Rolling Meadows powers up against Prospect
Rolling Meadows thrived Friday in the charged-up atmosphere of the Wheeling's pool.
As a result, the Mustangs are on track to accomplish something that no Meadows boys swim team has done before.
Before a standing-room-only crowd, the Mustangs defeated host Prospect 107.5-78.5 to improve to 4-0 in the Mid-Suburban East and move one step closer to an East title.
If Meadows can defeat Hersey in their final East Division meet of the season, they'll win the division for the first time ever, a drought that stretches through 45 years of swimming.
“What a big win,” said Meadows senior Jake Barson, who was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.58) and 200 IM (2:03.36).
Barson led Meadows to only its second dual-meet victory over Prospect, which calls the Wheeling pool home, in 20 years and the first since 2007.
“This is the first time in school history that we've been this close to an MSL title,” said Barson. “I was more nervous tonight than when I competed at the state meet.”
Prospect's Sam Gabriel, who won the 50 free and the 100 backstroke, said if that his defending-champion team had to lose to anyone, he was glad it was Meadows.
“They're fast,” said Gabriel of his rivals. “I'm happy for them because I've got a lot of friends on that team.”
Prospect coach Alfonso Lopez said that he thought his Knights performed extremely well despite the loss.
“Overall, our times were solid,” said Lopez. “The problem is to beat this team (Meadows) you've pretty much got to swim out of your mind.”
Meadows, behind David Myers, Jake Pors, Filip Pancerz and Josh Dellorto, won the 400-yard free relay, and the Mustangs also took the 200 free relay with Kuba Debkowski, Tony Sarussi, Barson and Dellorto.
Pors, Pancerz, Barson and Debkowski won the 200 medley relay; Dellorto triumphed in the 200 free in 1:49.15.
Prospect's Anthony Liva won diving, while Knights senior Michael Morikado (55.06) took the 100 fly.
Debkowski (50.50) won in the 100-yard free, while the biggest cheers of the night from Meadows came during the performance of Jon Windhorst in the 500 free.
After Dellorto finished first in the 500 and Pors second, Windhorst made the most of his opportunity to take third and give the Mustangs a sweep in the event.
“I could barely hear myself think,” said Windhorst of the final lap and the cacophony of noise coming from his teammates who urged him on as he swam in lane 6.
“I came out looking at this meet to show what I can do in the pool, and I think I proved it tonight.”
Rolling Meadows coach Monika Chiappetta almost couldn't put into words how proud she was of her squad.
“I knew we were up against a great team in Prospect,” said Chiappetta. “The kids were a little nervous, and I knew that Prospect had been working just as hard as we had been working all season. It's a huge victory for our guys.”
“This is incredible,” added Mustangs sophomore Kamil Halaj. “This meet was full of ups and downs but the whole way, I felt that we had the lead and were going to take it.”