Lincoln-Way West came ready to the Steve Allen Invitational, but the Warriors couldn’t quite climb to the top of the podium, finishing fifth overall with 230 points.
The invitational unfolded January 23-24, inside Lockport Township High School’s pool.
The two-day meet drew a competitive field from across the region, giving swimmers a midseason test against familiar rivals and setting the tone for the stretch run of the campaign.
The Warriors’ highlights came early and often. William Spee delivered one of the team’s best performances, taking third in the 200 Individual Medley and fourth in the 100 Butterfly. His versatility across strokes gave the Warriors a reliable spark. Jack Casey chipped in with ninth-place finishes in both the 200 and 500 Freestyle, showing grit in the distance events. Colin Stack added points with a seventh-place finish in the 100 Back and 11th in the 100 Free. Sprinters Camden Ring (12th, 50 Free) and John Kucala (14th, 50 Free) kept West competitive in the short races, while Ryan Medel and Noah Kueltzo contributed in relays and depth scoring.
The Warriors entered 28 swims, producing 11 personal bests and two season bests. Relay squads provided crucial points, with the 200 Medley and 400 Free teams cracking the upper tier.
While Lincoln-Way West didn’t leave Lockport with the team trophy, their balanced roster and steady improvement were on display.
