A healthy victory for Fremd at Buffalo Grove

Even at less than full strength, Fremd's boys swimming team is stronger than most.

The aftereffects of illness kept a couple of key seniors out of the lineup, but the result Friday night at Buffalo Grove was still decidedly healthy for the Vikings.

Fremd defeated the host Bison, another one of the Mid-Suburban League's top teams, 108-75, behind strong efforts from competitors who don't always get the limelight.

Such as junior Anthony Rublaitus, who swam a leg on Fremd's winning 400-yard freestyle relay, took third in the 100 free (52.88) and fourth in the 50 free (24.55).

Such as sophomore Dustin Anderson, who won the 200 IM (2:07.64) and had strong legs on all three winning Fremd relays.

And such as competitors like senior Sean Carroo, who won the 100 back (57.65) and had a leg on the 400 relay. Perhaps just as importantly, Carroo and his more experienced teammates helped bring balance to a team missing standout seniors Varun Shivakumar and Sam Childs.

"I think some some of the young guys, when they heard we'd be without Varun and Sam were like, 'Oh no,' " said Carroo. "But the guys who have been on the team a while, we know we're a real strong team."

Battling illness has been a common theme for most squads lately, including Buffalo Grove. The Bison more or less fielded a complete lineup, but several key swimmers have had their training interrupted. Amid all of those negative factors, though, coach Jamie Klotz found plenty of positives.

For one, Fremd's lineup allowed for several of the races to be more competitive than they might have been if all the Vikes' swimmers had competed.

"Fremd is really one of the elite programs in our conference, and you always learn some things about yourself by going against the best," said Klotz. "Nicole LaBeau does such a great job with that program - they have their rules, they stick to them and that's one of the reasons they're the best."

The Bison saw progress from Brad Lotzer (who won the 50 free in 23.34), Matt Cooney (who won the 500 free with his best time of the season) and from Adrian Sadkowski (who won the 100 fly in 56.23 while still recovering from his own battle with illness).

Both teams compete today in invitationals featuring events held at college distances. The Vikings will have both Shivakumar and Childs back in action - not that LaBeau was all that worried with them out of the lineup.

"If things go wrong and I start to get nervous, my guys sense that and just remind me, 'We're fine,' " said LaBeau. "These guys know how to keep everything in balance."

Schaumburg d. Elk Grove: The visiting Saxons had double individual winners in Chris Corbett (200 IM, 100 back) and Aaron Johnson (100 breaststroke and 100 free) in a 95-90 victory over the Grenadiers.

For Elk Grove, Carl Sugihara won the 50 free (22.35) and was a close second to Corbett in the 100 back (56.03 to Corbett's 55.42).

Barrington d. Prospect: Charlie Mau was a double inidividual winner for the host Knights but Barringtonwon two relays and earned a 103-83 victory at Wheeling.

Sophomore Dan Comyn won the 50 free and had legs on Barrington's winning 200 and 400 free relays. Brian Marko won the 200 free and joined Comyn on the winning relays.

Mau was tops in the 200 IM (2:05.85) and the 100 fly (55.22).