Palatine soaks up a victory at home

Palatine's boys swimming and diving team christened its refurbished home waters with a victory on Friday.

The outcome was especially welcome, as the Pirates had dropped previous duals to a murderer's row of Mid-Suburban League opponents to start the year. Against Prospect, Fremd, Barrington and Hersey, Palatine had gone 0-3-1.

But against Schaumburg, the Pirates took a 1-2 finish in the medley relay, got a 1-2-3 sweep in diving and used victories in the meet's final three races to earn a 103-82 win.

Senior captain Alex Bartosik won both the 200 IM (2:00.95) and the 100 fly (56.40) for Palatine and also had legs on two winning relays.

"We knew we hadn't won a dual yet, so we knew that some way, somehow, we gotta get one," said Bartosik. "So we got the guys together before the meet and tried to get fired up for this one, and I think we got there."

A brief ceremony at the beginning of the meet, featuring the pouring of water saved from the old pool into the new tank, also helped set the tone. And the meet ended up providing a blank canvas for a new set of pool records.

In addition to Bartosik's individual swims, the Palatine new-pool marks include the medley relay of Sean O'Brien, Stefan Filip, Bartosik and Jake Klein (1:49.72), Klein in the 200 free (1:52.21) and the 500 free (5:00.36), Sam Adame in the 100 back (1:03.26), O'Brien in the 100 breast (1:06.71) and the 400 free relay of Klein, Filip, O'Brien, Bartosik (3:31.97).

Schaumburg had plenty of history-making swims, too.

Junior Matt Soltau produced a terrific effort in winning the 100 free (50.95), Samuel Chen won the 50 free (24.89) and the Saxons came up with a 1-2 finish in the 200 free relay, with Chen, Ardit Breznica, Matt Kelland and Soltau winning in 1:39.46.

Solid depth kept Schaumburg close throughout, as Tyler Reynolds was second in both the 200 IM (2:10.12) and 500 free (5:15.5) and Joseph Kula was second in the 100 back (1:03.58).

The continued development of Soltau has been a bright spot for the Saxons. He's already on par with his end-of-season time from last year in the 100 free and is continuing to work with coach Tim O'Grady on some of the finer points of sprinting.

"Today went well for me in general," said Soltau, "but there are still things to work on. Like, in the 100 free, I still breathed out of my walls twice. But I like where I'm at for sure."

The divers came through in a big way for Palatine, as Joseph Zhao (194.25), Campbell Boston (164.10) and Alex Ploch (155.15) scored a combined 13 points.

Pirates coach John Schauble knows this year's team doesn't match up with the previous two powerhouse teams under his guidance. But in the context of individual swimmers making gains, there's plenty to be proud of.

"The kids I have are working hard, and meet to meet we're seeing a lot of improvement," Schauble said. "We lost a lot of talented kids after last year, but our group this year is coming along nicely."

As the new pool at Palatine begins one era, another was drawing to a close. The meet was officiated by Robert Molzahn - and it will be his last high school dual meet. He'll work one more prep sectional meet at the end of the season, giving the Barrington resident a grand total of 539 high school meets officiated.

Prospect d. Hersey: The Knights cleared another big hurdle in the Mid-Suburban East, staying perfect in the division with a 107-63 decision.

Prospect was able to win all the relays and came up with a 1-2-3 finish in the 400 free relay, with Nick Partipilo, Dan Macina, Alex Jarosz and Matt Inserra winning in 3:27.86.

Junior standout Michael Petro was a double winner for Hersey, taking the 200 free in 1:47.77 and the 100 free in 47.63.

Inserra won the 50 free and had legs on all three winning relays.

Knights senior Anthony Liva scored 302.70 to win diving, just ahead of Hersey's Nicholas Nocita (285.25). Other winners for Prospect included Ethan Rodriguez in the 100 fly (1:01.08), Jarosz in the 200 IM (2:12.31) and Jacob Kosinski in the 100 breast (1:03.08).

Hersey got victories from Josh Irvine in the 500 free (5:07.22) and from Stephen Hahn in the 100 back (59.87).

Rolling Meadows d. Elk Grove: Rolling Meadows juniors Jake Pors, Josh Dellorto and Nate Pardini each won a pair of individual races to help the Mustangs top the Grens 132.5-43.5.

Pors was tops in the 100 free (51.25) and 100 breast (1:08.83). Dellorto won the 200 free (1:46.81) and 100 fly (53.74), and Pardini took top honors in the 50 free (24.00) and 500 free (5:14.57).

Elk Grove's Adrian Wlodarz had the top finish in the 200 IM (2:11.81), and Rolling Meadows' Jack Keeley won the 100 back (1:05.27).

Barrington d. Conant: The Cougars' Cole Aykroid came up with another strong diving effort, winning with a score of 282.45, but the rest of the wins went Barrington's way in a 141-45 decision.

Double winners for the Broncos included John Lagoni in the 200 free (1:48.12) and 100 free (49.80) and Colin O'Leary in the 100 fly (52.71) and 100 back (53.04).

Barrington's Max Gersten won the 200 IM (2:04.74), Mitch Gavars won the 500 free (4:56.83) and Jack Hoppe took the 100 breaststroke (1:03.36).

Buffalo Grove d. Wheeling: The visiting Wildcats had plenty of event winners but could not match the Bison's depth as Buffalo Grove won 129-66.

Jacob Gorenyuk (200 free, 100 fly), and Nick Konstantos (100 free, 100 breast) each won a pair of events for Wheeling and had legs on the winning medley relay.

But Buffalo Grove won both freestyle relays and counted individual wins from Mark Poirier in the 50 free (22.64), Daniel Verdico in the 200 IM (2:09.31) and 500 free (5:00.61), Jack Delattre in diving (267.70) and Kenny Velu in the 100 back (1:03.57).