Trails Concludes 60th Anniversary Season

Dominating the pool with their shouts, chants and swaying arms, athletes from the Trails Swim Team gathered at the end of the turn lane to cheer on their teammates at the NCISC conference championship at the Kishwaukee YMCA in Sycamore on Saturday. The meet concluded the summer team’s 60th anniversary season. 

Among the free relay conference champions encouraged by the noise were the 8&under girls Alyssa Schroeter, Lucy Kob, Hannah Niemi and Molly Machesky. Then, the 11-12 Boys, who not only came away with gold but also a Trails team record and an NCISC conference record time of 1:48.27 (previous Trails record was 1:49.77). Logan Droste led the way with a blazing 24.55 split. He also received gold in the 11-12 Boys 100Y Free with 54.78 and the 50Y Back with 30.03, both Trails team records as well. While the Trails Swim Team placed fourth overall, behind the Geneva River Rats, Oswego Otters and Rock River Valley YMCA, the 11-12 Boys came away with the championship for their age group. 

Other teams participating were Dekalb County Swim Team, Fox Valley Tide, Huntley Stingrays, Lifetime Illinois, Woodstock Dolphins and McGuire Aquatics.

Trails standout swimmer Rachel Johnson also set an NCISC conference record with a 52.37 swim, winning by more than a body length against the competition in the 13-14 Girls 100Y Free, which also improved her team record in the event from last summer. Rachel later won the 100Y Backstroke with a record-setting 57.53. She also was part of the 13-14 Girls Medley and Free relays, with Natalie Zimmerman, Lindsey Marzalik and Eliana Niemi, which set team records as well.

Other Trails champions included Jessica Schroeter in the 6&under 25Y Free with 19.61, and Kaitlyn Tomaszewski in the 100Y Breast with 1:09.17.

    Record breaking swims also came from the 15&Up Boys, including Charlie Mason in the 200Y IM (2:04.98), Luke Johnson in the 100Y Backstroke (53.94), and Mason Gaylord (1:01.64) in the 100Y Breast, as well as the Medley and Free Relays with Luke Johnson, Charlie Mason, Gabe Niemi and Antonio Aguirre. 

     There were many team records broken throughout the season as well, including Ruth Johnson, who broke her sister Rachel’s 11-12 Girls 50M Back record with 35.39. 

The team celebrated its 60th season with an end of season banquet on Sunday with swimmers recognized for conference wins, record breakers, as well as its annual  team awards.

 

Trails Team Records Broken in 2023

 

6u 25M Backstroke 27.72

Jessica Schroeter

The previous record was 28.20 by Anastasia Komarova in June 2017.

 

11-12 Girls 50M Back 35.39

Ruth Johnson

The previous record was 36.07 by her sister and current Trails swimmer Rachel Johnson from June 2021!

 

11-12 Boys 50M Free 28.75

Logan Droste

The previous record was 28.77 by Brett Bocian in July 2004.

 

11-12 Boys 100Y Free 54.78

Logan Droste

The previous record was 56.52 by Ryan Krug on July 23 2005.

 

11-12 Boys 100M Free 1:03.77

Logan Droste

The previous record was 1:04.32 by Brett Bocian in July 2004. 

 

11-12 Boys 50Y Back 30.03

Logan Droste

The previous record was 31.98 by Noah Brereton in 2019. 

 

11-12 Boys 50M Backstroke 34.27

Logan Droste

The previous record was 35.25 also by Brett Bocian in July 2004.

 

11-12 Boys 200Y Free Relay 1:48.27

Johnny Marzalik, Max Gaylord, Tommy Wetzl and Logan Droste

The previous record was 1:53.71 by Noah Brereton, Charlie Mason, Mason Gaylord and Luke Johnson from July 9, 2019.

 

13-14 Girls 200M IM  2:35.09

Rachel Johnson

The previous record was 2:36.68 by Nikki Holladay in 2005

 

13-14 GIrls 50Y Free 25.13

Rachel Johnson

 

13-14 Girls 100Y Free 52.37, an NCISC Conference Record

Rachel Johnson 

 

13-14 Girls 100Y Fly 1:01.05

Rachel Johnson

The previous record was 1:01.99 by Nikki Holladay from July 2005. 

 

13-14 Girls 100M Fly 1:08.85

Rachel Johnson

The previous record was 1:10.54 by Nikki Holladay in July 2015.

 

13-14 Girls 100Y Back 57.53.

Rachel Johnson

 

13-14 Girls 50Y Back 26.84L

Rachel Johnson

 

13-14 Girls 100M Backstroke 1:07.13

Rachel Johnson

The previous record was also Nikki Holladay with 1:09.57 from June 2005.

 

13-14 Girls 200Y Free Relay 1:43.37

Rachel Johnson, Natalie Zimmerman, Lindsey Marzalik and Eliana Niemi. 

The previous record was 1:46.52 by L Christianson, D Gypalo, K Skiba and B Floyd from July 1, 2000.

 

13-14 Girls 200Y Medley Relay 1:56.33

Natalie Zimmerman, Lindsey Marzalik and Eliana Niemi

 

15&Over Boys 200Y IM2:04.98

Charlie Mason

The previous record was 2:06.58 by Nick Floyd from July 24, 2004.

 

Boys 15&Over 100Y Back 53.94

Luke Johnson 

The previous record was 55.93 by Alec Orndahl on July 21, 2018.

 

15&Over 100Y Breast 1:01.64

Mason Gaylord

The previous record was1:02.06 by Nicholas Pankau on July 19, 2006.

 

15&Over Boys 200Y Medley Relay 1:39.48

Luke Johnson, Charlie Mason, Gabe Niemi and Antonio Aguirre

The previous record was 1:45.30 by Kyle Efken, Ryne Quinlan, Joe Weber and John Jost from July 16, 2011.

 

15&Up Boys 200M Medley Relay 2:00.38

Luke Johnson, Charlie Mason, Gabe Niemi and Antonio Aguirre

The previous record was 2:02.52 by Kyle Efken, current head coach Ryne Quinlan and former Trails coaches Joe Weber and John Jost from June 2011.

 

15&Over Boys 200Y Free Relay 1:30.16

Luke Johnson, Gabe Niemi, Charlie Mason and Antonio Aguirre. 

The previous record was 1:32.20 by John Jost, Ryan Krug, Joe Weber and Ryne Quinlan from July 16, 2011.

 

Trails 2023 Team Awards

 

8&U

Most Improved: Grady Perocho and Molly Machesky

Best Effort: Thomas Rittenhouse and Alyssa Schroeter

Swimmers Choice: Caroline Wodziak

Coaches Award: Georgia Sifnotis 

 

9/10

Most Improved: Ava Ganek and Augie Mroz

Best Effort: Chase Murphy and Emma Kohl

Swimmers Choice: Kensley carpenter

Coaches Choice: Averie Vietmeier

 

11/12

Most Improved: Caroline Reid and Dylan Hanshaw

Best Effort: Daniella Gonzalez and Logan Droste 

Coaches Award: David Gatto

Swimmers Choice: Macy Vietmeier

 

13/14

Best Effort: Brandon Schroeter and Riley Machesky

Most Improved: Gavin Sylvester and Lindsey Marzalik

Coaches Award: Rachel Johnson

 

15 and Over

Best Effort: Charlie Mason and Carly Pierzchalski

Most Improved: Paul Reid and Addy Hostetler

Coaches Award: Luke Johnson

Swimmers Choice (13&up): Sarah Cartwright 

 

Final Scores from the NCISC Championship Meet

 

1 Geneva River Rats 1144
2 Oswego Otters 899
3 Rock River Valley YMCA 697
4 Trails Swim Team 445
5 Kishwaukee YMCA Dekalb County 416
6 Cary Barracudas 403
7 Huntley Stingray 215
8 Life Time Illinois 40
9 Woodstock Dolphins 21
10 Fox Valley Riptides 20
11 McGuire Aquatics 10