NSC swim meet threes the light

There will be more of the North Suburban Conference swim meet for the crowd to enjoy at 1 p.m. Saturday at Vernon Hills.

In previous years, each team could only have two competitors per race. This season, it's been expanded to three per team.

What does Stevenson coach Susan Whitehouse think of the new format?

"I'll let you know after Saturday," she joked.

Actually, this was a popular decision on all accounts.

"Before, a lot of varsity guys would get dropped down to junior varsity conference because there wasn't space for them," Whitehouse said. "It wasn't fair to the varsity guys and the junior varsity (swimmers) didn't get the recognition they deserved."

Conference coaches had discussed this move for some time.

"I like the change," Warren coach Erik Rogers said. "If you have guys swimming varsity duals the whole year, it's kind of disappointing when some had to go to junior varsity conference."

As a result, depth will take on even more importance.

"Some of the events are a little difficult to fill out," Whitehouse said. "But for other events it's only (a matter) of which three guys will I pick."

The diving competition will begin at 9 a.m.

The meet is expected to be quite competitive, although Libertyville has to be a slight favorite over Lake Forest and Stevenson. The Wildcats went undefeated in dual meets.

"It's a long time since this has been done," said Libertyville coach Chris Wetteland, after the Wildcats defeated Mundelein last Thursday. "This is a real big thing for our program."

Stevenson has placed first this season at every dual meet in the 200-yard freestyle relay. That and the 400 freestyle relay will be two of the most exciting events of the day.

Most of the swimmers will not begin tapering until sectionals.

"For the most part we're not tapering because sectionals is our big meet," Rogers said. "We'll try to get as many guys as possible in the top six."