Luke Vatev Swims 1:42.95 200 Back At Illinois Senior Champs

Illinois Senior Champs

• March 5-8, 2026
• UIC Flames Natatorium, Chicago, IL
• SCY (25 yards)

Some of the top swimmers in Illinois competed in Chicago at the start of the month. Highlighting the meet was Stanford commit Luke Vatev.

Vatev swam in prelims of four individual races going season bests in all of them. His biggest swim was a 1:42.95 200 backstroke, marking a four second season best. He also swam to a 4:28.73 500 free, only a second and a half off his lifetime best 4:27.04 from 2024 Winter Juniors.

14 year old Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski had an impressive showing, swimming to lifetime bests in three events. He finished 5th in the 100 free with a 45.66, dropping 0.16 off his best time. He was 14th in prelims of the 50 free with a lifetime best 21.42. He also swam a best time in the 100 back with a 49.68 while leading off New Tier Aquatics’ 400 medley relay. 

NC State commit Vera Conic led the way on the girls side. Conic won the 100 fly in a lifetime best 55.27, dropping over a second off her previous best time. She also swam to a personal best 1:52.24 in the 200 free while leading off Palatine Park District’s 800 free relay. Although her lifetime best in the 200 back is a 1:54.47, she posted a season best 1:56.03 in the event for the win. Erika Pelaez led NC State’s 200 backstrokers with a 1:48.92 that she swam at ACCs.

14 year old Molly Wideikis of Hinsdale Swim Club dropped over three seconds in the 200 freestyle. Wideikis had a best itme 1:51.47 coming into the meet, and swam to a win with a 1:48.22. That swim sits tied at #77 all-time in the 13-14 age group.