Luca Lopez wins 200-yard individual medley at SLC tournament
By Kevin Cunningham
Correspondent
At the Southern Lakes Conference boys swimming tournament Saturday at Jefferson High School, Delavan-Darien finished seventh as a team. The Comets finished all but two of the races with personal records and Luca Lopez won the 200-yard individual medley.
Lopez, who went and competed at the state meet a season ago, also finished third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Feb. 2 tournament.
“It went very well. As always, we had a small team, so we’re always trying to fight for more points. Individually, the guys did great. They dropped times, which is all you can ask for. Chase Castel also swam [the 200-yard individual medley] and got on the podium with his sixth-place finish. He dropped a lot of time,” Comets coach Matt Palma said.
“There’s a guy from Whitewater – he’s incredible. He might be the state champion in the 100 breaststroke. We also thought he would compete in the 200 IM as well, but he didn’t, so Luca took advantage and ran with it – or swam with it I should say,” he added.
Palma also said he knew Castel was getting better and better at the 200-yard individual medley and wishes there was another month left in the season. He wasn’t sure if Castel would end up finishing at the podium, but said that it was a great way for him to end the season at the conference meet.
In order to qualify for state, the athletes have to either win their particular sectional race or finish with one of the next 12 fastest times among each of the four sectionals. The sectional which Delavan-Darien will compete in is set for a 12:30 p.m. start time on Feb. 9 at Whitefish Bay High School.
“Mainly, we’re just looking for time drops from everyone. End their season putting everything out there and getting a best time,” Palma said.
“Hopefully that best time will be able to send Luca to state. It should. There might be a couple outside chances. We’re looking forward to that sectional,” he added.
Read more Delavan-Darien sports in the Feb. 7 Enterprise.
