PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — They have a lot to shout about in the Metamora girls swim program.
The Redbirds are sectional champs and two of their relays broke 11-year-old records that featured one of the program’s greatest swimmers.
The 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays teams set pool records at the Pekin sectional on Saturday helping Redbirds win the meet. The quartet of Quincy Points, Addison Robison, Ava Peplowski and Ella Peplowski were the swimmers on both relays.
The Peplowski sisters helped break the records set by the 2014 Metamora relay teams that featured their older sister Noelle, who went on to a stellar career at Indiana University. Noelle and Anna Peplowski, a 2024 U.S. silver medalist on the 200 free relay team, were in attendance to see the record-breaking swims.
Ava Peplowski/Metamora junior: “It was such a good experience knowing (Noelle) was in the same position as us. She got to experience a record breaker,” said Metamora junior Ava Peplowski, the butterfly swimmer on the medley relay. “And then two Peplowski’s coming in to beat her record. It is so fun.”
In Washington, the Panther soccer team was saluted after its second-place finish at the state tournament. The players enjoyed a chilly fire truck ride through town and a celebration back at the high school.
The Panthers’ runner-up trophy is the first state trophy in the 46-year history of the soccer program.
“What they’ve accomplished is, for our community, for our school, a lot of firsts we had this year,” said Washington head coach Chad Clift. “They’ve just done so much to make my life happier this year. And I know I would give anything to have all these kids back another year.”
At Notre Dame, Mike Breitbach is in his second week as head coach of the girls program. The former assistant coach took over after Layne Langholf stepped aside for family reasons.
The Irish were class 2A state champs in 2024 and state runner-up in 2025. Breitbach was an assistant the past five years under Langholf.
“Every team is different from year to year. So from the state championship team to last year’s runner-up, we were a different team. And from last year to this year, we were a different team,” said Breitbach.
PND brings back starters Emy Wardle, Lexi Baer and Abigail Chaddock from last year’s team. All three played in the state tournament the past two years.
“I think you have to change things up a little bit. I always have the highest expectations. What we have had the past couple of years, I’m expecting the same thing,” Breitbach said. “I expect the same level of commitment, the same passion, the same commitment to what we are doing.”
The Irish open the season on Tuesday in a season opening tournament at Pontiac.
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