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ALTON - Ella Valyo, who swims for the girls team at Alton High School, had good performances in her events at the IHSA Swim Sectional meet on Nov. 8, 2025, at the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center in Edwardsville.
She stepped up unselfishly to swim the butterfly leg of the 200-yard medley relay team when no other swimmer volunteered, and helped the Redbirds to an 11th-place finish at 2:36.20, and also finished 25th in the 100-yard backstroke at 1:20.56.
In an interview conducted during a break in the meet, Valyo felt she swam well and did her best in her races.
"I think I've done pretty well," Valyo simply said. "We did pretty well in our relay."
She's swam for Alton teams for three years, and overall for 12 years, and enjoys many of the benefits of the sport.
"It's a good way to keep in shape," Valyo said, "and I like the people."
Valyo is an Auto Butler Female Athlete of the Month for the Redbirds.
Valyo isn't sure if she'll keep competing in the future, and models herself after some of the Redbird swimmers she's competed with in the past.
"A bunch of the older girls I used to swim with before they graduated that I remember," Valyo said. "Claire Paule and Anna Moehn are two I have modeled myself after."
She does have a simple goal as she competes in swimming in the future.
"I just want to continue to get better." She is also looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead for her as she progresses in swimming.
