Piekarski, Barson, Williams share MSL swimming honors

The Mid-Suburban League's swimmers of the year have been announced - and two of them will have another crack at the same award next year.

Rolling Meadows junior Jake Barson and Elk Grove junior Colin Williams were named as co-representatives for the Mid-Suburban East, while Barrington senior Sebastian Piekarski was chosen in the Mid-Suburban West.

Piekarski set the tone for a Barrington team that repeated as conference champions. He won the 50- and 100-yard freestyles at the Mid-Suburban League meet, then repeated wins in those events and added victories on two Broncos relays at the Stevenson sectional while qualifying for the state championships in all his events.

Barson set school records in three inidividual events this season, breaking marks that were more than 30 years old. He won the 100 breaststroke at the MSL meet, qualified for the state meet in the same race and earned all-state honors by finishing 11th at Evanston. That makes him the first state meet point-scorer for Rolling Meadows since 1991.

Williams managed to go unbeaten against his MSL East foes in dual meets this season. He set Elk Grove records in three individual events.

After helping the Grenadiers to a fifth-place finish at the MSL meet by winning the 100 fly and providing three key relay legs, Williams went on to claim victories in both the 100 fly and the 200 free at the Glenbrook North sectional, qualifying for the state meet in both.

Williams placed 11th at state in the 100 fly to secure all-state honors and become the first state meet point-scorer for Elk Grove in a swimming event since 1978.