Anthony Zagorov became the first Niles North freshman boys swimmer to earn a trip to the state meet as an individual since 2010.
Zagorov qualified in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle on Saturday at the Glenbrook South Sectional, placing second in each event. His time of 1 minute, 44.27 seconds in the 200 free was under the state cut of 1:44.92, and his 4:41.07 in the 500 free bettered the state standard of 4:46.85. Both of Zagorov’s times were the best of his career.
“This has been a good year for him,” Niles North coach Seth Orlove said. “Hopefully, he has a little more left to prove at the state meet. I think he has more left in the tank, room for improvement. But the state meet will be a good experience, nonetheless.”
The state meet is Friday and Saturday at New Trier.
Karol Mlynarski swam at the state meet as an individual in 2010. As a junior, he finished fifth in the 200 free. The following season, Mlynarski took third in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free. The 2013 graduate now is a sophomore swimmer at Cornell.
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“We are very fortunate this year to have a bunch of freshmen come in with a club swimming background,” Orlove said. “It’s great when they come into high school with a skill set ready to compete at higher-level meets. [Zagorov] has been able to use that experience the last couple of weeks.”
Sophomore diver Maxim Royzen was the team’s other state qualifier. He totaled 574.25 points to take second at the sectional. It was the third-best score out of the 16 sectionals. The Vikings placed third as a team at Glenbrook South with 167 points. Evanston was first with 302.5, and the host Titans were second with 284.
Maine South
All the early mornings and long hours in the pool paid off for senior Jon Ramoska on Saturday, according to Maine South coach Don Kura.
At the Glenbrook South Sectional, Ramoska qualified for the state meet for the first time as an individual by swimming a career-best and state-qualifying 47.21 in the 100 free. He narrowly missed in the 200 free with his 1:45.19. The state cut was 1:44.92.
“This puts a cap on his career,” Kura said. “In a lot of ways, what he did makes it all worthwhile in the end.”
Even though Ramoska will be Maine South’s lone entry at New Trier, Kura said he was happy with how every swimmer competed on Saturday. Senior Philip Wachowski came close in both the 50 free (22.01) and 100 free (48.38). The state standars are 21.90 and 47.94, respectively.
“He might remember it for the missed opportunities, but I thought he swam really well throughout the day,” Kura said of Wachowski. “The entire team did well. We had some really good drops from the 200 medley through the 400 free relay.”
Niles West
Senior diver Jeremy Sands qualified for the state meet by scoring 514.50 points. Although he was fourth at the Glenbrook South Sectional, his total was eighth best out of all of the sectionals.
Sophomore diver Brendan O’Shaughnessy also advanced to the state meet with his 450.65.
Notre Dame
The Dons were 10th of 11 teams at the sectional with 12 points. Notre Dame didn’t advance an individual or relay to the state meet.
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