Sports
Boys Swimming: Redhawks Prime for State Repeat with Sectional Win
Naperville Central dominates the Neuqua Valley Sectional Saturday and now turns its focus toward heading back to state next weekend.
Naperville Central’s boys swimming team has a different look than last year’s state champions.
But this edition of the Redhawks is well on its way of trying to make a name for itself at the state meet next week at New Trier.
Central was dominant at times in winning the Neuqua Valley Sectional Saturday with 280½ points. Naperville North was second (247) and Neuqua Valley third (204).
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The Redhawks advanced 14 entries to state, including six champions. Sean Lehane led the way by winning the 200 free (1:43.55) and the 100 back (52.39). Jeff DePew (200 IM, 1:54.13), Nate Weeks (100 butterfly, 51.45), Pat May (100 free, 47.24) and the 200 medley relay (1:35.55) all took home first place.
“We’re right where we want to be,” DePew said. “We’re hitting our stride. We were just trying to get cuts in, and we did pretty much the best that we could. We’re just looking forward to next week now.”
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Naperville North was a great story, finishing ahead of last year’s state runner-up, Neuqua. The Huskies advanced 13 entries to state, with two champions. Kevin Butz won the 500 free (4:41.81) and helped the 400 free relay cap the meet off with a win (3:10.13). Butz, who has struggled with a lower back injury for parts of the season, also advanced in the 200 free.
“I’d say I’m pretty much completely over it,” Butz said of the injury. “I think today proved it. As a team, our goal was to qualify as many people as possible. We really did that. I’m really proud of them. Throughout the whole season, we knew that we’d do better than how we had been doing. Coming into this meet, we needed to prove it to people. I think that’s what we did.”
Kevin Cordes won the lone title for Neuqua, priming for a run at a potential state title run in the 100 breaststroke by winning in 56.07, only 0.01 seconds off of his own pool record.
“I was going for the record, but I wore a drag suit today and that affected it,” Cordes said. “I think it’s still a good point to be at going into next week. Once I shave down and taper more to get faster, I’ll be good to go.”
Cordes was one of 10 Neuqua entries to advance to state.
Waubonsie Valley advanced six events to state, led by sophomore Adam Stacklin. Stacklin won the 50 free (21.71), helped the 200 free relay team win in 1:26.57 and finished third in the 100 butterfly.
Metea Valley picked up four state qualifiers. The Oswego East co-op received good news early on as diver Doug Ogilvie won the competition in the morning, one of two advancing swimmers. All told, across the area, 61 events moved on to Winnetka next weekend.
