DGN Boys Swim and Dive Team Places Eighth in Sectionals

Submitted by Kim Costello.

Downers Grove, IL - The Downers Grove North Boys Swim and Dive Team placed eighth of 13 teams in the IHSA Lyons Sectional meet on February 20 at Lyons Township High School.

Lyons Township won the Sectional meet. Hinsdale Central placed second.

Downers Grove North freshman Kevin Sullivan placed third in the diving competition with a score of 488.8, and junior Ryan Murphy placed fourth with a score of 448.35.

Both will be advancing to the IHSA State Final on February 26 and 27 in Evanston.

In the swim competition, all the DGN swimmers finished with season best times. The team of Ben Ellstrom (So.), Jack Costello (So.), Matt Benge (Jr.), and John Pitelka (Jr.) placed fourth in the 200 medley relay event with a time of 1:40.21, a full five seconds faster than their 1:45.26 race at the Conference meet on Feb. 6. Ellstrom placed sixth in the 100 yard backstroke race with a time of 54.47. The Trojans also placed sixth in the 200 yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:31.23 from Benge, Ellstrom, Nolan Woodring (Fr.), and Pitelka, also beating their best time by more than four seconds.

Highlights for Downers Grove North included:

1 Meter Diving (11 dives)

• 3rd place - Kevin Sullivan 488.80 (fresh/soph school record)
• 4th place - Ryan Murphy 448.35

200 Yard IM

• 12th place - David Waitley (Jr.) 2:13.34

100 Yard Butterfly

• 7th place - Matt Benge 53.79

100 Yard Freestyle

• 12th place - Ben Ellstrom 49.68

100 Yard Backstroke

• 6th place - Ben Ellstrom 54.47 (fresh/soph school record)

100 Breaststroke

• 9th place - Jack Costello 1:02.01 (fresh/soph school record)
• 10th place - Matt Benge 1:02.39

200 Yard Medley Relay

• 4th place - Ellstrom, Costello, Benge, Pitelka 1:40.21

200 Yard Freestyle Relay

• 6th place - Benge, Ellstrom, Woodring, Pitelka 1:31.23

400 Yard Freestyle Relay

• 10th place - Luc Collo (So.), Woodring, Waitley, Pitelka 3:34.39

Photo Credits: Sarah Imhoff

Photo 1: (L to R) John Pitelka, Jack Costello, Ben Ellstrom and Matt Benge placed fourth in the 200 Yard Medley Relay event.

Photo 2: (L to R) Matt Benge, John Pitelka, Nolan Woodring, and Ben Ellstrom placed 6th in the 200 Yard Freestyle race.

Photo 3: Downers Grove North Freshman Kevin Sullivan placed 3rd in the diving event and will be advancing to the IHSA State competition.

Photo 4: Downers Grove North Junior Ryan Murphy placed 4th at the Sectional meet and will be advancing to the IHSA State competition.

Phot 5: Sophomore Ben Ellstrom placed 6th in the 100 yard Backstroke event with a new fresh/soph school record.