Boys swimming and diving: Naperville Central hangs tough behind Lyons Twp.
The high school boys swimming season is a long one with lots of practices and lot of meets. Energy levels of swimmers can be put to the test.
Four weeks remain until the sectional meets. Teams came into Saturday's Downers Grove North Invitational feeling the grind of the season.
Naperville Central prevented two-time defending state champion Lyons Township from putting the meet on cruise control with a strong show of depth, racking up 270 points to the Lions' 301.50.
Metea Valley was third with 180 followed by Chicago's Jones College Prep, Benet, Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South.
Lyons won nine of the 12 events. However, the Redhawks finished second in five events and third in four events to keep pace.
"This year we've gotten stronger. And while getting second and third places are not first, they add up," said Matt King, who was second in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. "After a good taper we'll go hard at sectionals and state."
Naperville Central earned two individual victories. Cameron Kalish won the diving competition, held Friday night, with a score of 436.15 points. Andrew Dai took the 200 individual medley in 2:02.44.
But as results were becoming finalized, it was evident that the Redhawks were competing well against a team that's in good position to win another state title next month.
"We competed very well. We were missing a couple of swimmers. Everyone is tired," said Naperville Central coach Mike Adams. "Lyons Township is the team to beat at state. But we were not intimated and everyone came to race."
Naperville Central will again face Lyons this Saturday at the Lions' own invitational.
Other second-place finishes for the Redhawks went to the 200 freestyle relay of Brad Sanford, Luke Klein-Collins, Adam Kowalyshen and Ben Russo; Russo in the 100 breaststroke; and the 400 freestyle relay of Sanford, Klein-Collins, Dai and King.
Redhawks earning third-place medals were Klein-Collins in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle; Sam Flessner in the 500 freestyle; and Lucas Nervig in the 100 breaststroke.
Metea Valley left Downers Grove North with two second-place efforts and a third-place finish. Alex Marquardt was second in diving with 377.45 points, and Janssen Gamilla took second in the 100 butterfly. The 200 medley relay of Michael Chan, Brandon Boyer, Gamilla and Ben Forbes clocked in at a 1:42.66 for third, and Gamilla also took third in the 200 IM in 2:05.54.
"Some good things came out of today. We figured out some things like filling some sectional spots. We're tired, but we still performed where we needed to be," said Metea coach Mark Jager.
Metea hosts its own invite next Saturday.
Benet's top finish came from Andrew Prisby, who tied for second in the 50 freestyle in 22.78. The 200 freestyle relay of Ryan Flynn, Justin Vasko, Nick Tommasone and Prisby was third in 1:33.58.