Betulius, Neuqua look strong while winning invite
Grant Betulius is happy he's winning boys swimming races, but it's even a better sign that he's feeling strong and healthy.
Betulius, a contender for the state championship in the 100-yard backstroke, outdueled some stiff competition to win that race and help Neuqua Valley to the team championship at Saturday's Fox Valley Invite at Waubonsie Valley.
"I feel great now," Betulius said. "I wasn't 100 percent at state last year because of my shoulder and I was barely able to finish the backstroke. But I went through a whole summer of physical therapy and I do shoulder-strength exercises at home. So I think it's in really good shape now."
Betulius finished his 100 backstroke in 52.37 ahead of the Naperville Central duo of Keith Piper, who was second in 54.40, and Jeff Depew, third in 54.47.
"I have something to prove this year because of the injury," Betulius said. "In today's race my goal was to prove that I'm at the top of my game and it's not a fluke. It will be hard to win state, but I'll go out there and do my best."
Neuqua Valley scored 610 points to win the Fox Valley Invite, as Naperville North finished second with 570 points and Naperville Central locked up third place with 524.
After that it was Waubonsie Valley with 331, Oswego with 199 and Benet with 166.
"Winning today gives us confidence as we go into the postseason," Betulius said. "As a team we're pretty strong, we just need a couple of our guys to step up in the freestyle events."
One of the freestylers who stepped up Saturday was Hans Peters, who won the 200 freestyle in 1:43.83 and finished second to Naperville Central's Kevin Butz in the 500 freestyle.
Returning state champion in the 100 breaststroke Kevin Cordes of Neuqua Valley was also a winner, finishing in 59.34.
The Wildcats also won two relays. The 200 medley relay, which wasn't a surprise, featured Betulius and Cordes with teammates Brien Gerber and Andrew Bratsos. The 200 freestyle relay with the same four swimmers was an encouraging outcome.
"The freestyle relays have been a concern of mine all year," said Neuqua Valley coach Chad Allen. "That win in the 200 freestyle was a first, so we're making some progress. But we were far off from where we wanted to be (third) in the 400 freestyle relay. Hopefully, we'll get better in both of those relays and surprise some people in the end."
Naperville North senior Will Heidler won the 200 IM, while his sophomore teammates Andrew Eiken and Kevin Butz won the 100 freestyle and the 500 freestyle, respectively.
Naperville Central's Mark Menis and Danny Tucker finished in a dead heat to win the 50 freestyle, and the Redhawks' Matt O'Brien won the 100 butterfly.
The Redhawks' all-senior 400 freestyle relay team of O'Brien, Piper, Menis and Tucker finished ahead of Naperville North to win the final race of the day.
Waubonsie Valley's Kyle Machalinski edged Neuqua Valley's Ted Wagner 384.05-382.45 for the diving championship.
West Aurora's Chris Hickernell finished fourth in the diving, which was held Friday, with 351.80 points.
"The first five divers were only separated by one dive," said West Aurora swimming coach Joe Neukirch. "Chris struggled last weekend, but he made a strong comeback yesterday. If he strengthens just one more dive, it will put him over the edge and he can qualify for state."