Although Fenwick lost 11 of its 12 swimming relay members from last season, first-year coach Luke McGuire and the annually reloaded Friars continued their success in the pool with a sectional title on Saturday.
Host Fenwick qualified in 10 of 11 swimming events for the IHSA State Finals, which will be held at Evanston High School this weekend, while amassing 313 points en route to top team sectional honors. Oak Park finished in second place with 260 points, followed by Riverside Brookfield (199), St. Patrick (197) and Fenton (113) to round out the top five.
“We did really well especially with our relay teams,” McGuire said. “It’s been a good year and this is a great group of kids who work hard.”
Brian and Dan Barron, a talented pair of juniors who made the state cut in three individual events, led the way for the Friars. Brian Barron took first in a pair of events, the 200-yard individual medley (2:00.08) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.17). Dan Barron earned top honors in the 100-yard butterfly (53.02).
“I thought I performed pretty well although my turns were a little slow,” Brian Barron said. “I’d like to go Top 6 in the breaststroke and Top 12 in the individual medley at state.”
Other Friars who qualified for state included Matt Napleton (50-yard freestyle, 22.18), Ryan Bartecki (100-yard freestyle, 48.87) and Chris Wendt (100-yard backstroke, 53.86). Fenwick senior Leo Galvez-Roldan garnered second place (388.80) in diving.
In the relay events, the Friars won all three races, easily making state times. Wendt, Brian Barron, Dan Barron and Napleton clocked in at 1:37.98 in the 200-yard medley relay, while Wendt, Bartecki, McKernin and Napleton touched the wall at 1:27.89 in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The Friars’ final quartet of Napleton, Bartecki, Will Rigali and Wendt completed the relays sweep by posting a 3:12.51 in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
“I thought our relays were pretty good, particularly in the medley and our 400,” Napleton said. “I’m really hoping we can finish in the Top 10 at state. In the relays, I think we should try to finish in the Top 6 in all three races.”