Chesterton depth and dominance pops in all three relay races at Valparaiso sectional as seven different swimmers, at least one from each class, all at their best

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

Cobbling together the relays in such a way as to try to give the team a chance to not only qualify for state, but make it all the way to the final eight in all three events was one of many challenges Chesterton head swim and dive coach Jenni Kellstrom tackled this season.
Based on the performances of all three relays at the Valparaiso sectional, the Trojans stand an excellent chance of accomplishing that goal.
“The relays were phenomenal,” Kellstrom said. “All three are looking at top eight finishes (at state) right now. That’s what’s been our goal all season.”
The top eight finishers in Friday’s preliminary round advance to the A final and 9 through 16 compete in the B final, where even if a time is faster than one of the A final teams, the placement can be no higher than ninth.
In finishing second to Valparaiso in the 200-yard medley relay, Chesterton posted a time (1:43.41) faster than the slowest preliminary qualifying time for the A final at last year’s state meet. Ditto for the winning 200 (1:36.15) and 400 (3:26.16) freestyle relays.
Different combinations of three freshman, a sophomore, a junior and two seniors swam in relays at the sectional, which Chesterton won convincingly.
Junior Adalyn Laughner and sophomore Brenley Bonez joined freshmen Reese Kellstrom and Brynn Law in the medley relay.
Freshmen Law and Makenzie Soto, joined seniors Tegan Werner and Peyton Ostertag in the 200 free relay.
For the second year in a row, Ostertag, Werner, Laughner and Bonez teamed in the 400 free relay. That quartet placed fourth at state last season.
At the Valparaiso sectional Saturday, the Trojans inched closer to the 10-year old school record of 3:26.07 owned by Vanessa Krause, Jaclyn Klimczak, Lauryn Kallay and Kelly Craig.
“Oh my gosh the relays were so good. That 2 free relay was amazing,” Ostertag said. “And the 4, we’ve gotten even closer to it this year. New sectional and pool record and barely off the team record. So close.”
It still could fall at state in the preliminary and/or final rounds. The Trojans need to swim just one-tenth of a second faster, improving from 3:26.16 to 3:26.06 and the school record falls.
“We tried to have safe exchanges, just to be safe,” Werner said. “At state, I think we’ll just go for it and see how fast we can go.”