Boys swimming: Neuqua Valley edges Waubonsie for DVC title
The beat goes on for the Neuqua Valley boys swim and dive team.
The Wildcats went undefeated in DuPage Valley Conference dual meets this season, and coming off of a victory last weekend at Metea Valley's Mustang Invite, there was one thing left to do - win the DVC meet it hosted Saturday.
Check that box, though Waubonsie Valley did make it interesting at the end.
Neuqua Valley took first in the team competition with 267.50 points, a shade ahead of the Warriors, with 252. Naperville Central was also in the mix, third in 219.
"We lost probably one of our best senior classes ever last year," Wildcats coach Chad Allen said. "There were a host of seniors who dominated for us last year, and to come back after losing those guys, I wouldn't have guessed that early in the year."
Of course, it helps when you win four events, which the Wildcats did Saturday, two recorded by senior Aiden Dunn. He won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:44.77, less than a second ahead of Metea Valley's Tyler Leslie (1:45.55). Dunn and sophomore Alex Parkinson replicated their feat a week ago at the Mustang Invite by going 1-2 in the 500 freestyle, Dunn winning in 4:43.69 and Parkinson second at 4:44.69.
"Aiden's a very fast swimmer, and we are always practicing side by side, and I made it my goal to beat Aiden," Parkinson said.
Said Dunn: "He told me before the race began, he's like, My goal is 1:44 and two, to beat you. When I saw him creeping up I was like, man, I got to do something else."
When Allen talks about little points making a big difference, consider freshman Nathan Malinowski winning the diving competition with 376.65 points. Or junior Ian Alumbaugh doing the same in the 100 butterfly, winning in 53.78 seconds - just .11 ahead of Waubonsie Valley senior Nathan Jefferson.
"I honestly wasn't expecting it at all," Alumbaugh said. "I was in Lane 7, so I was hoping for dropping a lot of time. Coach tapered me for conference, so of course I'm going to go a little faster, but I wasn't expecting to go 53-high."
Waubonsie Valley had its share of victors, and even one meet record - that of sophomore Nathan Huynh in the 100 breaststroke, who did the deed in a time of 58.44.
Huynh isn't used to media interviews and consequently talking about himself, so instead he bragged on his team.
"We're obviously really pumped up," Huynh said. "We took off our drags this meet to go a little bit faster, but we still have a lot more to do. We haven't rested fully."
Warriors coach Chris Hagenbaumer chose to brag on Huynh, saying: "I knew he was going to do well today. We had set him up for that for the season. It was a great job for them."
Senior Arnav Deshpande also was a winner in the 100 backstroke in 51.94, just ahead of Naperville North sophomore Jonathan Wang (51.94). Deshpande also led off the meet-starting 200 medley relay, second in 1:37.56, then swam a leg on the meet-ending 400 freestyle relay, third in 3:14.23. He also was the runner-up in the 100 freestyle in 48.12, just behind winner George Wang of Metea Valley (47.96).
Naperville Central had a decidedly quiet meet, but used its depth to sneak into third place, ahead of Metea Valley, with 190 points. Junior Alex Lakin finished second to Huynh in the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.24, and also raced a leg on the 200 freestyle relay, third in 1:38.62.
"You know what, his best swim is leading off the 200 free relay and his 100 breast is very good for right now," Naperville Central coach Mike Adams said. "I think we're in good shape as we head down the road."
The road, of course, is sectionals in two weeks time, then state. Metea Valley is sure to be prepared what with five winners Saturday - all three relays and Jaeddan Gamilla with a meet record 1:53.68 in the 200 individual medley and George Wang in the 100 freestyle (47.96).
Naperville North, fifth with 154 points, was paced by Jonathan Wang, who won the 50 freestyle in 22.02 and took second in the 100 backstroke in 52.15.
"The 50 free, I didn't expect myself to be in first," Wang said. "The turn could have been a little faster. I was a little too close to the wall when I was turning, but I pushed off and came back hard."