PREP BOYS SWIMMING: Danville's Faulkner finishes season at state meet

Feb. 24—WESTMONT — Danville's Alexander Faulkner has made the most of his final races.

The senior took first place in the 100-yard freestyle (47.89) in an IHSA sectional last week to qualify for this weekend's state meet at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

And then he participated in the state prelims, where he finished the season with a time of 48.20, falling short of trying to break the school record in the event.

"There was a lot of competition out there," Faulkner said. "I was in the first heat and I was trying to get close to the record, but I did not do that. I tried putting up the best performance I had."

Faulkner was the first Viking in 10 years to make it to the state meet.

"It's pretty cool that I was the first one recently to do that," Faulkner said. "I have to thank my coach (Andy Hosch) because we put in a lot of work for me to go to state. There were a lot of challenges like have a small team and I was the only one that made it here."

When Faulkner made state, it was the culmination of work that he and Hosch had put together.

"I really had to push it to make it to state," Faulkner said. "I made it by half a second and I was in the first heat. I had a lot of friends there and they gave me the motivation to excel."

"The first year of my coaching was his freshman year and he's been building up to the final event," Hosch said. "He finally did it in his final event in his final year, so it is exciting to get there and I know he is excited."

Faulkner's career is over, but Hosch said that he did so much for the Vikings.

"It is pretty cool and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him and he saw some great action here," Hosch said "I couldn't be more proud of him and how hard he worked and in being a great leader for the team in these four years, and he was instrumental to keep the team together."

"It was a good season overall and a good four years overall and it was an honor to swim on this team," Faulkner said.

PREP GIRLS WRESTLING

Owens finishes up at state

BLOOMINGTON — Oakwood/Salt Fork's Taylor Owens took part in the IHSA State Girls Wrestling meet on Friday.

Owens started the day with a win, pinning Geneseo's Lauren Piquard in 2 minutes, 57 seconds, but lost to Schaumburg's Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevi by pin in 5:02.

Owens went to the consolation round and fell short to Ignatius' GG Garduno by pin at 1:57.

The sophomore ends the season with a 5-4 record.