Like kissing your sister school

A full Friday of diving and a spectacular Saturday of girls swimming -- and there was still no separating invitational host Neuqua Valley from Waubonsie Valley.

And both Wildcats coach Jennifer Heyer-Olsen and Warriors coach Tom Schweer found plenty to be pleased with and plenty to build from in the teams' 284-284 tie in this year's Neuqua Valley Invitational.

"The score is fun to know, but what was great was that we were able to hang in there after getting way behind after the backstroke," Heyer-Olsen said. "I'm really proud of all the girls that swam. When they weren't swimming, they were supporting those in the water and that's good to see."

The tie was forged when Neuqua Valley won the meet-ending 400-yard freestyle relay and Waubonsie Valley tied Downers Grove North for fourth.

At this early point of the season, training levels are already high, and all teams had some form of an early-morning practice before the meet. Heyer-Olsen mentioned that Kathleen Patterson swam more than 10,000 yards Saturday.

In the meet Patterson won the 100-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle.

"She'll sleep well tonight," Heyer-Olsen said.

Neuqua Valley also won the 200 medley relay.

Waubonsie Valley's point-gathering approach was different, though the Warriors gained a meet champion when Elena Carvell won the 100 butterfly.

"There's a difference between us, no doubt about it," Schweer said. "Neuqua's got a dynamite team. They've got some points that, though it's early, look good for the state meet. We had a kind of nickel-and-dime kind of things. We scored some back-end points, which was nice to see."

There was certainly plenty of enthusiasm from Waubonsie Valley's swimmers as the meet neared its conclusion.

"It's early and the season is a long-distance thing," Schweer said. "For us to tie a team like Neuqua is really good. We need to build from here."

Carvell's performance was important on many levels.

"Elena's our big dog," Schweer said. "She's a solid kid and a hard worker and very talented. She's teaching a lot of the kids what it means to be a competitor."

Wheaton's co-op team finished fourth in the invitational behind third-place St. Charles North.

"I'm really excited about how the girls have done and how they've improved over their early-season swims," Wheaton coach Jacob Ayers said.

Kelsey Novotny finished second in the 50 freestyle as well as the 100 freestyle while Danielle Reminger was third in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 freestyle.

"The girls are I think, in-tune with the overall season plan we have," Ayers said. "I think today's results fit in well with what we're trying to accomplish."