News Summary

Chatham Glenwood’s senior swimmers, Jackson Vinzant and Andrew Bellemare, excelled at the sectional meets, qualifying for the Illinois High School Association State Finals. Vinzant achieved a remarkable time in the 200-yard freestyle, while Bellemare won both the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Despite their personal successes, the team faced challenges in the relay events. The local community is thrilled about their achievements and looks forward to the state finals in Westmont.

Chatham Glenwood Swimmers Make Waves at Sectional Meets

The excitement was palpable in Chatham this past weekend as two talented senior swimmers, **Jackson Vinzant** of Chatham Glenwood and **Andrew Bellemare** from Niantic Sangamon Valley, put on a show during the sectional meets. They did not just showcase their skills, they also secured spots at the upcoming **Illinois High School Association State Finals**! Talk about a thrilling moment for both swimmers and their fans!

Jackson Vinzant Sets the Stage

Let’s start with Vinzant, who has completely turned his swimming career around this season. After finishing in fifth place at last year’s sectional meet with a time of 1:58.28, he came back this year with a vengeance. At the **Edwardsville Sectional**, Vinzant made quite a splash by tying for **first place** in the **200-yard freestyle**, clocking in at **1:49.59** alongside Edwardsville freshman **Jackson Suhre**. This achievement qualifies both of these swimmers for state finals, which will take place in **Westmont** on Friday and Saturday.

Notably, this is Vinzant’s first appearance at the state meet, and it’s safe to say he’s eager to make his mark. Interestingly, Vinzant didn’t even compete in high school swimming last season, showing that hard work and determination do pay off!

Andrew Bellemare Shines Bright

Meanwhile, Andrew Bellemare had an exceptional day at the **Urbana Sectional**, winning not just one, but **two events**! He took home first place in both the **200 freestyle** with a time of **1:45.35** and the **500 freestyle**, which he finished in **4:51.55**. This impressive talent ensures Bellemare will be another athlete to watch at the upcoming state finals.

Team Challenges and Competitive Spirit

While individual performances stole the spotlight, the team events told a different story for Chatham Glenwood. The team fought valiantly but missed advancing to state in their relay events. They finished second in both the **200 freestyle relay** (1:30.59) and the **400 freestyle relay** (3:21.89), but sadly those times did not meet the qualifying standards.

O’Fallon took the win in the 200 freestyle relay with an impressive time of **1:29.19**, while Edwardsville clinched victory in the 400 freestyle relay, finishing at **3:19.37**. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Glenwood, but their individual efforts still stand out.

Other Notable Performers

Glenwood also had some notable individual performances, with **Abdu Zeino** finishing fifth in the **50 freestyle** (22.45) and **Kareem Zeino** coming in eighth (22.72), despite both swimmers missing out on the qualifying time of **21.73**. Kareem did manage to place third in the **100 breaststroke** (1:02.78) but fell short of the state qualifying time of **59.18**.

Abdu also endured a tough race, finishing seventh in the **100 freestyle** with a time of **51.02**, where the qualifying benchmark was set at **47.53**.

Overall Standings and Competition

In terms of team standings, Edwardsville dominated the sectional with **247.5 points**, followed closely by O’Fallon with **233 points** and Glenwood finishing third with **182.5 points**. Unfortunately, Springfield High and Jacksonville did not qualify any individual swimmers or relays for the state.

Highlights from these schools included Springfield junior **Riley Herr**, who finished third in the **200 IM** (2:06.63) and fifth in the **100 breaststroke** (1:03.93). In terms of diving, **Andrew Kotner** from Springfield placed second in the **1-meter diving competition** with a score of **389.30** but did not qualify for state finals.

As the state finals approach, the excitement is building for these young athletes. With such amazing talent and determination on display, **Chatham Glenwood’s Jackson Vinzant and Andrew Bellemare** are sure to make their mark in **Westmont**. Their hard work has paid off, and the community couldn’t be prouder!

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