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The news site of Glenbrook South High School.

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The news site of Glenbrook South High School.

The Oracle

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South athletes succeed in summer sports

South athletes succeed in summer sports

Junior Olivia Smoliga: Swimming

After a jam-packed summer, junior Olivia Smoliga is ready to take her experiences from the past few months and translate it to more success in the pool.

Smoliga represented the Glenview Titan Aquatic Club at Stanford University for the Long Course Nationals, which is a competition in an Olympic size pool, open to any age group and swimmer in America.

“[The Long Course Nationals is a] big step before worlds and the Olympic Trials,” Smoliga said. “I swam the 100-meter backstroke, the 50 and 100-meter freestyle, and then the 200-meter backstroke.”

Smoliga qualified for one of the three final heats in the 100-meter backstroke.

“I was disappointed that I didn’t make it back to the A final,” Smoliga said. “But I got first in my final heat and overall that put me around sixth.”

Smoliga then sported the red, white and blue as she swam for the USA Junior National Team in Peru.  In order to qualify, Smoliga had to place in the top two scores from her backstroke in the 18-and-under division.  Her dream became reality, as she was able to race at a time to send her to Peru with the team.

“I had no idea that I would even come close to it,” Smoliga said. “I was like, ‘Yeah right this is never going to happen.’”

According to Smoliga, swimming has opened up many opportunities she never thought would be possible. School is a top priority, and with her athletic accomplishments, she hopes to gain interest from well-known academic schools.

“I try to be the best student I can [be], but I hope swimming can open some doors for me to go to my dream colleges,” Smoliga said.

In the future, Smoliga has high hopes for the Olympic Trials and wants to compete well there.

“I’m going to have to work hard to do it, I can’t really say it any other way,” Smoliga said.

Senior Victor Levi: Basketball

Junior Victor Levi and his Chicago-based basketball team traveled to Israel to play in the 2011 Maccabi Games. Levi faced teams from around the globe, including Israel, Canada, South Africa and a few European countries.  All the teams faced off in a large tournament held in Israel.

Maccabi is a program that seeks to enrich the lives of Jewish athletes.

Levi not only had the opportunity to play this year in Israel, but also may have some more chances down the road to play in the Maccabi Games.

“There were a couple coaches for the USA Maccabi team, which is one basketball team with kids from all over the US, and I got recruited by them,” Levi said.

With the national team, Levi will be going to Brazil to play in a tournament during spring break.

For Levi, the trip to Israel was much more than playing basketball. It was a chance for him to enjoy the history and culture the country has to offer.

“We went to tour the Western Wall, the Dead Sea and Masada,” Levi said. “It was a lot of fun, and we got so close as a team going around on the long bus rides.”

Levi also participated in Amateur Athletic Anion (AAU) basketball, and with all of the experiences under his belt, he expects to help out the Titans this upcoming season. From all of the practices and games, Levi polished many aspects in his skill set.

“Over the summer I played a lot more as a guard, and last year at South I played as a big man,” Levi said. “It helps my versatility, and playing with new guys gets me prepared for the newcomers on this year’s team.”

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