much stronger than they originally thought they could. With only 4 seniors on the team, experience wasn’t one of the team’s biggest assets, although interest easily could be. With over 30 people starting off the season, Patterson found it very difficult to work with all of them without an assistant. There weren’t as many first place finishes as in the past but the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places are what made the team strong. Two of the many f freshmen stood out this year. Despite their youth, Leslie Loyet and Amy Hatch were strong as swimmers and, with their team spirit, helped out the team a lot. At the regional meet, three individuals qualified for the state meet. Junior 50 yard freestyler Suzanne Porter, junior 100 yard breast stroker Julie Greenberg and senior diver Kim Kehe. At the conclusion of the season two school records were broken: Greenberg with the 100 yard breast stroke and Porter in the 50 yard freestyle.
1982 – Coach Nancy Patterson. Central’s girls swim team finished its season with a 9-2 dual meet record. The Maroons also received a 3rd place finish at the Peoria Richwoods Relays. Central defended their Big 12 Conference title, winning it for the 2nd year straight. At conference, senior Liesa Benn clocked a Big 12 record time of 56.3 in 100 meter freestyle. Benn also won the 200 meter individual medley in 2:19.8 while sophomore Julie Greenberg, the only other Maroon to win, won the 100 meter breaststroke competition with a 1:15.4 time. State qualifiers were seniors Sue Langan, Maureen McMahon, and Benn, and sophomores Susanne Porter and Greenberg.
“One of the highlights of the season was shaving down for districts – which was pretty fun.” ~Ellen Green.
Three school records were broken this year. The freestyle relay team of McMahon, Langan, Benn and Porter clocked a 3:48.52. On her own, Benn also broke the 200 freestyle record with a 1:57.57 time while Porter clocked a 25.78 to beat the 50 freestyle record.
“This was a real enthusiastic and cooperative team, one of the best I’ve ever coached.”
~ Nancy Patterson
1981 – (11-0) Coaches Nancy Patterson & Bill Freyman. The girls were undefeated, with an 11-0 record in dual meets. 1st place in the Peoria Richwoods Relays, and big wins at both the Conference and District meet. Many school records were broken during the season. The list included the 400 yard relay of Molly Melby, Marueen McMahon, Liesa Benn, and Susanne Porter. Most Valuable Swimmer and State qualifier Benn also broke four records in individual events during the season. Barb Roth broke the diving record and also qualified for the state meet and finished in 7th place.
1980 – Coaches Nancy
Patterson and Bill Freyman. Central had
defeated previously undefeated Conference stand-out,
“Because people could swim a lot of different events, we could mix things up for different meets according to the other team’s weaknesses”.
~ Nancy Patterson
Second team swimmers became a true asset to the team because of their continuing improvement. Coach Patterson attributed their new-found abilities to the swimmers’ perseverance and the hard work of her new Assistant Coach, Bill Freyman. A first for the swimmers this year was their hosting of the Big 12 Conference Meet. Most of the team wished Central had its own pool so that they would not have to use Centennial’s. They definitely enjoyed their novel assignment, however, especially since their hard work paid off with a 2nd place.
1979 – (8-1)
Coach Nancy Patterson. The girls’ swim
team had a very successful season, finishing with a record of 8-1, 2nd
in District, and sending five girls to the State Meet at New Trier East. They qualified in the Medley Relay with Diane
Schneider, Laura Munnis, Susan Jorgensen, and Lisa Benn. Also, Laura Munnis qualified in the 200 I.M.
and Susan Jorgensen in the 100 Fly. This
year was the first year for Central to qualify a diver for State, and Barb
Roth, a sophomore, accompanied the swimmers to New Trier. The highlight of the season was beating
1978 – (9-1) Coach Patterson, addition of freshmen helped success of the team, 5 freshmen got varsity letters, district 2nd to Normal U. High, strongest competitor and their only loss in the dual-meet competition, 200 yard Medley Relay qualified for state meet and Jennifer Riehle qualified in the 100 yard breaststroke
1977 – (9-0) Coach = Nancy Patterson. The team’s hardest win came against Normal University High where Central defeated them by only 5 points. Along with an undefeated season, the girls won 1st place in district and 12th in the state. Five members of the team were also named to the all-state team. Londa Jorgensen, Kate Helfrich, Shauna Wallace, and Susan Jorgensen were names for relay and Londa was also names for backstroke.
“Next year’s team won’t be as strong because we lost our seniors.”
~Coach Patterson
Patterson hopes that this will not discourage the team and is confident that they will be able to overcome the loss.