Wolves drop times during back-to-back meets

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Glenview, 01/14/12 Niles West's Will Lefler swims the first leg of the varsity 400 yard medley relay during the Titan Relays at Glenbrook South High School Jan. 14. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 20, 2012 8:45AM

After a solid Friday night performance in a dual meet at Glenbrook South, Niles West’s reward was a return to the same pool 16 hours later for the Titan Relays.

As if senior Ryan Miller’s weekend wasn’t grueling enough, he got to participate in the 100-freestyle elimination relay.

In the event, swimmers who reach the finals must swim three 100 free races in succession, with only about a 10-minute rest between heats. The prize for the seven participants who advance to the finals: a swimming bobblehead doll.

“Everybody wants a bobblehead,” Niles West head coach Dan Vander Jeugdt said.

Miller now has one for his trophy shelf. The Wolves senior opened the event with a 50.38 (2nd) to move on to the next round. He then advanced on to the finals with a 49.84 (7th), breaking 50.0 for the first time.

In the final, which included some top-level competition, Miller clocked 51.01 (5th).

“He was just pooped,” Vander Jeugdt said following the final heat. “There is not a lot of time between races. But he was happy. He swam really well.”

The Wolves (156 points) ended up seventh at the eight-team meet, which was won by Warren. Not only was the meet “loaded,” according to Vander Jeugdt, but the non-CSL teams came in much fresher because they did not compete in Friday duals.

Vander Jeugdt said his team had focused its attention on the Friday night meet, though Saturday did have a few highlights.

The team of Miller and fellow seniors Will Lefler, Nick Giffen and Stephen Giddens came in second in the 200 medley relay (1:44.4), while the same quartet finished third in the 400 medley relay (3:52.19).

The foursome of junior Drake Nickell, Giddens, sophomore Steven Renko and Miller finished fourth in the 200 butterfly relay (1:43.43).

Another memorable Saturday performance came from freshman Kohler Mohr, who anchored Niles West’s freshman 400 free relay team by swimming a 55.9 split. Mohr, who had gone 58.1 in the 100 in Friday’s JV Meet, only started swimming competitively over the summer.

“Those were two great swims,” Vander Jeugdt said. “He still makes so many mistakes and we need to streamline him in the pool and work on making good turns and improving breathing wise. But this kid ... he swam lights out.”

On Friday, Glenbrook South defeated Niles West 114-72, but the Wolves did produce numerous season-bests. Miller won the 200 IM (2:05) and swam a strong 54.09 in the 100 butterfly, losing narrowly to Glenbrook South star Ryan Brander.

Giffen topped the 100 breaststroke (103.3). The medley relay of Lefler, Giffen, Miller and Giddens registered its all-time best (1:44.2), just getting touched out for first.

Sophomore Sergei Lemesh swam 5:14 in the 500 and the team of Giffen, Miller, Nickell and Giddens contributed a PR of 131.9 in the 200 free relay.

“Every single swimmer had season-best swims on Friday. We wanted them to get that and feel that all the hard work they are doing, that they are getting something out of it,” Vander Jeugdt said.

The Wolves visit Maine South at 5:30 p.m. Friday and compete in the Buffalo Grove Invite at 11 a.m. Saturday.