L-P swimming co-op has experience, talent

The La Salle-Peru co-op boys swimming team won’t be short on experience or talent this winter.

The Cavaliers return state qualifiers Luke Mertes and Joe Ovanic — both juniors — and sophomore Owen Phillips.

Mertes, who is from L-P, qualified for state in the 200-yard individual medley last season, while Ovanic — an Ottawa swimmer — qualified in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

“Luke Mertes and Joe Ovanic are two really, really good swimmers,” L-P coach Rob McNally said. “They’ve progressed really well through the seasons they’ve been on the team. They’re both juniors, which is exiting because they still have another year ahead.”

Mertes, Ovanic and Phillips, who is an Ottawa student, also helped the L-P co-op’s 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays qualify for state.

Also back are Ottawa’s Tanner Ditchfield, Ryan Nelson, Duncan Perry, Ben Phillips, Daniel Reinhardt and John Szewczuk along with L-P’s Dillon Malerk and Josh Washkowiak.

“I’m looking forward to some really, really competitive meets,” McNally said. “Practices have been very enjoyable so far. The boys have been swimming on their own or with their age group teams, so when we met (for the first practice), they were ready to go.

“I have no idea what anybody else has done. I have no idea what kind of shape anybody else is in. We have a lot of meets scheduled against a lot of good teams. I think with the way our practices are going, I feel we’ll be able to field a really competitive team because of all the experience coming back.”

The lone newcomer is L-P freshman Chris Lowery, who has experience with area youth teams and is expected to make an impact. McNally said Lowery is a talented 200 individual medley swimmer and could earn a spot on a relay.

McNally is excited the Illinois Department of Public Health and the IHSA are allowing relays for the boys season after not allowing them during the girls season in the fall.

Mertes, Ovanic, Owen Phillips and Szewczuk are expected to make a strong realy team.

“I think the group swimming has the potential to lower the team record in all the relays,” McNally said.

With no postseason, McNally said it’s more difficult to set goals, but the Cavs do have some in mind.

“We want to get through the season without having any pauses or cancelations like we did for the girls and we want to win all of our meets,” McNally said. “It’s tough to set end of season goals because there’s not going to be season-ending meets, but there’s still plenty to work for with the goal of winning all then meets. I’m not saying we’re going to, but that’s our goal.”