Showing improved depth, Wheeling edges out Rolling Meadows

Everybody knows about Wheeling's seniors, and for good reason.

Nate Reiff, Justin Loquercio and Kyle and Jake Noel have been making waves together in Mid-Suburban League boys swimming for a few years now, and they continued to do so in a 97.5-85.5 over visiting Rolling Meadows on Friday night.

What's been a game-changer for the Wildcats this year is the addition of some younger swimmers ready for varsity action.

Nick Konstantos won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:06.37, and Jacob Gorenyuk stepped up for third- and fourth-place finishes (in the 100 fly and 200 IM, respectively).

And the usual suspects did their thing for Wheeling: Reiff won the 200 free (1:47.08) and 100 fly (53.34). Kyle Noel was tops in the 50 free (22.96) and 100 free (50.23), and Jake Noel won the 200 IM (2:04.63) and 100 back (54.83).

Loquercio had legs on two winning relays and also earned top-three finishes in the 200 free and 100 free.

"Finishing 1-2 in the 100 free was a key for us," said Wheeling coach Tod Schwager. "Depth is still a challenge for us in certain spots, so that gave us a big boost."

Ricky Reeve was another, coming up with a victory in the 500 free for Wheeling (5:13.46). That finish was key because Meadows went 2-3-4 in that event with Jon Windhorst, Jake Mallek and Bobby Phillips.

Mallek's effort in the 500 (5:34.61) was a lifetime best by some 11 seconds and was typical of Rolling Meadows' performance on this night. Another bright spot was Ian Haider's lifetime best in the 100 breast (1:13.64, third place).

"My second and third swimmers really stepped up and were able to get points in those spots, which was great to see," said Rolling Meadows coach Monika Chiappetta.

The outcome helps keeps Wheeling's hope alive for a share of the MSL East championship, and technically, Rolling Meadows still has a chance as well. In two weeks, the 2-1 Mustangs will compete against East leader Prospect (3-0). Wheeling (2-1) lost a close meet against Prospect earlier this season but would gain a share of the title if Meadows defeats Prospect.

Reiff is eager to see how things shake out down the stretch of his final swimming season at Wheeling.

"I guess I'm not completely satisified with my times right now - but what swimmer is, right?" Reiff said. "But from a team standpoint, it's been great. We've had a bunch of guys stepping up, and that's been really fun to see."

- Aaron Gabriel

Schaumburg, Conant tie: The visiting Saxons got a first-and-third finish in the 400-yard free relay to pull out a tie.

Sam Chen, Matt Soltau, Matt Kelland and Tyler Gustafson won in 3:35.17, and Brandon Jaimes, Joseph Kula, Tyler Reynolds and Evan Wahlen earned the key third-place points for Schaumburg.

Conant's Cole Aykroid won diving with a superlative score of 285.90, and the Cougars also got individual wins from Justin Lim (50 free, 23.58, and 100 fly, 58.29) and Tim Song (100 breast, 1:04.87).

Schaumburg's winners included Kelland in the 200 free (1:56.40), Reynolds in the 200 IM (2:15.01) and Gustafson in the 100 free (52.05) and 100 back (1:03.62).

Prospect d. Buffalo Grove: The Knights stayed perfect in MSL East duals with a 116-70 triumph against the host Bison.

Prospect got a 1-2-3 finish in the 200 free from Alex Morikado, Jacob Kosinski and Reidar Erbe and followed up with the same placement from Jack Gabriel, Alex Jarosz and Ryan Lakner in the 200 IM to take command.

Buffalo Grove got wins from Jake Delattre in diving (253.05), Mark Poirier in the 100 fly, Daniel Verdico in the 500 free and Ryan Lawson in the 100 breast.

Palatine d. Hoffman Estates: Seniors Adam Smith and Oleksiy Korniychuk both won twice and junior Alex Bartosik did likewise to help the Pirates come away with a 127-56 victory.

Smith was tops in the 200 and 400 freestyles, Korniychuk won the 50 and 100 freestyles and Bartosik claimed the 100 fly and 100 breaststroke.

Hersey d. Elk Grove: Joshua Irvine and Kris Donov each won a pair of races as the visiting Huskies won 98-35.

Hersey won the medley and 400 free relays, while Elk Grove got a victory in the 200 free relay with Mike Miceli, Sean Frintner, Adam Doruff and Michael Banasik.