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BOYS SWIMMING: Robert Vechiola does it all for Neuqua
| Corey R. Minkanic~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: January 5, 2012 7:55PM
Robert Vechiola showed again on Thursday why he is so important to this year’s Neuqua Valley boys swimming team.
The versatile senior won both the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke and swam on the two winning freestyle relay teams to lead the Wildcats to a 105-75 dual meet win over host and Upstate Eight Conference rival Metea Valley.
“We can always count on Robert,” said Neuqua Valley coach Chad Allen. “He’s been our leader all year.”
Allen was particularly impressed that Vechiola swam three of his four winning events in the space of about 15 minutes, as the backstroke and the two relays are three of the last four events of the meet.
“These victories feel good, especially because this will be the pool for sectionals and we all want to get as comfortable in it as possible,” Vechiola said.
At this point in the season Vechiola isn’t sure what his role will be on the sectional team. “We still don’t know if I’m going to swim on two or three relays,” he said. “As far as individual events, the 200 free is a possibility and the 200 IM, and the 100 backstroke are still on the table. We’re just waiting for all the pieces to fall in place.”
While the two schools split the first-place finishes in the 12 events, it was Neuqua’s superior depth that determined the final score.
“It was a good meet,” Allen said. “Metea Valley has some really good swimmers. They won the medley relay, but we finished second and third and then won the other two relays. We won the meet with a lot of second- and third-place finishes.”
The Wildcats also got victories from freshman James Tidd in the 50 free and from Jerry Wu in the 100 butterfly.
“Jerry is probably our best chance to score in an individual event at state,” said Allen. “He’s getting stronger as a flyer.”
Metea Valley’s Matt Salerno was the other big winner in the meet, as he finished first in both the 200 IM and the 100 freestyle and anchored the victorious 200 medley relay.
“Matt is a bright new star for us,” said Metea Valley coach Mark Jager. “He’s the real deal and he has the chance to make state in two events and he adds a lot of depth to our relays.”
“I’m hoping to qualify for state in the 200 IM and one of the sprint freestyle races,” said Salerno. “We’ve all been working hard putting in the yardage and lifting weights.”
Metea Valley returning state qualifiers Nick Pulgine and Michael Stack were also winners on Thursday with Pulgine touching first in the 500 freestyle and Stack winning the 100 breaststroke.
The Mustangs’ Peter Rodriguez won the diving competition.
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