2021 Illinois HS (IHSA) GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Friday, November 12th – Saturday, November 13th
- FMC Natatorium – Westmont, Illinois
- Live Results (Also on Meet Mobile, search ‘IHSA’)
- Short Course Yards (SCY)
The 2021 Girls Illinois HS Swimming & Diving State Finals didn’t disappoint as four Illinois HS state records were broken, with three of them coming from sophomores who are new faces to the state meet. The Illinois HS State Finals weren’t held during the 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19.
Deerfield’s Annika Parkhe was able to shatter her own state record from the previous night, going 1:45.53 to win by almost four seconds. Parkhe’s front-half was significantly faster on Saturday, splitting 50.78 (24.52/26.26) at the 100, compared to 52.03 (25.21/26.82) on Friday.
| Friday Prelims – 1:46.15 | Saturday Finals – 1:45.53 |
| 25.21 | 24.52 |
| 26.82 | 26.26 |
| 26.73 | 27.16 |
| 27.39 | 27.59 |
Parkhe also won the 100 fly (53.00) later in the meet, slightly off her state-record time of 52.72 from prelims. In addition, she split 23.72 on the fly leg of Deerfield’s 7th place 200 medley relay, which was the only sub-24 split in the entire field.
New Trier’s Kaelyn Gridley was able to defend her 100 breast title (1:00.13), just off of her 59.92 state record from prelims and the second-fastest time of her career. Gridley, who will attend Duke next fall, has one the 100 breast state title three times in her career, as she wasn’t able to defend the event in 2020. She also split 27.2 on the breast leg in the medley relay, placed 3rd in the 50 free (23.21), and split 22.86 on the 200 free relay.
Arguably one of the most anticipated races of the state meet was between USA Swimming National Junior Team members Leah Hayes and Carly Novelline. Novelline primarily swims the sprint freestyles and backstroke, while Hayes is an IM specialist which helps her to be competitive in all four of the stroke disciplines. Both Hayes and Novelline were selected to travel with Team USA to the FINA World Cup stops in Berlin and Budapest.
Many had thought that Novelline would be the clear favorite in this event as she’s the fastest 18&U female 100-meter freestyler in the nation and boasts a personal best of 48.16 in the yards event. Coming into this season, Hayes hadn’t even broken 50 seconds in the event. However, after Hayes had set the fastest time in the state out of sectionals last week (49.78), it was clear that Novelline would be challenged in Westmont.
Hayes and Novelline were clearly the two fastest out front, splitting 23.26 and 23.35, respectively, to the feet. Hayes was able to hang on as she had the better back-half, splitting 25.08 compared to Novelline’s 25.67. Hayes won the event in 48.35 seconds, which bettered her state-record setting performance from the day prior.
This marks Hayes’ second state title (and state record) of the afternoon as she re-broke the 200 IM record (1:56.38) earlier in the session. In that race, her margin of victory was over 5 seconds that of Schaumburg’s Nina Mollin, who was one of the fastest 18&U IMers at Canada’s Olympic Trials.
Hayes is currently a sophomore at Kaneland Maple Park High School. Her high school doesn’t have a swim team, so she’s able to swim club with the Fox Valley Park District Riptides while representing Kaneland at large IHSA competitions. Kaneland was able to finish 14th overall in the team ranking solely from Hayes’ two individual victories.
While Novelline was unable to secure a victory in the 100 free, she was able to defend her 100 backstroke title from two years ago. Novelline won the race on Saturday in 53.46 seconds, splitting 25.52/27.94 and using her high stroke rate and underwater dolphin kicks to power through the field.
Novelline earned two more state titles on Saturday as a member of New Trier’s relays. In the first event of the session, Novelline blasted a 24.44 leadoff backstroke split on their 200 medley relay which ended up shattering the IHSA record (1:39.65) and winning by almost four seconds. No previous girls medley relay in Illinois HS history had ever been under 1:40.
Novelline also helped New Trier come from behind in the 400 free relay, as prior to her entering the water, the Trevians were sitting in the fourth position. She split 48.95 on the anchor leg to power past St. Ignatius, St. Charles North, and Barrington, who had a two-second lead on New Trier at the 300 mark.
Novelline, who will swim at Virginia next fall, ends her Illinois HS swimming career as one of the most decorated female athletes in state history, amassing 12 state medals and 5 titles in both individual and relay performances. In addition, she helped lead New Trier to their first team state championship since 2013, which was their 14th overall, the most of any school in Illinois HS history.
Team Results – 2021 Illinois HS (IHSA) Girls State Championships
| Team Rankings: | Points Scored: |
| 1. Winnekta (New Trier) | 182 |
| 2. Barrington | 100 |
| 2. Hinsdale (Central) | 100 |
| 4. Oswego (East) [Coop] | 98 |
| 5. St. Charles (North) | 97 |
You might have mentioned that the Barrington High Scholl team tied for 2nd with only 4 swimmers- as compared to at least 11 for New Trier.
You are making the point for scoring 16 (or 18 in this 9 lane pool as some have suggested). More individuals place/score, and TEAMs get rewarded too! I plotted it out- 11 more schools would’ve been represented in finals if 16 in each event advanced to Saturday.
Not sure how you consider 3 excellent swimmers, with a fourth good one to make 2 relays, a TEAM?
Dumb response
Technically speaking:
1. There never was a 3-sided seating rule for IHSA. Nobody else could seat as many as Evanston & New Trier. There have been other host sites in the past 50 years (Hinsdale Central & South, Downers Grove South & New Trier’s other campus), but in smaller venues.
2. Kaneland (and other schools) can NOT score “TEAM” points since they don’t have a team, but any athlete (relays too) can compete in the state series if their school enters them.
Great reporting otherwise. Did miss out on the storyline of crazy TEAM scramble for trophies- 5 TEAMs within 5 points after New Trier (15th title). Hopefully the meet will return to the size (smallest number of… Read more »
I’m glad the meet was at a much better venue. I get the argument of the incredible atmosfeer those pools can provide but, as an athlete, I much rather swim in a performing pool (hence why so many records were broken)
I also believe that this meet is for teams not individuals. If your school does not have a team, the school should provide the best accommodations (in this case, renting an adiacent pool). If no accommodations is found, then the individual athlete can swim but not score nor get awarded – exhibition only.
Woah, Do you have a grasp of the history of IHSA regarding individuals entries in so many sports. essentially since its founding. Essential to allow individuals, who follow the quallifying meet or tournament rules. Do you see how skewed the score sheet is with both individuals and “Teams” all up state suburban, down to about the tie for 12th with Kaneland. That concept of individuals has produced olympians, medalists, some great people. Be proud that you get to compete against them.
Before anyone asks, Leah has alopecia.
Well nobody did and I don’t think it’s a big deal tbh
Great reporting, Matthew, on the finals and prelims. Illinois lost out on considerable HS swim visibility, but the change to a new site is a big winner. Great to get a feel for the clash in the finals 100Fr
There’s also Kaelyn Gridley who got 3rd in the 50 free but also demolished the state record in the 100 breast and broke a minute in prelims and became one of the very few to technically go 4 for 4 in an event for four seasons.
Yeah… they mentioned her
Nice job of reporting, Matthew. Interesting result in 100Fr