On Dec. 13, West Chicago Community High School hosted teams from Bartlett, St. Charles, Naperville, and more for the 43rd Annual Wildcat Relays (Dan Johnson Memorial Relays) in the Dan Johnson Natatorium.
As the meet began, the boys took their start on their marks, set, and swam.
“It’s very challenging, but the benefit will get you up really far,” Bartlett High School senior Paul Rodriguez said. “Because it helps day-to-day life with everything else, except the sport – your organization skills and your drive for your mental capacity.”
Rodriguez believes that the challenge is worth it, as it builds skills that extend beyond sports, including organization, mental focus, and personal drive. Other swimmers echoed this mindset, emphasizing how preparation and balance impact performance.
“I think we really benefited from the time we had in between sets,” Neuqua Valley High School freshman Anderson See said. “So I think that kind of helped this year with transitioning from one event to the next.”
While See’s team found success, their victory also had its challenges. Those issues came down to small details, such as transitions from one swimmer to the next, along with power and efficiency when pushing off the wall. Several athletes pointed to that same focus on power as a key factor.
“I added eight seconds in both two hundreds—well, nine in the first one, eight in the second,” junior Shane Johnson said. Johnson described his performance as “terrible,” although his 100m free was “good,” highlighting the ups and downs that come with refining technique and building power.
“I think I did pretty good. I was really happy with it,” Geneva High School sophomore Nate Walkington said. “But that 2x500m relay was god awful.”
Despite that disappointment, Walkington also gave a shoutout to the freshman/sophomore relay at the end of the meet, which helped end the day off with a splash.
Despite some minor setbacks and tough laps, the boys showed that teamwork, persistence, and power make all the difference in the pool. From freshman relays to experienced swimmers, each athlete contributed to a day of growth, effort, and determination, competing in honor of the meet’s memorial legacy.
