Relays ready to take the plunge at FVC meet

Staff Writer

They were still working on their form, even after another victory in the final postseason tuneup last week.

Members of the District 155 swim team celebrated one of the best regular seasons in the program's history by tossing coach Jim Andriakos into the McHenry pool following a 102-68 victory Jan. 31.

They're hoping the soaking was merely a rehearsal for when they return to McHenry for the unofficial FVC Meet on Saturday.

"He mentioned briefly before the meet that if we won he would let us throw him in," standout Michael Kinross said. "We took him up on it. I'm sure it was worth it for him."

Kinross and classmate Brent Curtis remained unstoppable with a pair of individual wins each for D155, which co-ops with Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge.

The team's only returning state qualifiers paced a victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay, while Kinross played a key role on the victorious 200 medley relay team.

"Our relays really came through," Kinross said. "Our medley relay came from behind to win. I think we really we have shot at State in the medley (Kinross, Curtis, Ryan Kearney, Edward Griswold) and in one of the free relays, depending on which event guys end up in."

Kinross added a win in the 200 individual medley (2:02.66) against McHenry. He's already eclipsed his time from a year ago, when he cruised the Fox Valley Invite title.

The Crystal Lake South junior dropped his career-best by three seconds in his first-place finish in the 100 butterfly (54.19).

Curtis cruised to victories in the 100 breaststroke, his strongest event, in 1:03.20 and the 100 free with a 49.58.

That helped D155 finish with a 6-0 record in dual meets, including the first wins over Warren and rival District 300 (Jacobs/Dundee-Crown) for the team's seniors.

"That was pretty much a surprise," said Kinross of the perfect campaign. "We knew we had some tough meets on the schedule, so it really feels good to do that."

D155, which finished first at four invites and second at the Rockford Jefferson Invite Jan. 13, has put itself in position to snap D300's four-year stranglehold. The club should be considered the favorite when the McHenry Invitational gets underway at 1 p.m. Saturday.

"I would be disappointed if we don't win conference," Kinross insisted. "It was one of our team goals at the beginning of the year and it would be a big letdown. If our times are any indication, things are looking good."

DISTRICT 300: Nick Pankau and Sean Kelly each picked up two individual wins to lead the District 300 swim team past Woodstock 53-41 Jan. 31.

Pankau, a junior at Jacobs, touched the wall first in the 200 IM (2:13.28) and 100 breaststroke (1:06.49). Kelly, a junior at Dundee-Crown, contributed wins in the 100 fly (58.01) and 100 back (59.59).

The standout pair joined Dan Geske and Alec Schmidt to capture the 200 medley relay (1:49.59). Riley Quinlan paddled to victory in the 500 free (5:42.81) for D300 (2-3).