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Neuqua's pieces falling into place

There were some nervous moments for Neuqua Valley's girls swimming team immediately after Saturday's St. Charles North Invitational.

The Wildcats led going into that final relay and had their 400-yard freestyle relay disqualified while St. Charles North won the event.

But when the scores were updated, Neuqua Valley edged the North Stars 272.5-268.

"This is tremendous," Neuqua Valley coach Jason Niferatos said. "The pieces are starting to come together for us."

After leading much of the meet, St. Charles North was disqualified in the 200 freestyle relay. Neuqua Valley took full advantage in the final third of the meet.

"Our biggest weapon right now is our sense of 'team,'" Niferatos said. "We have athletes who have bad races or good races, and they step out of the water and they get right back into it for the team."

One of those athletes is Amanda Brockmeier, who helped widen the lead when she won the 100 breaststroke.

"We have turned to Brockmeier in so many ways to anchor the back end of our meet," Niferatos said. "She wears that proudly. She loves it, loves the pressure."

Wildcats who finished second in the meet included Ryan Dulaney in the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle and Wyli Erlechman in the 100 butterfly. Neuqua Valley's 200 medley relay also finished second.

Hinsdale Central finished third in the 15-team meet thanks to a strong finish to the meet.

The Red Devils won the 200 freestyle relay after St. Charles North was disqualified. Stephanie Bowater was fourth in the 100 backstroke and Emily Graham was second in the 100 breaststroke and the 400 freestyle relay was fourth.

"That's what this team is set up to do," Hinsdale Central coach Bob Barber said. "We are pretty powerful in the last four events. Unfortunately, we have to put up with a bit of a pounding earlier."

Metea Valley was seventh and had its best individual result when Jacqueline Kurkjian was second in the 100 backstroke. Amanda Burson was third in the 50 freestyle while Madeline Sundberg was fourth in the 100 freestyle.

The Batavia-West Chicago co-op was ninth. The tandem of Myanna Cook and Natalie Nelson keyed the team's results. Nelson as sixth in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle while Cook was third in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 100 butterfly.

"Usually we're not very good here," Batavia-West Chicago coach Nick Parry said. "We're beat up and sick and hurt. But I am happy with how we did. Normally, we blow up at this meet and this year we didn't."

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