Feel-good debut as Fremd sparkles in new facility

The Fremd boys swim team is one of the more successful programs in the area, and yet, the Vikings have had a long year.

Odd-hour practices at Harper College and Palatine High School while their new pool was being built. "Home" meets at a different school's pool, and oh don't forget, going up against some of the best competition in the state on a weekly basis.

But the Vikings are finally home.

Fremd celebrated the opening of its new pool Friday with a breezy 111-70 victory over Mid-Suburban League West Division foe Schaumburg, to improve to 3-0-1 in West duals and 5-0-1 overall.

The Vikings went 1-2 in 7 events and 1-2-3 in the 200-yard medley relay and 200 individual medley to prevail. Nick Seroni led the way by winning the 50 freestyle (22.77) and 500 freestyle (4:55.23), while six other teammates won individual events.

But in a way, those accomplishments took a back seat to the new facility, which is pretty impressive. Swashes of green and yellow tiles adorn the walls, and green, yellow and white banners "float" in the rafters like waves. A substantial bleacher section overlooks the north-to-south configured, 10-lane pool.

The meet itself came off without a hitch - though the main scoreboard hasn't been installed yet because it's stuck in customs. But Fremd coach Kristin Newby could live with that, for now, anyway.

"It is a very important, sentimental thing, to actually be back and hosting our own meets in our own pool," Newby said. "We've been waiting for this.

"We went 11 months without having a home," she said. "It's hard. The practice times were really rough and the kids were a little lost. When you're hosting a home meet and you're not at your home pool, it is really hard to have that over the course of a year while your pool is getting done. So to be back and have a great night tonight is really what we needed."

Schaumburg coach Paul Desruisseaux's charges accounted well for themselves Friday, with senior Evan Wahlen taking second in the 200 freestyle at 1:56.48, edged by Fremd's Nick Nevins (1:55.51). Wahlen also took third in the 500 freestyle (5:11.91), and anchored the 400 freestyle relay, which won in 3:30.91.

How do you prepare for a meet in a new pool that's not your own? Desruisseaux, a 1995 Fremd grad and swimmer, said it wasn't any big deal.

"It's pretty easy - pools are pools, water's water," said Desruisseaux, whose team fell to 2-7-1 overall and 0-3-1 in MSL West duals. "You've got to work the turns and the blocks. They have the new blocks with the slant backs, like a track start, so when we got here we spent a little extra time on that."

Fremd sophomore Zach Mega won diving by amassing a score 246.40 points, just edging teammate Chase Jauch, with 241.90. He said it was nice to be home.

"The atmosphere was definitely very hyped up for this meet, just because of the new pool," Mega said. "It was relaxing, though, because we had gotten to practice the past three weeks. I think if we had come in new, it would have been nerve-wracking."

Fremd has one more true home meet this season - next Friday against crosstown rival Palatine. It will be senior night for both squads, and they're even joining forces to collect as many unopened cereal boxes as possible for the Palatine food pantry.

Palatine d. Conant: The visiting Pirates improved to 3-1 against Mid-Suburban West foes by topping the Cougars 107-78.

Senior Jordan Kalina and junior Alex Bartosik were double winners for Palatine. Kalina won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.72 and the 500 free in 5:11.51, while Bartosik was tops in the 100 free (50.44) and 100 back (58.26).

Conant's Justin Lim had the winning effort in the 100 fly (56.57) and teammate Tim Song won the 100 breaststroke (1:05.23).

Cougars junior Cole Aykroid produced another strong diving performance, winning with 274.05. That's not far from his season-best score of 285.2.

Rolling Meadows d. Buffalo Grove: The visiting Mustangs won both the first and last relays while claiming a 107-78 victory as they improved to 3-1 in MSL East meets.

Jake Pors, Josh Dellorto and Filip Pancerz came up with two wins apiece in individual races, and they all had legs on the winning relays.

Buffalo Grove had winners in the 100 breast (Ryan Lawson, 1:10.17), 50 free (Mark Poirier, 23.38) and diving (Jack Delattre, 235.00).