St. Viator likes the bikes

One key component of training in the sport of swimming is finding variety.

While there's no substitute for getting the proper amount of swimming in the pool, coaches are constantly on the lookout for ways to break up the routine and give their athletes an edge.

At St. Viator, coach Adam Clementi embraces such non-aquatic training.

The Lions have embarked upon a more strenuous weights program for certain individuals this season, and for several years now they've made yoga a regular part of dryland training, too.

And last week, in the days leading up to Maine West's Swim For A Cure Invitational, the Lions went a step further.

St. Viator assistant coach Katie Donatelli has a background in group fitness instruction and also works at Midtown Athletic Club in Palatine. So Clementi took advantage of her expertise by bringing his team in for a group session on the stationary bikes.

It was all part of St. Viator's plan to ease up a bit on the total pool yardage without sacrificing overall aerobic fitness.

"It was really fun," Clementi said. "It was really good as a team-building exercise. The girls loved it."

The results at Maine West, where the Lions finished a strong third, seemed to reflect that. Clementi said many of his swimmers had exceeded their mid-season goals and were on track to achieve their end-of-season goals.

But not before some more pool work.

"We're at that point of the season where everybody's tired," Clementi said after the meet. "I think breaking it up a little bit just gives everybody a little different perspective on things. I could tell coming in here that everybody had a better energy level."

Schedule check: Thursday provides another key MSL East test, as unbeaten Hersey hosts Prospect at Olympic. Hersey's unbeaten in East duals so far, and although Prospect has been defeated by Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows, it figures to be a competitive meet. The diving matchup between Prospect's Christina Pekar and Hersey's Kate Reszotko ought to be fun - Pekar has already broken the school record for 6 dives, which had stood since 1977, while Reszotko turned in a 236.05 score last week in a victory over Buffalo Grove.

In the West, the meet du jour looks like Schaumburg hosting Conant. Other league duals include Buffalo Grove at Wheeling and Barrington at Hoffman Estates.

On Saturday, all eyes turn to Olympic once again as the Huskies host the annual Jamboree, with area teams such as St. Viator, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove and Prospect competing.

Raising expectations: First-year Hersey coach Dick Mortensen wants his team thinking big.

"This group is very motivated to do well," said Mortensen, who moved over to Hersey from Prospect. "Rob (former coach Lindgren) did a great job and I wanted to keep that tradition going.

"I told them we're going to start a culture of winning, not only in the (MSL) East, but when we get to sectionals and hopefully state.

"All around I'm happy with our progress but I keep telling the kids we can't stop at the MSL East. It has to be conference, sectionals and state."

Freshman Amanda Petro believes everyone has adjusted well to Mortensen and his goals for the program.

"We definitely have people who can go to state or sectionals," Petro said. "I think we're going to have a really, really strong year and it's only the beginning."

Daily Herald Sports Writer Marty Maciaszek contributed to this report