Hersey grabs second place in own invitational

at Hersey: The Huskies produced their top finish since 1990 in the boys swimming invitational they hosted at Olympic Pool in Arlington Heights on Saturday, scoring 369.5 points to place just behind winner Deerfield (377).

Michael Petro turned in victories in the 200-yard IM (1:58.42) and 100 fly (54.77) to lead the way for Hersey.

Paul Kim tied with Wheeling's Nate Reiff for top honors in the 50 free (23.49), and Kim also took fourth in the 100 free.

The Huskies produced the winning medley relay of Kristiyan Donov, Kim, Petro and David Kuntz.

Reiff won the 100 breaststroke (1:05.39), and Wheeling's Jake Noel claimed victory in the 100 back (55.33). The Wildcats had another winner as Kyle Noel won the 200 free in 1:52.83, and the Noel brothers plus Reiff and Justin Loquercio won the 400 free relay in 3:25.94 as Wheeling finished third in the team race at 302 points.

Conant got runner-up finishes from Tim Song in the 100 breast (1:06.52) and from Jacob Lawson in the 100 free (51.71).

Jacobs/Hampshire got its top finish from Francis Ogaban, second in the 100 back in 55.55.

at Downers Grove North: Rolling Meadows senior Jake Barson made the most of his matchup with another of the state's top breaststrokers, finishing second to Metea Valley's Matt Salerno, last year's state runner-up in the event.

Salerno won in 58.15, with Barson less than a second behind at 59.14.

"Today was a huge confidence-builder for Jake," said Rolling Meadows coach Monika Chiappetta.

It was also a big day collectively for the Mustangs, who improved their team score by 124 points over the previous year's effort. The other highlights for Meadows included a fourth-place 200 medley relay, a second-place finish from Josh Dellorto in the 200 free (1:49.49) and a second-place 200 freestyle relay (1:31.29).

Prospect also competed and got a second-place finish from senior Sam Gabriel in the 100 backstroke (54.27).

at Hinsdale Central: New Trier rolled to the team championship with 389.5 points and Naperville Central was second in a strong 10-team field.

Palatine, paced by a second-place finish from Alex Bartosik in the 200-yard IM (2:02.27), placed sixth in the team race. Dylan Wilken placed fifth in diving, and Marcus Carter-Buckman was sixth in the 100 back (56.17) for the Pirates.

Notable event winners included Whitney Young's Mossimo Chavez in the 50 free (21.28) and DeKalb's Doug Hein in a meet-record 51.15 in the 100 back.

Chavez also set a meet record in the 100 free in 47.27, breaking the mark held by Palatine's Kyle Sorenson and New Trier's Jack Mangan.

Palatine's Oleksiy Korniychuk (1:04.97) and Bartosik (1:05.43) placed 7-8 in the 100 breaststroke.