Stars seniors show they're ready for finals

There comes a time for all high school athletes to leave their competitive classroom behind. For St. Charles North's boys swim team, that classroom is filled with water, and Saturday marked the last time they will be the home team in competition this season.

And the North Stars went out in fine fashion, placing third in their annual invitational.

"We're getting down to 'shave and taper' time," St. Charles North senior Alex Peterson said. "These guys are showing it. They're showing more spirit. They're supporting each other more than we have and we're getting more excited. We know taper time is coming around."

The four St. Charles North seniors are Peterson, Dan Stanek, Jason Edgar and Nick Smith.

"I think I had some better swims," Stanek said. "I've been struggling since earlier in the season. I didn't swim in preseason or over the summer because I dedicated that to high school and club soccer. It's taken me a little bit longer to get back into things."

Still, Stanek said he sees things beginning to shape together as the end of the season draws nearer. He finished second in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 individual medley on Saturday.

"I'm planning on getting bigger drops at the end," Stanek said. "As a team, I felt we had healthy competition today and that was good. Some kids are tired and didn't swim their best but as (St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney) said, we did well today."

St. Charles North is finished with its regular-season competition. The North Stars take a two-week break before swimming in the Upstate Eight Conference meet Feb. 7.

"Now it's really time to focus," Stanek said. "It's time to focus on your strokes, your turns - all the little things that are going to count at the end. All these weeks, we've been building endurance. But now, you move more into sprinting things, racing and getting more into the mindset that will have you ready for the very end when you have to give it all you've got."

Peterson said he knows there is always room for improvement but was pleased with how his meet went. He finished second in the 100 butterfly. He said the two-week break is much-welcomed.

"I need to get a little bit faster," Peterson said. "I was happy with this meet. I was happy with my fly and my 100 freestyle. I am going the right direction before I taper."

Edgar said he is also ready for the two-week break that leads to the conference meet. The training remains heavy and athletes like the senior quartet won't begin their taper until at or after the sectional meet.

"I want to finish with a bang, have a strong taper and finish the right way," Edgar said.

Edgar finished seventh in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

"I have to remember that this is how it's supposed to work," Edgar said. "I'm tired. We're all tired. We've been working hard all year. I know that even though it might be rough right now, it will be good at the end of the season."

Smith won the 50 freestyle and was the team's lone event winner.