Fremd salutes 17 seniors
The area's boys swimming teams are starting the yearly ritual of recognizing their graduating athletes with senior night festivities.
In Fremd's case, it might take quite a while to get the job done.
The Vikings will honor their 17 seniors before Friday's meet against visiting Conant. It's a staggering loss, and one coach Nicole LaBeau doesn't take lightly.
"They're such a strong, unified group ... I'm sure new leaders will step in, but the 'old guard' is really carrying the bulk of our traditions through the season," LaBeau wrote in an e-mail. "A new group always steps in to lead, as is the nature of high school swimming, but like the others before them, they'll be missed."
Proof positive: First-year St. Viator coach Alfonso Lopez is pleased with the progress his swimmers are making, but it would not be accurate to say he's completely satisfied.
"Sometimes I get guys complaining about the amount of work we're doing," said Lopez. "They say, 'Coach, you know, this is St. Viator. We just don't do that.' "
Lopez pauses and motions to the wall in St. Viator's pool where the record board hangs. He's using the Lions' rich history in the sport to motivate the current and future versions of the team.
"I show them what's up there," Lopez said. "You look at those names, those times. That's what we need to be shooting for. It can be done. It's been done before, and there's the proof."
Stand up and cheer: Swimming isn't always the most fan-friendly sport, but it was great to see the stands just about full for last Friday's Hoffman Estates at Conant meet.
It was even greater to see how those fans conducted themselves.
The 200-yard free relay was mostly complete, except for Conant's final foursome.
And it took a while for that last group to finish, because, well, let's just say the Cougars' anchor swimmer, senior Clark Raymond, could use some strokework.
What he might lack in technical proficiency, Raymond more than makes up for with heart, determination and personality. The fans seemed to recognize that last Friday and rewarded Raymond, a four-year member of the team and two-year varsity contributor, with a standing ovation.
"He has a great personality and is a great kid," Conant coach Brian Drenth wrote about Raymond. "He's always got a smile on his face and loves swimming with the guys. The guys love having him around and Clark loves joking around with the team."
Weekend watch: It's a busy weekend as the MSL slate nears its end and teams begin to try to settle on their end-of-season lineups.
League meets today include Schaumburg at Hoffman Estates and Barrington at Palatine; and in the East, Hersey vs. Rolling Meadows (at Elk Grove), Prospect at Wheeling and Elk Grove at Buffalo Grove.
On Saturday, Hersey's Invitational at Olympic Pool features Conant as well as capable teams from Deerfield and Warren and the host Huskies. Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg join the field for Buffalo Grove's invitational, and in other invites, Barrington visits St. Charles North, Rolling Meadows goes to Downers Grove North and Palatine heads to Hinsdale Central.