Wheaton Academy's Sesvold has fun at state prelims
When Wheaton Academy's Tyler Sesvold emerges from the water while competing in the 100-yard backstroke, it is as if he has been catapulted from the depths of the pool and he is going to soar through the air like a dolphin before re-entering his lane.
Sesvold soared on Friday during the prelims for the IHSA meet at New Trier and established himself as one of the swimmers to watch in today's finals. First he swam faster than everyone in the 100 butterfly. Then he returned to the pool and swam the second-fastest time in the 100 backstroke.
Swimming for a school without a team, Sesvold - who finished second in the backstroke a year ago - is poised to make Wheaton Academy's biggest splash at the state meet.
"I'm glad I got the first day out of the way and I'm ready for (Saturday)," Sesvold said. "It's great to be in a place like this. It's a lot of fun."
Defending champion Lyons Township set the pace. Though points are only scored in Saturday's finals, the Lions positioned enough swimmers in the finals that they are likely to win the state title. Hinsdale Central is set to battle Lyons for that crown and is certainly set to lift one of the three trophies.
"The kids swam out of their minds - I had a blast today," Hinsdale Central coach Bob Barber said. "We've got a lot of swims (Saturday) and we've got a lot of opportunities to move up and we'll come in and see what we can do. Lyons and us are sort of running away with the meet, and it's going to be a battle. I don't know if I have enough guns, but I know we're going to give them a challenge."
Behind Lyons and Hinsdale Central, New Trier sits third, and then there are a number of teams bunched together vying for top 5 or top 10 positions.
Toward the top of that group is Naperville North, which opened with a strong 200 medley relay, qualified its 400 freestyle relay for the consolation final and advanced Horace Qiao in the championship final of the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly.
The Huskies will also gain crucial points from diver Zach Richards, who stands fifth heading into the finals, where each competitor has three dives remaining.
"We could have hoped for a little more," Naperville North coach Andy McWhirter said. "Our medley relay broke our school record. We made a little switch in the 400 free relay and led with (Qiao) instead of having him anchor and that helped pull the boys along."
Qiao finished 11th in the 200 IM last year as a sophomore and was 12th in the 100 butterfly, so this year's results are a marked improvement.
"My goal coming into this meet was to get Top 6 in my individual events, but then the relay got top 6 as well," Qiao said. "I'm super happy because I'm swimming in the finals in all four of my events."
Naperville Central is also in the battle for a spot in the top 10. The Redhawks have all three relays swimming Saturday in addition to Phillip Sajaev in the 50 freestyle.
Waubonsie Valley has Jared Simpson swimming for the state title in the 100 backstroke and in the consolation final of the 200 IM. Bryan Ellig advanced in the 100 breaststroke.
Neuqua Valley advanced Jacob Cunningham in the 50 freestyle and its 200 freestyle relay. Metea Valley qualified its 200 medley relay and Connor Mitsch in the 100 backstroke.
Lake Park advanced Benjamin Kimmel in the 100 backstroke and Eric Sgarbossa in the 100 breaststroke.