Neuqua enjoys team effort
There's hot competition on the Neuqua Valley boys swimming team for spots on the state relay teams.
While Brian Alden and Kevin Overholt are set for at least two relays apiece, at least six others are in contention to swim in the all-important relays, and based on Saturday's performance at the Wildcat Relays at West Chicago, Neuqua will be fine no matter who makes the state lineup.
Neuqua Valley finished first in 10 of 11 relays and the diving competition to easily win the meet with 189 points. Lockport was second with 143.50. Waubonsie was third with 130, followed by York with 96.50. The host West Chicago Wildcats finished ninth with 58 points.
The competitors for those relay spots were on display in races both with and without Alden and Overholt.
"Overall we had nice swims from that second-tier group of guys," said Neuqua Valley coach Chad Allen. "We're looking for at least three of them to step up at the end of the season."
The 10 swimming victories included meet records in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle relay and in the 200 butterfly relay with Alden and Overholt swimming in all three.
The second-group swimmers -- Mike Lehman, Ryan Farmer, Ryan Jadwin, John Mikuzis and Hans Peters -- all had the chance to show their talent in at least one of those races.
They all proved they could win without Alden and Overholt as well.
"We wanted to see how our other guys could do without Brian and Kevin," Allen said. "With those two in the lineup we were unstoppable, but we won 6 of 7 close races without them."
"The competition on our own team is making us elevate our workouts and making us all work harder and swim a lot better early in the season," Jadwin said.
"Everyone's pushing everyone else to raise our level of performance," Lehman said. "Even though we're competing, we're all supporting each other."
Waubonsie Valley kept Neuqua Valley from making a clean sweep by taking first in the 800 freestyle relay, as Neuqua Valley finished second.
"We take pride in our 800 free relay," said Waubonsie Valley coach Chad Ganden. "We put our four best guys in there to see how they would do. We went for that one. And though we didn't swim our best times, they were all very good."
That winning relay team consisted of Jim Zuponeck, Taylor Pattison, Jack Poletto and Gabe Buginski.
Neuqua Valley's Chris Murray, who's a candidate for this year's state championship, won the diving competition with 193.75 points.
West Aurora's Corey Buzzard with 165.25 points and Vini Soto with 153.15 points finished second and third.
"Corey just missed making state last year and he's way ahead of last season," said West Aurora swimming coach Joe Neukirch. "If Vini nails every dive on his 11-dive list, he can make state as well. The two of them are pushing each other to do better."