Over the weekend, girls swim and dive wrapped up the postseason placing 10th overall at the state meet, marking ETHS’ highest finish since 2010.

On the boards, Evanston ran away from the pack. Senior Lucy Hogan captured the state championship and junior Jamie Otwell finished 11th, marking the first time since 1985 that two ETHS divers placed in the top 12 at state. The Hogan-Otwell combination was good for 18 points towards the ETHS total.

“I was super excited because I had finally won,” Hogan said. “It’s something I’ve been working toward since freshman year.  Last year, Jamie [Otwell] placed 16th but this year she worked so hard…and got 11th which is a huge improvement from last year.”

After placing second in state in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, Hogan ultimately took home the top prize this year. Her score of 450.90, 32.8 points better than her closest competitor, marked the first ETHS girls diving state champion since 1979. As Hogan’s illustrious diving career comes to a close, she holds seven ETHS records, has been a three time all-state selection and is now, a state champion.

In the water, the Kits’ found similar success, contributing 18 points to the team’s total of 36. The team sent three relays to state, two of which qualified for finals. The 200 freestyle relay, consisting of senior Cassie Tingley, sophomores Mackenzie Tucker and Erin Long and freshman Lily Consiglio, placed seventh, first in the consolation race, out touching New Trier by .3 seconds. In the 400 freestyle relay, the team of Long, senior captain Halley Seed, Tingley and Tucker placed 11th.

“I think that we all really showed up this weekend,” Seed explained. “I think it was definitely the adrenaline of such a big meet that sparked something for us.”

In addition to swimming on the relays, Consiglio swam the 50 freestyle and the 100 fly, Long swam the 100 and 200 freestyle and Tingley swam the 100 freestyle as individuals. In her first time at the state meet, sophomore Sam Rhodes competed individually in the 500 freestyle. None of the swimmers qualified for the state finals.

With the 10th place finish coming as a vast improvement over last year’s non-placement at state, the team is already working to improve upon this year’s success.

“As great as this year was, I think we can channel our success into next year and come back better than ever,” junior Lane Raedle said.