The Chesterton Trojans answered a lot of questions right away on Saturday.

The state’s No. 1-ranked Trojans won the opening event and followed it up with a 1-2-3 finish as they cruised to a 128-57 victory over No. 3 Northridge.

“Today we just kind of wanted to see what we had … and ‘wow’,” Chesterton coach Kevin Kinel said. “I’m really, really excited for the prospects. Our expectations are obviously extremely high and I think that’s carrying over to our training.”

The Trojans dominated all three Relays with a victory in the 200 Medley Relay from Andy Hurst, Jack Wallar, Aaron Whitaker and Blake Pieroni in 1:35.12.

Chesterton also won the 200 Free Relay with the group of Wallar, Josh VanNevel, Jack Kurfman and Ethan Whitaker (1:29.48) and the 400 Free Relay quartet of Pieroni, Ethan Whitaker, Aaron Whitaker and Patrick Curley.

“We knew our Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay would be good and they were,” Kinel said. “The 200 Free Relay was really terrific too. To be under 1:30 with the group we had in there is really fantastic.”

Double individual winners for the Trojans included Ethan Whitaker in the 200 Free (1:42.21) and the 500 Free (4:40.63) and Blake Pieroni in the 200 IM (1:54.34) and the 100 Free (45.83).

“Ethan’s swimming about as fast as was at State last year. His 200 Free was actually faster and he was tremendous in the Relays,” Kinel said. “Blake just does his thing. The IM was a solid time and the 100 Free under 46 was great this early and then broke Kyle’s (Whitaker) 100 Free pool record leading off the 400 Relay.”

Aaron Whitaker was also a double winner with victories in the 100 Fly (49.17) and the 100 Back (50.51).

“Aaron just missed Kyle’s pool record in the 100 Fly and then got it in 100 Back,” Kinel said. “We weren’t really expecting that one and he looked tremendous underwater.”

The other individual event winner for the Trojans was Jack Wallar in the 100 Breaststroke (59.50).

“Jack was right with the guy who’s the top returner in the State in the 50 Free,” Kinel said. “That’s something we thought might be a little bit of a weak link and he filled that in. Then under 1:00 in the Breaststroke was a nice start to the year.”

The Trojans also got some top swims that finished up as points in second and third place.

“Not only did our top guys swim well, but our second and third guys did,” Kinel said. “Patrick Curley going 1:59 in the IM is incredible. Andy Hurst breaking 5:00 in the 500 and 56 in the Backstroke. Jack Kurfman’s two swims were about where he was last year.

“They were all just incredible.”

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Chesterton (Andy Hurst, Jack Wallar, Aaron Whitaker, Blake Pieroni), 1:35.12; 2. Northridge, 1:38.40; 3. Chesterton (Josh VanNevel, Patrick Curley, Tony Kincaid, Brent Vondra), 1:42.78.

200 Free -- 1. Ethan Whitaker ©, 1:42.21; 2. Jack Kurfman ©, 1:50.44; 3. Josh VanNevel ©, 1:51.26.

200 IM -- 1. Blake Pieroni ©, 1:54.34; 2. Jonathan Stoller (N), 1:58.31; 3. Patrick Curley ©, 1:59.30; 5. Nathan Rodriguez ©, 2:08.19.

50 Free -- 1. Austin Flager (N), 21.81; 2. Jack Wallar ©, 21.98; 3. Takoda Friesen (N), 23.58; 4. Brent Vondra ©, 23.75; 5. Tony Kincaid ©, 24.00.

Diving -- 1. Taylor Berkey (N), 202.80; 2. Andrew Claudio ©, 192.85; 3. Jack McCusker ©, 168.65; 4. Colin Ringas ©, 133.35.

100 Fly -- 1. Aaron Whitaker ©, 49.17; 2. Tony Kincaid ©, 54.87; 3. Josh VanNevel ©, 55.12.

100 Free -- 1. Blake Pieroni ©, 45.83; 2. Jack Kurfman ©, 50.65; 3. Brent Vondra ©, 52.38.

500 Free -- 1. Ethan Whitaker ©, 4:40.63; 2. Andy Hurst ©, 4:56.66; 3. Joe Mueller (N), 5:03.27; 5. Spencer Wright ©, 5:09.03.

200 Free Relay -- 1. Chesterton (Jack Wallar, Josh VanNevel, Jack Kurfman, Ethan Whitaker), 1:29.48; 2. Northridge, 1:29.51; 3. Chesterton (Tony Kincaid, Nathan Rodriguez, Joe Gerard, Brent Vondra), 1:36.78.

100 Back -- 1. Aaron Whitaker ©, 50.51; 2. Austin Flager (N), 53.69; 3. Andy Hurst ©, 56.15; 5. Tom McGue ©, 1:02.86.

100 Breast -- 1. Jack Wallar ©, 59.50; 2. Jonathan Stoller (N), 1:00.67; 3. Patrick Curley ©, 1:02.20; 5. Nathan Rodriguez ©, 1:05.40.

400 Free Relay -- 1. Chesterton (Blake Pieroni, Ethan Whitaker, Patrick Curley, Aaron Whitaker), 3:07.58; 2. Chesterton (Jack Kurfman, Andy Hurst, Spencer Wright, Nathan Rodriguez), 3:31.01; 3. Northridge, 3:37.68.

Posted 11/26/2012