Rosary sophomore girls swimmer Erin Hart huddled with Beads coach Bill Schalz before competing for Saturday’s 100-yard freestyle consolation championship.

After the race, Hart still was absorbing everything that converges on the IHSA state finals when St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney patted her on the shoulder and said, “Solid swim.”

The Evanston pool deck wasn’t a particularly hostile place for Hart in her second state appearance. The St. Charles resident had backing not only from the Beads, but her counterparts at St. Charles East and North, who double as club teammates in the high school offseason.