Cary-Grove wins 4th straight FVC title

There was no stopping Cary-Grove sophomore Michael Hamann at the Fox Valley Conference Invitational boys swimming meet on Saturday.

Hamann anchored the Trojans to victories in the opening 200 medley relay (1:40.89) and closing 400 free relay (3:19.20).

In between the sophomore took first in the 200 free (1:46.34) and 100 back (53.47) leading Cary-Grove to its fourth consecutive FVC title with 361 points at Woodstock North.

Jacobs/Dundee-Crown (251 points) took second followed by McHenry (199 points), host Woodstock North (177 points), and Huntley (119 points)

Hamann and McHenry senior Kyle Braun were selected as co-Most Valuable Swimmers.

Last year Hamann was a state qualifier in the 200 IM and 100 back. He went under the state qualifying mark (54.63) in setting a conference record in winning the 100 back on Saturday.

“I’m really happy,” said Hamann of his performance. “It’s great to be under the state cut already, now I’m hoping for a top 12 finish at state.”

Hamann will be looking to continue his momentum next Saturday at the Barrington sectional.

“He is way ahead of where he was last year,” said Cary-Grove coach Jim Andriakos. “We wanted to hit state qualifying mark today, so next week we can shoot for a real high qualifying mark, then go into to state looking for a top 12 on Friday, and then see what we can bring out of it.”

The Trojans relays are also looking solid with senior Conor Cornelius, junior Jon Curtis, and junior Ryan Hamilton combining with Hamann in setting a conference record in winning the opening 200 medley relay.

Sophomore Andrew Brierton joined Cornelius, Curtis, and Hamann in securing the 400 free relay.

“We’re definitely hopeful,” said Cornelius of the Trojans relays state potential. “But we’re just going to keep working hard, try to taper real well, then get in the pool next Saturday and see how it works out.”

It was more than a one man show for Cary-Grove, with Cornelius taking second in the 200 IM, junior Joe Weber taking third in the 50 freestyle and second in 100 fly, senior Tanner Agar adding a third in the 100 fly, Brierton taking third in the 100 free, senior Riley Stone and sophomore Nick Dudek going 2-3 in the 500 free, Curtis adding a second in the 100 back, and junior Ryan Hamilton taking third in the 100 breast.

“We’ve been working all year toward conference,” added Andriakos of the Trojans’ attack. “That’s been our goal.”

Junior Alex Elston paced Jacobs/Dundee-Crown by taking first and setting a conference record in the 100 fly (52.13) and adding a second-place finish in the 50 free (22.65).

Elston also helped Jacobs/Dundee Crown to a pair of second place finishes in the 200 medley relay (1:41.99) and 400 free relay (3:28.13).

Last year Elston qualified for state in the 100 fly, and the Jacobs junior has already gone under the state qualifying mark twice in the 100 fly this season.

“I felt confident today and I wanted to see where I was for next week,” said Elston who pushed his first 50 meters in the 100 fly. “Last year was a good learning experience and now I know where I should be this year.”

Junior John Just came on strong in the final 50 meters to secure first place in the 200 IM (2:04.64) and also added a second-place finish for Jacobs/Dundee-Crown in the 100 breast.

Freshman Alex Reinbrecht won the FVC newcomer award by taking first in the 500 free (4:57.29) and third in the 200 IM (2:07.09) for Jacobs/Dundee-Crown.

Junior Ryne Quinlan took first in the 100 breast (1:03.61), with senior Ryan Krug added a second in the 100 free for Jacobs/Dundee-Crown.

McHenry senior Kyle Braun paced the Warriors by taking first in the 50 free (22.53) and 100 free (49.82), and also led off the winning 200 free relay (1:30.67).

“I was really working on my quick turn, that has been my weakness,” said Braun who was a state qualifier in the 50 free last year. “I was able to drop my times after conference last year and hoping for the same this year.”

Huntley’s Jakub Petyniak came into the FVC meet with the top seed time in the 200 IM, but the junior was slowed by illness on Saturday finishing fifth in the 200 IM (2:10.13) and fourth in the 500 free (5:22.10).

Petyniak just missed making the state cut last year in the 100 breast, now the junior is hoping to get healthy and make a run at state in next weeks Barrington sectional.

“The 100 breast is my best shot,” said Petyniak who showed the affects of his illness in fading in the last half of the grueling 500 free. “I felt my body crashing out; I just wanted to finish the race.”