Hinsdale Central's girls swim and dive team won the LaGrange Sectional championship Saturday, Nov. 7, earning a berth in the IHSA State Finals.
The Hinsdale Central Athletic Department announced the sectional title on X, posting "Sectional Champions! Next up….STATE!" The Red Devils competed at Lyons Township in LaGrange against a field that included 11 teams and two individual-entry schools, according to IHSA site assignments.
The state meet is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Rockford News First reported.
Head coach Bob Barber, in his 27th season leading the program, entered the year with a roster of 20 swimmers and divers. The team finished third in conference and fifth at state last season, according to a preseason report in The Hinsdalean.
The Red Devils showed their depth at the West Suburban Conference Championship on Oct. 23, winning the meet with 411 points, according to results published in The Hinsdalean. Nicole Sun won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:53.73. Lilia Barber took the 100-yard freestyle in 52.71. Karina Miller won the 100-yard backstroke in 57.33. Sarah Pelinkovic claimed the 500-yard freestyle in 5:05.76.
The relay squads swept.
Sun, Brady, Patha and Hernandez won the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:36.7. Sun, Patha, Brady and Hernandez took the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:30.86. Lahmann, Warren, Barber and Ukoha captured the 200-yard medley relay in 1:48.69.
Pelinkovic, a senior, is a returning state finalist, school record holder and future Iowa Hawkeye. In a September profile published in The Hinsdalean, Barber said Pelinkovic "leads the program both in and out of the water" and called her "an inspiration for us all."
The Red Devils head to the same Westmont venue where the boys program won its fourth straight state championship in February, according to Shaw Local.
