Historic winning recipe for Rolling Meadows
The wait is over for Rolling Meadows, and as the Mustangs are finding out, the taste of victory is sweet.
The Mustangs boys swimming team made history Friday by topping visiting Hersey 117-69 in the final set of Mid-Suburban East dual meets this season. That outcome completed a 5-0 run in the East duals for Rolling Meadows.
For the first time in its 45 years as an MSL school, Rolling Meadows is a divisional champ in boys swimming.
After their meet, the Mustangs got some special recognition at halftime of the girls basketball game between Prospect and host Rolling Meadows as girls athletic director Jim Voyles honored the team's achievement.
"We look at this season like a cake, with many different layers," said Meadows coach Monika Chiappetta, who's guided the program for the last 17 years. "Tonight was a pretty important layer."
Meadows freshman Josh Dellorto lowered his own school record by winning the 500-yard freestyle in 4:55.85 and also won the 200 free (1:49.16).
Senior Jake Barson lowered his school record in the 200 IM but placed second behind Hersey freshman Michael Petro, who won the reace in 1:57.91 and also took top honors in the 100 free (48.78). Hersey also had the diving champ in Riley Busche (233.55).
Barson won the 100 breast (1:00.15) and had legs on the winning medley and 200 free relays. Other winners for the Mustangs included Kuba Debkowski in the 50 free (22.24) and Filip Pancerz in the 100 fly (55.52) and 100 back (56.95).
Meadows finished the meet by winning the 400 free relay with David Myers, Tony Sarussi, Pancerz and Dellorto in 3:23.95.
Chiappetta said the knowledge that her team was capable of this kind of finish made the conclusion a huge relief.
"It was almost like everyone was able to take a big brick off their shoulders, finally," said Chiappetta, still drying off late in the evening after a celebratory dunking. "I'm so proud of these kids.
"It was kind of an unspoken thing all year, that we'd have a chance to do this. What we've been saying is, 'Champions are not born, they're made.' I think my guys are the proof of that."
Now the Mustangs will look toward the upcoming conference, sectional and state meets for further layering - and perhaps even some icing.
"What's great about this season is it's not just one guy doing it for us," Chiappetta said. "As I told them tonight, 'All of you guys did this.' "
Fremd d. Conant: Fremd put the finishing touches on a perfect 5-0 run through the Mid-Suburban West with a 105-73 victory over the Cougars.
Joey Carlisle was a double individual winner for the Vikings, taking top honors in the 200-meter IM (2:22.12) and 100 free (57.84).
Conant got victories from Tim Song in the 100 breast (1:14.17) and from Jacob Lawson in the 400 free (4:40.53).
Hoffman Estates d. Schaumburg: The host Hawks put together 1-2-3 sweeps in both the 50-meter freestyle and the 100 backstroke on their way to a 113-73 win against Schaumburg.
Hoffman Estates senior Bartosz Widelak won the 50 in 25.20; he also won the 100 fly (1:02.91) and had a pair of winning relay relags.
Another Hawks double winner was Jacob Pasaye, tops in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.
The Saxons picked up wins from Evan Wahlen in the 400 free (4:32.61) and Sam Thomas in the 100 breast (1:14.54).
Buffalo Grove d. Elk Grove: The host Bison were able to beat the Grenadiers, but Elk Grove senior Colin Williams added to his extensive assortment of team records, winning the 100 backstroke in a personal best 53.58 - faster than the state-qualifying time in that event. Williams also won the 100 fly.