DeKalb-Sycamore Co-op dominates dual meet with Metea Valley

DEKALB – Thursday was senior night in multiple ways for the DeKalb-Sycamore Co-op swim team.

In addition to 10 graduating members of the squad being recognized during the DuPage Conference Meet with Metea Valley, the Class of 2025 dominated both the individual and relay events.

The Barbs won all of the individual competitions with seniors taking top honors in five of the events and two of the three relays to win the meet, 106-50.

Half of the two winning relay teams – the 200 medley and 200 freestyle – were also seniors.

The Barbs conceded the last competition, the 400 freestyle relay, to the Mustangs so all of the seniors could swim in the last home event of their high school careers.

“We had a good meet. It was a balance of swimming hard and having fun as we saw at the end. The guys wanted to have a senior relay where they could do whatever they wanted so we let them do that,” Barbs coach Melanie Chambers said. “Some of them also got their fast suits on and were trying to get some season best and lifetime best times and they did that.”

Sam DeLaCruz faced the stiffest competition, beating Metea Valley’s Colin Louden by .03 seconds in the 200 Freestyle. Louden stayed close to De La Cruz for the first seven laps and made his move in the eighth and final lap.

“I saw him coming up on my right and I was like, oh, no, I’m not going to let this guy beat me, so I put all my energy in the last few seconds,” De La Cruz said.

The senior’s time of 1:57.72 was a personal best.

DeLaCruz, who also swam the first leg in the 200 freestyle, will miss the team’s camaraderie.

“I’m really proud of myself for how far I come, but I’m also going to miss this community that I’ve imbedded myself in and all the people that I’ve become friends with,” he said.

Louden, a freshman, has a bright future.

“Colin is one of our very exciting freshmen. He’s been working hard and we’re liking what we see,” Metea Valley assistant coach Alex Gidlow said. “He’s been working hard, and we know when it gets to the postseason, he’ll be ready.”

Gidlow was filling in for head coach Mark Jager, who could not make the meet.

Co-op senior Alex Skrzypek won both the 50 freestyle (22.85) and the 100 freestyle (49.86).

“I had a goal. I really wanted to get my 50 free time to go sub 23 and to go below 50 seconds on 100 free,” Skrzypek said.

Both times were personal records. The senior was also part of the winning 200 medley relay.

Senior Kevin Sullivan, who qualified for state last year in the 200 individual medley, won the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.50. Classmate Matteo Graham finished first in 500 freestyle. He finished the grueling 20 lap race in 5:11.20. Sullivan was also part of the 200 medley while Graham swam in the 200 freestyle relay.

Chambers has known some of the seniors since they were in grade school.

“Most of them have been around for all four years. A lot of them I coach from when they were eight years old. I’ve seen them through a lot of hard work and saw great leadership from them, so we’ll miss them” said the coach.

Underclassmen did contribute. Junior Justin Wo took top honors in the 100 butterfly (56.21) while classmate Sean Harrelson finished first in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.82). Freshman Logan Borth took top honors in the 200 IM (2:21.35)

While Chambers is saying goodbye to 10 seniors, she hopes to see a lot more of Borth.

“We’re excited to see what the next three years brings. Logan is a very diverse swimmer,” she said. “He can swim so many events that I can put him anywhere and he’s happy to do so. He’s doing a really nice job.”.