Soltys’ win in 500 sparks Neuqua past Metea

Beyond her skill, beyond her determination and even beyond her hard work, Neuqua Valley swimmer Grace Soltys has a secret weapon working for her when she gets in the pool to race.

Her Wildcat teammates are always on the deck shouting and cheering her on, and they do this for the most basic reason. She’s a really nice person and they like her a lot.

On Thursday, Soltys, a sophomore, also continued to prove she’s a very talented swimmer as she won the 500 freestyle to help the visiting Wildcats to a 118-87 dual meet win over Upstate Eight Conference rival Metea Valley.

“This year we didn’t really have any distance swimmers and Grace really stepped forward and took that event, and she’s had amazing times,” said senior teammate Courtney Taylor. “And she does everything with a smile on her face. She’s the happiest and most motivated person on the team. I love being around her. She’s amazing.

“I like swimming the 500,” said Soltys. “You have to prepare for it a little more because there’s so much to do. But it’s fun. You have to learn to pace yourself and to focus on swimming your own race no matter what’s going on around you.”

According to Neuqua Valley coach Brandon King, Soltys has been great in the 500 and will swim that event at sectionals, but the middle distances of the 200 and 100 freestyle may be even a more natural fit for her in the future.

“The 500 is a new event for her and she keeps improving,” said King. “She’s learning to pace herself. She’s swimming much smarter. We’re working on the concept of negative splitting, so she’s coming back faster than she goes out. She did that today in the 500 and in the 200 freestyle where she finished third. She’s very versatile and she’s really stepped up her training level from the beginning of the year”

And, of course, she’s a wonderful person?

“Everyone likes Grace, she’s very friendly,” King said. “She’s eager to do whatever she needs to do for the team. People want success for her. That helps her in practice and when they cheer for her in meets. The team aspect of swimming always works better when your teammates are pushing you.”

Soltys also swam the first leg of the winning 400 free relay team, which also included Eileen Skowronski, Sydney Gathe and April Niccolai.

The Wildcats won all three relays and got individual wins from Riley Schroedter in the 200 freestyle, Allie Dvorchak in the 200 IM, while Tara Blanzy won the 50 freestyle, Taylor won the 100 butterfly and Brooke Bedford finished first in the 100 freestyle.

For Metea Valley, the great breaststroker Megan Sellers won that event in 1:05.93 and set a team record by finishing second in the 200 freestyle in 2:00.74.

“Megan has been holding her 1:05s and 1:06es in the breaststroke,” said Metea Valley coach Lenny DePasquale. “With a great taper she looks solid for state. And she’ll be big for us in the relays in sectionals.”

Metea Valley freshman Hannah Davidsen won the 100 backstroke and the Mustangs’ Nina Brandenburg finished first in the diving competition.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.