La Salle-Peru swimmers drop times in wins over Morrison, Olympia

PERU – Last winter, La Salle-Peru junior Bo Weitl had tendonitis in his left shoulder, which caused him to miss a large part of the swimming season.

During his time away from the pool, Weitl joined tennis and track and field to help him stay in shape.

After a lot of physical therapy, Weitl is back in the pool this season.

On Wednesday, Weitl won two individual events and swam on two winning relays as the L-P co-op won duals against Olympia (104-28) and Morrison (102-19) at the Illinois Valley YMCA.

Weitl won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:23.74 and claimed the 100 backstroke in 59.54 seconds.

He swam with Tucker Ditchfield, Vince Wargo and Caleb Strand to win the 200 medley relay (1:55.36), and teamed with Wargo, Strand and Jonathan Neu to win the 200 free relay (1:44.64).

“I’m really happy with how I did,” Weitl said. “I was injured in January last year so I couldn’t swim. I got back into swimming this season. Basically, it was a clean slate. I’m right about back where I need to be in my 100 backstroke.”

Weitl’s 100 backstroke time was his best this season.

“He had some technique issues that I had been working on him with, and he has worked real hard to improve those technique issues,” L-P coach Rob McNally said. “Because of that, this is the first time he’s been under a minute this year. There’s still some work to be done, but he was happy with his time. The nice thing about that is, if you’re happy with your time, you’re going to respond to instruction and you’re going to get better.”

With the Normal Community Sectional a month away, the Cavaliers had several swimmers who dropped time Wednesday.

L-P won all 11 events and also had the second-place finisher in six events.

“We had a whole bunch of times drop,” McNally said. “I was on vacation for a week, so I was pleasantly surprised when I came back because they really swam some really good times. Today we’re four weeks away from sectional, so I’m optimistic about how much more improvement we can get before the sectional. We haven’t tapered them yet. I think we still have a whole bunch of upside and I’m looking forward to getting as much out of them as I can.”

Like Weitl, senior Tucker Ditchfield also won two individual events and was a part of two winning relays.

Ditchfield won the 500 free in 5:25.68 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.88. He also swam on the 200 medley relay and was on the winning 400 free relay (4:22.13) with Beckham Baker, Kaiden Lemke and Henry Pinter.

“I placed first in all my events, so being a senior, it’s nice to show that all the hard work has paid off,” Ditchfield said. “I’m right at my time I swam last year at sectional (in the 500 free). Being that we’re getting toward the end of the season, I’m right where I should be. I’ve got a little bit more work to do, but it’s not too bad.

“I have to keep working on my endurance. Other than that, I have to keep working hard at practice and the results will come.”

Other winners for the Cavs were Jonathan Neu in the 200 free (1:54.59) and 100 free (51.05 seconds), Baker in the 50 free (28.23 seconds) and Strand in the 100 butterfly (1:04.21).

“I think we did really well,” Weitl said. “I think most of us dropped time in at least one event, so I’m happy about that.”

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L-P Co-op swimmer Tucker Ditchfield competes in the 500 yard freestyle event during a triangular meet against Morrison and Olympia on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 at the Illinois Valley YMCA in Peru. (Scott Anderson)