THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2007
Splash Of Hope: 11 River Racers Reach Regionals
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Reporter
In their inaugural season, the Des Plaines River Racers Swim Team sent 11 swimmers to the lllinois Swimming regional championships at Lake Forest High School.
Two of them achieved lifetime-best times at the event. The club trains at Maine West High School, and many of them were members of the Warrior varsity swimming team this past winter season.
Getting special mention from coach Mike Tuntland was Maine West freshman Sian Wilson. The 14-year-old dropped .3 of a second off her previous time in one of her freestyle events at the regional.
"She has really come a long way," Tuntland said. "She began swimming four years ago with the Des Plaines Park District's Ducks summer program. She has been experimenting with her stroke. In her high school season, she kind of hit a brick wall. After her high school season, she got to our club, and we've been working with her technique since. Now, we're seeing the good results."
The other regional standout was Freddy Wittmann, 16, in the 100-yard freestyle. He swam a 51.77 lifetime best, and then followed that up with a fifth place in the 50 free in 23.49.
Other club members making it to the regionals included Eric Babczak in the 100 free, Mark Cooper in the 200 and 500 free events, Sebastian Cyran in the 100- free and breaststroke, Mike Dillon in the 500 free, Chris Nienart in the freestyle sprints, Sammy Jo Mahler in the 50 free and butterfly, Nick Weijhner in the 50 free and butterfly, and Matt Zych in the 50 free.
"We now have a year-round feeder program for the high school operating for Des Plaines swimmers, and I think you will begin to see Maine West swimmers become more competitive with other schools within the CSL conference," Tuntland said. "We want them to compete more strongly with such schools as Deerfield and Glenbrook North, which have huge feeder programs. The fact that we had swimmers make it to regionals is proof that a year-round feeder team approach is working."
The club's spring/summer season begins in April.