All Swimming and Diving Content
All-Area Girls' Swimmer of Year: Urbana's Gabi Rajic
URBANA — All sports offer an opportunity for a variety of athletes to participate.
In football, players who are big, but not fleet of foot, can play on the line.
In baseball, players who can’t hit the ball have the chance to throw it.
In basketball, players lacking the height to play near the basket can score from three-point range.
Tuesday's prep highlights: Joop, Sabers victorious
In boys’ basketball
St. Thomas More 55, Oakwood 17. Storm Joop scored 15 points to lead the Sabers to a home win. Kevin Carroll (11) and Mike Plecki (10) also scored in double figures for STM.
PBL 45, Clifton Central 35. Drew Schrodt’s 12 points led a balanced attack that carried host Paxton-Buckley-Loda.
Saturday's prep highlights: Edwards propels Arcola
In girls’ basketball
Arcola 49, Oakwood 26. TAYLOR EDWARDS poured in 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and added three steals and four assists to power the visiting Purple Riders.
Friday's prep highlights: Rajic shines at state swim meet
In state swimming & diving
At Evanston. Urbana’s Gabi Rajic had the best finishes Friday at the IHSA state swimming and diving meet, placing 14th in the 100-yard freestyle and 17th in the 50 free. Rajic was timed in 52.59 seconds in the 100 free and 24.10 in the 50 free.
Chart toppers: State swimming storylines, courtesy Fred Kroner
Centennial
Senior Audrey Rodawig will have three chances to swim at state in the preliminaries.
She not only advanced in two individual events but also as part of the 200-yard freestyle relay, which cut almost six seconds from its previous best. Joining her on the relay are Sara Regan, Emma Garcia-Canga and Remy Miller.
The Bulletin Board: Illineks impress
Uni swimmers excel in finale
Despite not qualifying for state, Uni High had a series of banner performances in Saturday’s girls’ sectional swim meet at Unit 4 Pool.
AOTW: Unity's Payne and Centennial's Rodawig
Athletes of the Week
Cody Payne
Unity, football
Senior
Recently: Kicked a 20-yard field goal at the buzzer to send the Rockets into the 3A semifinals for a fourth consecutive year. It was the third field goal of the year for a person with 51 kicking points.
Big day in pool for Centennial's Rodawig
CHAMPAIGN — Audrey Rodawig turned in a do-it-all performance for the Centennial girls’ swimming team Saturday, and it didn’t stop when the senior got out of the water.
When teammate Marie Jefferson began her long journey in the 500-yard freestyle, Rodawig eagerly assumed lap-counter duty, keeping her best friend updated on her progress with a counter card at the far end of the pool.
Bulletin Board: Swim qualifying awaits
CHAMPAIGN — Central will seek its sixth consecutive girls’ swimming sectional championship in Saturday’s state-qualifying meet at Unit 4 Pool. Diving starts at 9 a.m. Swimming finals begin at 1 p.m.
One of the Maroons’ top individuals could be senior Katherine Penwell, a two-time sectional champion in the 500-yard freestyle.
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