Inside Girls Swimming: Crystal Lake co-op's Valerie Tarazi Athlete of Week

Athlete of the Week

VALERIE TARAZI

Crystal Lake co-op, fr.

Tarazi won the 100-yard butterfly (57.39) and 100 breaststroke (1:06.10) at the Fox Valley Conference Championship on Saturday to get newcomer of the year and most valuable swimmer honors. Both times were well under the state qualifying times.

Noteworthy

What to swim, what to swim? Melissa Rose, a three-time state qualifier in the breaststroke, from Cary-Grove will compete Saturday at the Stevenson Sectional. Although the breaststroke is a given, she is undecided about her second event. On Saturday, Rose place third in the 100 freestyle in 55.57, about two seconds off the state cut.

She went under the state cut in the breaststroke for the first time this season. That’s a big lift heading into sectionals.

“That was my only goal,” Rose said. “Once I hit that point, I feel a lot better.”

Tarazi is leaning toward the 200 individual medley but is undecided on either event for sectionals. For Tarazi it isn’t a question of which event she can make it in, as she could likely hit a state cut in any of the events. It’s a choice determined by which events she can qualify for the finals in and have a chance to swim for a state title.

“I’m not sure. I like everything,” Tarazi said.

Although disappointed at not winning the team title, Tarazi said the experience of swimming in her first conference tournament was great.

“It was probably the most fun I’ve had in swimming,” Tarazi said.

This week’s top meets

Sectionals

1 p.m. Saturday

Lake Forest Sectional: McHenry, Woodstock

St. Charles North Sectional: Crystal Lake co-op, Huntley, Jacobs-Hampshire co-op

Stevenson Sectional: Cary-Grove, Dundee-Crown

Swimmers compete for a chance to go to the state finals Nov. 21 and 22 at Evanston.

– Rob Smith

rsmith@shawmedia.com