Hersey, Palatine all tied up
Palatine's boys swimming and diving team used an exceptionally strong finish over the final few events to come away with a 93-93 tie with Hersey in Thursday's Mid-Suburban League dual meet at Prospect.
Hersey had established a big lead by excelling through the middle events of the meet, as junior Michael Petro won both the 200 IM (1:55.89) and the 100 fly (51.45).
The Huskies also got a 1-2 finish in the 50 free from Jack Blumenfeld and Ethan Huene, along with a victory in diving from Nicholas Nocita.
And Hersey took a big advantage in the 200 free relay, outscoring Palatine 12-2 in that event as the Huskies placed 1-2 in the race.
But in the final three races, momentum headed back firmly in Palatine's direction.
Pirates junior Sean O'Brien, who'd earlier won the 100 free, took top honors in the 100 back (59.33).
In the 100 breaststroke, senior Alex Bartosik (1:02.57) led a 1-2-3 Palatine sweep.
And in the meet-ending 400 free relay, Palatine placed first and third to get the points needed to forge the tie. Jacob Klein, O'Brien, Stefan Filip and Bartosik won in 3:28.45.
Klein earlier won the 200 free (1:53.47) and the 500 free (5:01.91).
Palatine started the meet with a victory in the 200 medley relay, as O'Brien, Bartosik, Christian Snyder and Klein won in 1:47.10.
• Hersey will be changing the name of the annual invitational it hosts, to be held for the first time in its new home waters at Prospect on Jan. 21, to the Don Andersen Classic.
Andersen has been a force in District 214 aquatics, having coached varsity for both Arlington and Hersey, as well as frosh-soph at Prospect.
Current Hersey coach Dick Mortensen is trying to spread the word so that any swimmers or divers coached by Andersen can attend.
The team is planning a meet-and-greet session in the stands including coffee and donuts from roughly 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. - following the meet's diving session, and during the swimming warm-ups.
At 11:45 p.m., an official ceremony to honor Andersen by renaming the meet will be held.