Prospect has the edge at Maine West
Prospect and Maine West are two girls swimming and diving teams with some similarities, but somewhat different challenges.
They have in common some top-notch swimmers, such as Greta Pietraszek, Jessica Cavaiani and Meg Dix for Prospect, and Ailish O'Connell, Casey Cullen and Lily Grant for Maine West.
Both have excellent divers, Maine West featuring Jennifer Rey and Prospect with the Pekar sisters, Christina and Sarah.
Where there was a slight difference on Tuesday as the Warriors hosted the Knights was in depth. Prospect had the edge there and came away with a 96-89 in a great early test for both teams.
"We're swimming tired right now, so the times were a little bit off," said Prospect coach Alfonso Lopez. "But the girls have been working hard, so that's kind of to be expected."
A new weightlifting regimen might be contributing to the general fatigue, but Lopez feels it's a key to the development of the Knights' program.
"It's definitely a change for us, but it really will help," he said.
Maine West coach Ryan Claus is looking for big things from senior tri-captain O'Connell and Rey, both of whom have stepped up their commitment in hopes of earning repeat trips to the state meet at season's end.
"Our challenge is depth," said Claus, who noted that although the Warriors have come close in each of their dual meets, they've yet to win. "We have people that will be hard to match individually with most of the teams we swim, but we're definitely looking for answers in other spots. We have some capable freshmen and sophomores, and we're trying to bring them along."
Prospect won the 200-yard medley and 200 freestyle relays, but Maine West won the 400 free relay as tri-captain Lily Grant held off Grace Gruendel in a thrilling finale to the meet.
O'Connell won the 50 (25.51) and 100 freestyles (56.49) and seems on track for another trip to state.
"She really accepted the challenge and turned up the intensity," Claus said.
Pietraszek was a double individual winner, taking the 100 fly (1:06.61) and the 100 back (1:09.69), and Cavaiani won the 200 IM (2:28.14) and the 100 breaststroke (1:12.05).
Cavaiani's pleased that her off-season conditioning seems to be paying dividends. Her times in the breaststroke are already approaching her best from last year, and seem to be putting her within reach of a trip to the state meet later this fall.
"I'm definitely ahead of where I was last year at the same time," Cavaiani said. "I just feel stronger, more confident in everything."
Rey produced an excellent 6-dive score of 228.60 to win diving, with Christina Pekar (207.70) and Sarah Pekar (193.65) close behind.
• Maine West is beginning to organize its Swim For a Cure Invitational, which will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 (diving begins at 7:30 a.m.). It's a nine-team invitational, and all proceeds from the meet will be dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. Claus' team began the event last season; the goal is to exceed the $1,200 raised last year. Cash donations will be accepted at the meet.