First Naperville Central wins relays, then invite
Naperville Central's Connor Walsh loves to swim in the relay races because that's where the points are.
Walsh was on all three relay teams as the Redhawks won the free relays, finished second in the 200-yard medley and won Saturday's Trojan Invite at Downers Grove North.
“It's really exciting to fight it out for the relays because there are big points at stake,” said Walsh, who anchored both the medley and 200 free races and swam the third leg of the 400 freestyle relay that sewed up the team victory. “Strong relays are important at the end of the year. And I'll be swimming all three on the sectional team.”
“Connor is fearless,” said Naperville Central coach Mike Adams. “He wants it and he loves to get up and race.”
Walsh, like several other Redhawks' key operatives, is just getting over a battle with the flu that limited his work during and after the holidays.
“We've had some tough practices this week so I've been hurting,” Walsh said. “I'm still not at 100 percent. As a team, we had a really good day.”
Scott Piper, who won both the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke, sees teammate Walsh as the ideal relay swimmer.
“His takeoff is really great in the relays,” Piper said. “And that can drop you a couple of tenths of a second and that's important. If you give him the lead he'll keep it, and if he needs to get up and get the lead he will. He does whatever's needed.”
Christian May, Liam Coakley and Kyle Jackson preceded anchorman Walsh on the victorious 200 free relay that finished in 1:29.65, while May, Phillip Sajaev and Eric Gerlach joined Walsh on the 400 free relay team that put up a time of 3:17.80, almost three seconds ahead of second-place Lyons Township.
In winning the meet the Redhawks scored 395 ponts to 366 for second-place Lyons Township. Metea Valley was third with 353.
The Redhawks' other win was provided by junior Jimmy Fox in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:53.19 ahead of Alex Dillmann of Metea Valley.
Fox is emerging as one of the better distances swimmers in the state.
“My times are a lot faster this year and I'm hoping to drop a lot more time when I'm tapered,” Fox said.
Fox qualified for state last year but did not score.
“We're working on getting me to score at state,” Fox said. “Last year's qualification surprised me, but it made me believe in myself more. This year I'm more confident and I'm eager to see what I can do.”
Piper, who finished seventh in the IM and sixth in the backstroke at state last year, won those two events Saturday.
“I was also sick over winter break and this was the first meet where I was back at full-strength,” Piper said. “I love this meet. I like the pool and the atmosphere and there's great competition. It's exciting to come here and for our team to get first place.”
Metea Valley's Matt Salerno won both the 50 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke, and the Mustangs' Dillmann was the champion in the 100 butterfly.
Connor Mitsch, Jordan O'Brien, Dillmann and Salerno made up the foursome that finished ahead of the Redhawks for the win in the 200 medley.
Downers Grove South's Sam Dumford won the 100 freestyle, Downers Grove North Elisha Lukas won the diving competition, while Lyons Township's Nick Bonneville was first in the 200 free.