Hinsdale Central culminated a winning whirlwind weekend Saturday at the Neuqua Valley Invitational. The Red Devils won twice in less than 24 hours with the 501-495.5 squeaker over their hosts and a 104-82 home victory over Lyons Township on Friday.
Coach Corky King set up the team schedule with six back-to-back meets to mimic the grueling Friday-Saturday state-meet timetable. He made the opener of the sextet even tougher, working the Red Devils before each competition.
“I’m pleasantly surprised because we’re working fairly hard,” King said of the Red Devils’ times. “They’ll learn to swim with that tiredness. Later in the year as they get in better shape, they’ll realize it’s not getting any better. We either have to suck it up and swim a little faster with the tiredness or we’re doomed to swim bad. They know there’s a price to pay during the year.”
David Kormushoff figured in Central’s four first-place finishes. The defending state breaststroke titlist won the 50 freestyle (22.17 seconds), and romped to a 1.41-second win in the 100 free (49.55). He teamed with Andy Sigfusson, John Deppe and Keith Potkul to win the 200 medley relay (1:43.83) and fired off a 21.38 anchor split in the 200 free relay with Potkul, Scott Bobo and Jeff Tolbert.
“My times are staying consistent, nothing special,” said Kormushoff, who contributed to the Red Devils’ third-place 2002 and 2003 finishes. “But it’s exciting to be holding strong through all that training.”
Michael Templeton led Neuqua Valley with a commanding 1.62 victory in the 200 free and a score with Alex Totura, Jeremy Gehl and Brian Verbus in the 400 free relay. Diver Aaron Leech won his competition with 440.75 points.
Richie Kraus won the 500 free by a half-pool margin and the 200 IM, and Phil Morton took the 100 backstroke for third-place St. Charles North.
