It didn't take long for Tori Larsen to become an elite swimmer.
The York senior, who didn't begin swimming competitively until her freshman year, ended her high school career Saturday by securing a place as one of the best swimmers in school history.
Larsen earned two medals at the state finals in Evanston, finishing third in the 50-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100 free. Combined with her third-place medal in the 50 free from last year's state meet, that makes Larsen just the second girl in York history to win three state medals. She is the first to capture two in the same year.
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Larsen's 50 time of 23.49 was a personal best and would have been good enough to win the state title in either of the previous two years. Glenbrook South sophomore Olivia Smoliga won with a time of 23.13, and Loyola sophomore Evan Swenson was second at 23.46.
"If you would have looked at the times last year, that would have gotten me first, so I can't control what everyone else does," said Larsen, who timed 23.85 in Friday's preliminary round. "I can only control what I do, and I improved my time by a lot."
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She did that in the 100 as well. After taking 12th in Friday's prelims to snag the final spot in the consolation heat, Larsen moved up as far as was possible on Saturday, winning the heat to capture seventh in 51.88, a drop of .43 from the prelims.
Though satisfied with her swims, Larsen seemed unimpressed by her place in school history.
"I don't really look at that type of thing," she said. "There's a lot [of talent] coming up and I know they're probably going to replace me in that regard, and that's awesome."
Though she got a relatively late start in swimming, Larsen comes from a swimming heritage. Her mother, Sheryl, competed for Northern Illinois, and her aunt still holds some school records at Conant. But Larsen, an honor student who hopes to swim in college, possibly at the University of Chicago, said she's most proud of the progress the Dukes made this year.
York sent five individuals to state, the most qualifiers it has had in more than five years. Sophomore Shannon Sullivan was 29th in the 100 free (54.28) and 33rd in the 200 free (1:56.58), while the 200 free relay team of Sullivan, junior Michelle Cernauske, freshman Hannah Nolte and Larsen took 23rd in 1:40.09 and the 400 free relay quartet of Sullivan, sophomore Cara LoPiano, Nolte and Larsen placed 26th in 3:39.39
"We've got a lot of fast freshmen," Larsen said. "Sullivan is a sophomore. She's got two more years and I bet she's going to be up on that podium in no time.
"As a team we were not concerned with winning anything. We just put in our work and see what happens. The level has really gone up and it shows. We're becoming a powerhouse and we're going to be up there with [conference rival] Downers Grove North [which finished fourth] in a few years, hopefully."
To that end, getting their feet wet at state will help the younger Dukes down the road.
"State is an intense meet," Larsen said. "It is an awesome experience. It's something I know they need, especially to see what we're up against. It is something that most girls can't say that they've seen. It makes it that much more motivating."
