Metea ready to make its debut as host
This is a big weekend for the Metea Valley girls swimming and diving program.
The Mustangs are hosting their first sectional in their second year of existence and the first year of the school's state-of-the-art pool.
“We've done a lot to prepare for this meet, including working with IHSA officials to make sure that everything runs smoothly,” said Metea Valley swimming and diving coach Lenny DePasquale. “We've gone over the timing system and assigned the timers, the announcers, scorers and the diving table workers. But we're always conscious of the fact that this weekend is all about the girls in the water.”
And the party the Mustangs are hosting is the biggest and the best in the state, according to most observers.
The Naperville-area sectional, which has been held at Neuqua Valley the past few years, usually sends more qualifiers to state than any other sectional meet.
And this year should continue that tradition with Rosary, Naperville North and Neuqua Valley all listed among the top teams in Illinois, all trying to put qualifiers in every event. West Chicago, Naperville Central, Benet, Waubonsie Valley, Oswego, and others also are set on being well-represented at state.
“This is an exciting task to take on in the first year of our home pool,” DePasquale said. “The Metea girls are excited to be here because they've gotten so comfortable with the new facility this year.”
Metea Valley's top state hopeful is junior Megan Sellers in the breaststroke, who has finished fourth at state in that event for the past two years.
DePasquale is also optimistic that the Mustangs' Lizzie Hollopeter, Sellers, Erica Carvell and Lindsay Raczak can qualify in the 200 medley relay.
Carvell in the 100 fly and Hollopeter in both the 50 free and the 100 backstroke are other potential state qualifiers.
The specialists: Similar to baseball pitching staffs with closers, set-up men and long relievers, the idea of the specialist has come to girls swimming.
Naperville Central has a trio of girls who will be active members of the Redhawks' sectional team at Metea Valley this Saturday, but they are all there to participate in one relay apiece.
The three, Jenny Alberts and Elysia Soria in the 200 freestyle relay and Claire Wirtz in the 400 freestyle relay, won't have to worry about qualifying in any individual events.
Their focus this weekend will be solely on that one relay race and hopefully help the Redhawks qualify for state in both events.
“Starting about a month ago all my focus in practice has been on that one race,” Alberts said. “I'm happy about it because it's a chance to be a part of the sectional team and part of a relay team where all four of us are concentrating on the same goal.”
“These three girls are real team players,” said Redhawks coach Sue Welker. “They sacrificed tapering for the (DuPage Valley Conference) meet and they're doing their job. It fits in with our whole concept of team. We'll be going to state as a team and we believe the free relays have a good chance and Jenny, Elysia and Claire will be a big part of that.”
The medley relay, which also has a good chance to qualify, is made up of four swimmers who will also compete at sectionals as individuals as well.
Lauren Scotti will start the race with the backstroke, and she'll be followed by Olivia Lin in the breaststroke, Julia Roller in the butterfly and Emily Sejna in the free.
Lauren Gunn and Sejna will join Alberts and Soria on the 200 free relay, while Roller, Wirtz, Eshan Pau and Gunn make up the 400 team.
“We've worked hard, we're keeping a positive attitude and keeping our hopes up,” Albert said.