Strong core of returners to lead L-P boys swimming co-op

Last winter, the La Salle-Peru co-op placed fourth in the Peoria Richwoods Sectional despite having only nine swimmers.

This season, the Cavaliers return several talented swimmers from last year’s group – led by seniors Tucker Ditchfield and Brian Lowery and juniors Jonathan Neu and Bo Weitl – and now have 10 swimmers on the roster.

The co-op has swimmers from La Salle-Peru, Ottawa, Streator and Putnam County this season.

“We finished fourth place at sectional last year and we only had nine swimmers, so I believe with the experience we’re bringing back this year we’ll do pretty well again this year,” L-P coach Rob McNally said.

Neu is expected to be strong in the shorter freestyle events, Ditchfield will swim distance, Weitl is back after missing the sectional last year with a shoulder injury and Lowery will contribute in the individual medley and backstroke.

“Jonathan Neu did a lot of work in the offseason, so he’s turned into a pretty strong young man. I think he’ll do pretty well in the 50 and 100 free,” McNally said. “Tucker Ditchfield has always enjoyed swimming distance events, so he has his sights set on a pretty good time in the 500. Bo Weill was seeded second in the backstroke in our sectional last year, but ended up with a shoulder injury and wasn’t able to participate. Brian Lowery is really good in the individual medley and butterfly.”

Sophomores Caleb Strand and Vince Wargo also swam in the sectional meet last season.

Junior Beckham Baker, a Putnam County student, is new to the team this year along with sophomore Henry Pinter and freshmen Kaedin Lemke and Gabriel Marini.

“I have most of the strokes covered pretty well,” McNally said. “We’ll put people in different things. I like to give them the opportunity to swim something different every time since they’re capable of doing it. Once I figure out where the fastest swims are going to come from, I’ll put them in that.”

McNally said Ditchfield, Lowery, Neu and Weitl can form a strong medley relay team. He said he thinks the Cavaliers also could form a strong 200 freestyle relay.

“The boys who have gone through the program in prior years have all been pretty strong swimmers, so they’re going to have their work cut out for them if they want to set any team records, but I think they’ll be competitive enough where we should be able to perform well in the medley relay,” McNally said.

McNally said he thinks Weitl can contend for a state berth in the 100 backstroke and Neu could potentially qualify for state in the 50 or 100 freestyle.

“I’m looking forward to a good season,” McNally said. “My goals are always to finish higher than we did last year at sectionals and get a state qualifier.”

The Cavaliers opened the season Tuesday at Washington, falling to the host Panthers while defeating Pontiac.