Marmion 3rd, SCN 6th vs. challenging field

Marmion boys swim coach Bill Schalz recorded yellow Hi-Lite markings on the points scoresheet throughout Saturday's Evanston Invitational.

The point of Schalz's work was to determine which of his swimmers scored the most points in the meet, which was scored using the Power Points system. That system gives points based on time rather than race placings.

The reward for the athlete with the highest Hi-Lited marking? A sub sandwich.

And the winner? Austin Cox, whose 1:45.79 in the 200 freestyle was worth 126 points to the Cadets cause.

"That's good," Cox said after the meet. "I'm hungry."

For good measure, Cox scored 121 points in the 100 backstroke, making him the team's highest overall point-getter in the meet.

"Knowing I was the high point-getter gave me extra motivation," Cox said. "I wanted to step it up and keep cheering on my teammates. It was exciting knowing I was the high-point winner for the team, but the team did very well too."

The Cadets finished third in one of the state's toughest invitational fields. Neuqua Valley won the meet while New Trier was second.

"Knowing this was a really fast meet, we all had the mindset of coming in and swimming fast when we're really tired."

St. Charles North finished sixth, better than its 2007 performance and in the midst of a tight group of talented teams.

"We swam hot and cold," St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney said. "We had an opportunity to finish anywhere up to third. We had, I think, about a dozen swims that I thought could have been a little better. But we swam better and faster than last year."

St. Charles North started impressively when John Higgins, Dan Stanek, Jimmy Brooks and Nick Smith won the 200 medley relay.

Matt Baumann had a strong meet, including a tie for fifth place in the 100 backstroke.

"This is a good meet to get back into it," Baumann said. "This is the place where the state meet will be held, and it's good to get a feel for the walls, the blocks, the deck -- everything."

The pack just behind Neuqua Valley and New Trier was tightly bunched. St. Charles North was 7 points behind Lincoln-Way East for fifth place.

"We were all tired," Baumann said. "I think we did a really great job."

The state meet is less than 50 days away, and takes place at Evanston, meaning the pace of the season will increase incredibly.

"We have a few things to figure out in a few kids' minds," Rooney said. "We've got to be mentally tough by any kid in every event come the end of February. That's where we have some work to do yet. It was a positive start for the second half (Saturday) though."