DeKalb-Sycamore swimmers Jacob Bjork and Ryan Schultz were playfully competitive all season, grinding through workouts next to each other, teasing one another when one lagged behind.

But when Bjork, a freshman, finished ahead of Schultz, the Barbs’ only returning state qualifier, for the first time all season in the 100-yard breaststroke in the St. Charles East Sectional last weekend, all the veteran could do was congratulate his teammate.

“He was really supportive,” said Bjork, who qualified for this weekend’s swimming and diving state meet at New Trier in Winnetka along with Schultz, by besting the state qualifying time. “I’ve been looking up to him ever since I started swimming here, so it’s just a really big accomplishment to beat somebody like him.”