AT-WB Girls Swimming Team wins Conference title

On Nov. 1 and 2, the AT-WB Girls Swimming Team competed in the West Suburban Gold Conference competition at Downers Grove South High School, and the team won the Conference title at each level (freshmen/sophomore, junior varsity and varsity).

The team shared the title with Hinsdale South High School last year, and this is the first time the AT-WB team has been named Conference champions outright. In the relays, freshmen through senior students at Addison Trail and Willowbrook contributed to the team’s success. And that accomplishment is even more impressive given the obstacles the team faces.

“We don’t have a pool at Addison Trail or Willowbrook, which presents an interesting challenge,” said Paul Anderson, AT-WB Girls Swimming Head Coach. “The girls travel to Club Fitness in Addison every day just to get to a pool to practice, so to win Conference shows their dedication.”

Anderson added the team members don’t have access to a diving board, so they start each competition at a disadvantage because they are unable to gain points from competing in diving.

After the success at Conference, Anderson said, the team is focused on performing well at Sectionals (which will take place Nov. 16 at Downers Grove North High School) and qualifying as many girls as possible to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Girls Swimming State competition (which will take place Nov. 22 and 23 at New Trier Township High School).

“Winning Conference shows this team has a bright future,” said Tara Murphy, AT-WB Girls Swimming Coach. “It proved to the girls all their hard work was worth it, and it shows we’re continuing to grow.”