GIRLS' SWIMMING: EHS swimmers make exciting debut

NORMAL The Edwardsville swimming team is no longer one of the best kept secrets in the southern Illinois swimming landscape.

The Tigers, who have never been able to compete as a team before this season, won eight of 12 varsity events on Saturday at the Iron Invitational in Normal to win their first-ever meet in their first try.

Thanks to the generous donation of Sharon Fruit, along with the tireless effort of the EGHM Foundation, EHS has its own pool the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center and its own team. Prior to this season, the Tigers only were allowed to compete in the postseason as individuals.

I feel like this was a collective of all the work put in over the last 50 years of Edwardsville swimmers in high school and club, said Edwardsville head coach Christian Rhoten, who swam for the Tigers during his prep career. In the high school world, this is the first time weve come out and shown our face. I think we proved that even though we are brand new, we are a strong team and we plan on making some serious waves this season and in the future.

Edwardsville won Saturdays eight-team Iron Invitational with 370 team points. The Tigers were followed by: host Normal Community (340), Lincoln-Way East (314), Metamora (276), Galesburg (261), United Township (177) and Normal West (165).

Saturday wasnt the first time the Tigers have been in the pool. Many of them have been with the YMCA Breakers a club team coached by Bob Rettle along with Water Works and Sunset Hills summer teams.

It was, however, the first time the swimmers have been in the pool with the Tiger paw on their swimsuits.

This kind of brings us to tears, because we have been waiting for this moment for so long, said junior Kate May, who won two individuals events, including setting a pool record in the 100-yard butterfly.

May continued, When it was confirmed that Sharon Fruit had donated so much and then we had others donate even more money and that we were going to have this really nice pool, I just thought about it one night and I was so happy.

May also won the 100-yard freestyle.

Here is the original post:
GIRLS' SWIMMING: EHS swimmers make exciting debut