Wildcats looking good
Nobody's boasting but everyone in the Neuqua Valley camp admits that, based on Friday's preliminary results, the Wildcats are in a pretty good position to contend for their first state boys swimming championship at today's finals at Evanston High School.
The Wildcats put all three relays in the top six for today's championship bracket.
They also will have ace swimmers Brian Alden and Kevin Overholt in the finals in two individual races, and diver Chris Murray is in fourth place going into today's final three-dive competition.
In addition, Hans Peters and Ryan Farmer finished in the top 12 in their events and will pick up points for Neuqua Valley in the consolation round.
"The team is swimming awesome," said Alden, who has been the state champion in both the 50- and the 100-yard freestyle races the past two years. "It's very exciting to put ourselves in a position to win this whole thing."
"The way it looks right now Glenbrook South and New Trier are our main competition going in to (today)," said Neuqua Valley coach Chad Allen. "But there's still a lot of work to be done. A lot of things come into play on Saturday."
The days started off on a positive note when the 200 medley relay team of John Mikuzis, Brad Kay, Farmer and Mike Lehman finished in fifth place to give the Wildcats a finals contender that was a bit of a surprise.
"We didn't have our top three guys in that race and we made it into the top six," Allen said. "Those will be huge points for us."
"It's exciting to score in both a relay and an individual race," Farmer said. "It's just great being a part of this. That 200 medley relay set the pace for the entire meet. To win a state championship everyone has to contribute."
Though no official points are awarded in the preliminary round, an informal tally of Friday night's results puts the Wildcats about 30 points ahead of both Glenbrook South and New Trier, with St. Charles North, Naperville North, Naperville Central and Marmion in a closely bunched pack for fourth through seventh places.
"Our kids really swam well today," said Naperville North coach Kurt Johns. "We gave them some rest this week and mentally they were all in the right frame of mind. If they do what they're capable of doing, we can make top five."
The Huskies have both free relays in the top six, a well as Jackson Hill in both the 50 and the 100, and both Connor Handley and Will Heidler in the 200 IM.
Naperville Central qualified its medley relay and 400 free relay for the finals.
In addition Bobby Rickert and Ben Reasons finished second and fourth respectively in the 100 breaststroke.
Both Rickert and Reasons swam in the 400 freestyle relay team's third-place finish shortly after completing the breaststroke.
"It was good for our team to show everyone that we've been there the whole time," Rickert said. "They just haven't noticed."
"Bobby and I work together all season," Reasons said. "Our goal was to make it two top six in both those races and it happened."