By Sean Fuchs
One area coached termed this year's state qualifying standards as "a significant change" from last season's state cuts. While that may be true, the new standards didn't keep that many area swimmers from advancing to state.
A Heat Index analysis of the results from the Naperville Central Sectional shows that four area individuals were prevented from advancing because of the new state cuts.
If the state cuts for last year were applied to the times posted on Saturday, then Dave Vandendorpe of Benet would have qualified in the 200-yard freestyle, the Naperville Central pair of Ryan Stanley and Chris Depew would have made it in the 500 free and Central's Keith Piper would have advanced in the 100 backstroke.
That's it for the locals.
Lockport Township lost its 400 free relay team, and Oswego East lost its teams in both the 200 medley and 200 free relays along with one individual because of the new standards.
Once we get to the state finals and see the massive heat sheet, one might argue the standards weren't made tough enough.
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