Neuqua Valley too good in too many races
Neuqua Valley's strategy going into Saturday's West Chicago Wildcat Relays Invitational was clear, and it worked out fine.
Neuqua swimming coach Chad Allen made out a balanced lineup that would give Neuqua a reasonable chance of finishing in the top two in every event.
The team's depth was apparent as Neuqua repeated as champion of the relay meet, which it has won 13 of the last 16 years.
"We knew Waubonsie Valley had strong swimmers throughout," Allen said. "So our goal was to stay in the top two in everything and possibly win four events."
In winning the meet Neuqua Valley won five events, finished second in five and slipped up and dropped to third in only two races. The Wildcats were first in the 500 freestyle relay, 400 medley relay, the 200 backstroke relay, the 200 breaststroke relay and the frosh-soph 200 freestyle relay.
Neuqua Valley finished the meet with 169 points, with the Warriors, who took first place in three races, close behind with 156. Stagg was next with 132 followed by York, which won the diving competition, finishing fourth with 103.
The host West Chicago/Batavia finished ninth in the 12-team field, but came up with a victory as a foursome featuring three outstanding freshmen beat Neuqua by more than three seconds in the 800 freestyle relay.
Neuqua had six swimmers who were on at least two winning relays.
Brett Whaley, Michael Peters, AJ Quinn, Kyri Chen, John Ruan and Jacob Cunningham were all two-time winners.
"Give our guys a lot of credit," Allen said. "They really competed. And Whaley was fired up and came up really big doing the breaststroke in the 400 medley relay."
"The fly and the backstroke are my two best strokes," said Whaley, a returning state qualifier. "I decided to sprint on those and get us far enough ahead to where I didn't have to worry about the breaststroke."
Whaley believes the team's quality depth will take the Neuqua Valley far this year.
"Last year we had a ton of talent at the top," Whaley said. "This year it's more spread out evenly. By the end of the year, we should be in a position to score more points at state. We're hoping to score in all three relays and finish top six in the medley relay."
Waubonsie Valley's three victories came in quick succession as the Warriors grabbed first place in the frosh-soph 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 200 butterfly relay. Michael Schwers, Bradin Krug and Eric Weng all contributed to two of the Warriors' wins.
"Neuqua Valley earned this victory," said Waubonsie coach Nick Arens. "But our kids have a lot to be proud of. Taggart Lohmann, Jared Simpson, Kai Motoyama, Reilly Devine, Jared Simpson and Bryan Ellig were also outstanding. We have a lot of options when it comes to picking guys for relay teams at the end of the year."
What may have been the biggest surprise of the day was West Chicago/Batavia's win in the 800 freestyle relay.
But it wasn't a surprise to coach Nicole Cleveland, who was confident in the abilities of junior Cooper Hawkins and his freshman teammates Ryan Sego, Garrett Clasen and Tyler Cook.
"These are talented kids," Cleveland said. "They all come from club programs where distance swimming has been stressed. This was their race because they all got to go 200. They did a great job. They got the lead early and just kept it throughout."
York won the diving competition with Neuqua Valley finishing second.