Boys swimming and diving: Warren downs Libertyville
When you train with Libertyville state qualifier Lawrence Wang, results are going to be favorable.
Take senior Wildcats swimmer Andy Yan, who has been training and practicing with Wang and has his sights set on the state boys swimming meet at Evanston in little over a month.
"He's been coming out of the woodwork and dropping a lot of time," said Libertyville coach Amanda Pechauer of Yan.
"His work ethic is outstanding."
On Thursday in North Suburban Conference dual meet action against visiting Warren, Yan took second (57.94) in his bread and butter event, the 100-yard butterfly. He was just off his personal best by two-tenths of a second.
"That's ok. I'm in a really good spot to get my PB soon," said Yan, who also took fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:05.71).
Training alongside Wang has made him even more focused and a better swimmer.
"He (Wang) really pushes the pace and has great under-waters," Yan said. "As long as I can stay close to him, I'm happy."
Wang ended up winning both the 100 butterfly (53.17) and 100 backstroke (56.56).
Other event winners for the Cats included Mitchell Madland in the 500 freestyle (5:16.43).
Warren, which won 9 out of 12 events, won the meet 106-64 to move to 2-1 in the NSC. Libertyville fell to 1-2.
"We've been swimming well and just trying to maintain everything," said Blue Devils coach Chris Bertana. "We don't want to go backward."
The Devils upended Lake Forest last week in a meet that came down to the last event, the 400 free relay, which Warren won.
"That felt really good to pull out that win," said Bertana.
In Thursday's victory, event winners included Jack Foster in the 100 freestyle (50.89) and 200 freestyle (1:51.15). He also swam anchor on the winning 200 free relay, where he joined Dante Rinaldi, Evan Berndt, Riley Nebel, and Jack Foster to touch in 1:33.00.
Nebel and Foster then paired with BJ Bamba and Jonah Park to win the 400 free relay in 3:31.13. They edged out the Libertyville quartet of Colin McKibben, William Gordon, Wang, and Ben Kistler (3:31.28).
Berndt also won the 100 breaststroke (1:07.32), while Nebel also won the 50 freestyle in 23.29 ticks.
Rinaldi, Berndt, Levy, and Nebel also won the first event of the night, the 200 medley relay in 1:43.57.
Rinaldi also won the 200 IM (2:09.25) while Blake Vander Jeudgt won the 1-meter diving (201.90).