Steady Haperville North wins at Neuqua
Naperville North let others set the records.
The Huskies just quietly went about their business by winning four events and capturing the team championship at the Neuqua Valley Invitational on Saturday.
With solid performances across the board, the Huskies scored 442.33 points, as the second-place and host Wildcats broke three meet records and won five events with a score of 433.33.
Naperville Central, which won two events and broke one meet record, finished with 410.
In winning the team title Naperville North ended a two-year run by Neuqua as invitational champions.
"This meet gives our kids confidence that they can compete with the top teams in the area," said Naperville North coach Kurt Johns. "Today, it showed us where we are right now. We're sitting much better this year than we were at this time a year ago."
The Huskies' 200 free relay team of Joel Demuth, Connor Hubbard, Andrew Eiken and Kevin Butz was victorious, while sophomore Eiken, who swam a 48.28 in the 100 freestyle and sophomore Butz, who finished in 4:45.26 in the 500 freestyle joined senior Will Heidler, who won the 200 IM in 1:54.77, as Naperville North winners.
"Those were big races for Eiken and Butz," Johns said, "because it showed them what they're capable of against top talent. They've both worked very hard in the off-season and it's paying off."
Neuqua Valley had some truly outstanding performances.
The 200 medley relay team of Grant Betulius, Kevin Cordes, Brien Gerber and Robert Vechiola won in a record-setting 1:37.48, while Cordes set the meet record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.06 and Betulius broke the record in the 100 backstroke in 52.28.
The Wildcats' Hans Peters won the 200 freestyle and Ted Wagner won the diving competition over Huskies Ian Henderson and Josh Gitzlaff, who finished second and third.
Betulius, who was also second to Eiken in the 100 freestyle, was praised by Wildcats coach Chad Allen.
"Grant was our swimmer of the meet," Allen said. "We're hoping he can score at state. We knew that with Grant and Cordes, we'd be strong at back and breaststrokes. We just have to figure out how to compete with Naperville North and Naperville Central in the freestyle events. We're pretty solid, but we have a long way to go."
Naperville Central's Danny Tucker edged Eiken in the 50 freestyle and the Redhawks' 400 freestyle relay team of Matt O'Brien, Keith Piper, Mark Menis and Tucker set a meet record by winning the final race of the day in 3:13.48.
"I had a lot of rest after the 50 so I was full of energy for the 400 free relay," Tucker said.
Lincoln-Way North's Kyler Vanswol was the fifth record -setter in the invitational, taking the 100 butterfly in 50.42.
West Aurora's Chris Hickernell gave the Blackhawks reason for optimism when he finished fifth in the diving competition.
"Diving against the great competition he had today really gave everyone a look at his capabilities," said West Aurora swimming coach Joe Neukirch. "He's dedicated and focused. He has a good chance of making it to the state meet."
St. Charles North and St. Charles East are fielding young teams this year, but both North Stars coach Rob Rooney and Saints coach Joe Cabel see a bright future for their teams.
"A meet like this is important when you look at where your program is and where you want it to go," Rooney said. "We have to take our lumps before we can get back on top again."
North Stars returning state qualifier Chris Dieter finished eighth in both the 200 and 500 freestyle.
St. Charles East's T.J. Bindseil was fourth in the 500, seventh in the 200 freestyle and anchored the 400 free relay team that finished seventh.
That relay also included Shane Seuschek, Shaun Seuschek and Nick Watts.
"Shaun also swam well finishing strong in the 200 IM and the fly and Shane had good races in both the 50 and the 100 free," Cabel said. "As a team, we have to learn to work well under pressure. We're young and not used to swimming tired. We're here because the competition is so good. It's important for us to be in that company."