With conference and sectionals only a few days away, the Elk Grove swimming and diving team has been hoping to continue its hot stretch into the final half of the season.

Head coach Keith Kura is very content to say the least with how his team performed in the first two months of the season. 

“Their work ethic is incredible, and they work hard all the time which makes practices much easier on the coaches,” Kura said. 

Kura said the team was excited when it started the season off with a second-place finish at the Maine East High School Invitational. Kura said he believes since that finish, the team has used that confidence throughout the season.

And since the start of the season, the Grens swimmers have racked up wins against non-conference opponents and Mid-Suburban League opponents.

The team also placed fourth at the Elk Grove Invitational.   

For one, the leadership on the team has been incredible, Kura says. After last season many consistent seniors graduated, and they were also considered to be exceptional role models for the younger swimmers.

Now this season the younger boys are stepping up and shadowing those seniors from last year. And Kura believes that leadership is key to a winning team in the sport of Boys Swimming.

“The leadership shows during practices and meets which shows how much they respect and appreciate each others time,” Kura said.

Adrian Wlodarz, a senior at EG, has been a sizable asset to the team this season. Kura said that Woldarz’s consistency has been present all season, and that Wlodarz also has a leader mindset when he communicates with other swimmers.

“Being in this program has taught me so much and it’s a great group of teammates and coaches to be around,” Wlodarz said.

One thing Kura and his swimming squad are looking forward to are the upcoming conference and sectional meets.

With the weeks remaining, Kura hopes to continue with the same effort and intensity til the end. EG will have two more meets before their conference meet at Schaumburg High School on Feb. 9, and their sectional meet at Glenbrook South High School on Feb. 16.   

“During conference and sectionals is really when we see where all the work in practice pays off throughout the season,” Kura said.

As of Monday, swimmers were ready for the Mid-Suburban League Open Invite at Barrington High School. The Guardian was unable to see the results by press time.