To many people, 5:30 p.m. means “dinnertime,” but on Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m. marked the start of the most important meet of the season to the girls varsity swim team: Sectional prelims at Crown Point High School.

In each preliminary individual event, the top 16 swimmers from all competing schools advance to Saturday’s finals meet wherein at least two (of the possible three) of the girls will be swimming in each event.

“We had a number of best times. Girls who were close earned a spot in the finals heat. They earned everything they got, and that puts us in a good position for Saturday and to qualify for State,” Todd Smolinski, girls head coach, said.

Between Victoria Springman (10) taking first in the 100-yard freestyle with a 53.57 and Kaitlyn Krachenfels (11) dropping about 20 seconds in the 500-yard freestyle, the girls’ excitement for Saturday increased.

“Everyone is super pumped from [prelims], so the momentum will pick up more [today], and we’ll get in the zone for Saturday,” Hailey Garlich (11) said.

At 1 p.m. on Saturday at Crown Point High School, the following girls will be swimming at finals: Kaitlin Sheets (11), Hailey Garlich (11) and Rebecca Albright (12) in the 200-yard freestyle, Tracilyn Muszalski (12) and Jordan Rosenwinkel (11) in the 200-yard Individual Medley, Holly Spears (12), Victoria Springman (10), and Jessica Lopez (10) in the 50-yard freestyle, Marina Vasquez (10), Rebecca Albright (12) and Stephanie Stefano (11) in the 100-yard butterfly, Victoria Springman (10), Holly Spears (12) and Jessica Lopez (10) in the 100-yard freestyle, Tracilyn Muszalski (12), Kaitlyn Krachenfels (11) and Brianna Shoemaker (12) in the 500-yard freestyle, Marina Vasquez (10), Kaitlyn Krachenfels (11) and Kaitlin Sheets (11) in the 100-yard backstroke, along with each of the three relay events.