Boys Swimming: Depth helps Neuqua swimmers top Waubonsie

Updated: January 19, 2012 10:36PM

Host Neuqua Valley won Thursday’s dual meet against Waubonsie Valley on the strength of its depth, pulling out a 116-70 victory in the Upstate Eight Valley matchup.

“Kevin Patterson did a great job in the 500(-yard freestyle),” Neuqua Valley coach Chad Allen said. “He did a different strategy than normal, which is something I’ve been working with him for awhile on and he finally put that together. He really had a nice race in that 500 — some good pacing — so I think that’s going to really set well for the future.

“Drew Dvorchak had a really nice 100 fly and then we had a freshman, Joe Widuch, who had an awesome split in the 50 free at 23.01 (seconds), which is about a second faster than he’s ever gone. He’s been working super hard in practice, so it’s nice to see a freshman that we know down the road’s going to be an outstanding swimmer for Neuqua Valley.”

Though Waubonsie Valley (2-3 in dual meets and conference dual meets) captured seven of 12 varsity event titles, Neuqua Valley (3-3, 3-2) accumulated a slew of second- and third-place finishes. The Wildcats’ propensity for those places helped them rack up extensive team points.

Dvorchak, a sophomore, had one such finish in the 100-yard butterfly. There, he finished .01 seconds behind winner Stephen Ernst of Waubonsie Valley, who completed the course in 55.63 seconds.

“The 100 fly was really my favorite event of the day,” Dvorchak said. “I was able to swim my fastest time this season but Stephen out-touched me by .01.

“I didn’t really take out (either) of my races (very) hard, so he had me (by) a little bit at the 50 and then my third 25 I just kind of built up and then my last 25 I kind of had a late surge and tried to chase him down. He just barely got me.”

Patterson highlighted two of Neuqua Valley’s wins. He took the 500-yard freestyle in 4:58.65 and won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:52.35.

Robert Vechiola claimed first in the 200-yard individual medley for the Wildcats, swimming a 2:02.81 time. Dvorchak was second in that event at 2:04.83.

Vechiola also won the 100 backstroke title in 55.56 seconds.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Widuch swam as the second leg of Neuqua Valley’s second-place team that finished the course in 1:33.09. That group finished second to Waubonsie Valley’s foursome of Michael McWhirter, Adam Stacklin, Bailey York and Joe Poletto, who combined for a 1:30.41 race.

The Warriors’ combination of Stacklin, McWhirter, Ernst and Poletto landed first-place finishes in the 200-yard medley relay (1:42.08) and the 400 free relay (3:21.39).

Poletto also won the 50 free in 22.97 seconds and Stacklin won the 100 free in 48.98 seconds.

Alex Zdravev won the 1-meter diving competition for Waubonsie Valley, scoring a 168.35.

“I was really pleased with, first of all, our 500 freestylers,” Warriors coach Nick Arens said. “They didn’t score particularly well, but I know they dropped a lot of time.

“I was pleased seeing Adam Stacklin keeps recovering pretty well from injury. …Our relays are starting to do what they need to do and I was pleased seeing Bailey York be able to step up as our fourth guy in our 200 free relay by going his first ever (23.02 seconds). It will only be a matter of time before he goes in the 22s and we really want to see that.”

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