Friday, December 01, 2006

Dave Peterson (Schererville, Ind./Highland H.S.) earned a runner-up finish and Adam Jajtner (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington H.S.) posted a fourth place result for Valparaiso on the opening day of the House of Champions Invitational held in Indianapolis, Ind. on Friday evening.

Peterson finished runner-up in the 200 individual medley, the day's third event. The senior touched the wall in 1:58.33, a little more than two seconds behind the event champion.

Jajtner finished fourth in the 500 freestyle with a season's best time of 4:51.21. Valpo's school record holder in the event, he was less than a half of a second out of third place.

In other individual events held on the opening day of competition, Quinn Bobel (Lexington, Ky./Tates Creek H.S.) finished 11th diving on the three-meter board with a score of 134.70. Kyle Verage (Hubertus, Wis./Marquette H.S.) turned in the Crusaders' top finish in the 50 freestyle, placing 19th with a time of 23.20 seconds, a season's best.

Valpo's 200 freestyle relay finished fifth with a time of 1:35.47, while the 400 medley earned the same place with a time of 3:39.29.

As a team, Valpo is in fifth place with 100 points after day one while Ball State leads the field with 292 points. The Crusaders will return to the pool at 9 a.m. CST on Saturday morning for the final day of action.