More Top Picks Best Small Recliners For Apartments
player ready...Nick Hanas enjoyed every minute of being Chesterton’s surprise of the year as a freshman.
But the second-year Trojan swimmer is out to prove he’s more than just a one-hit wonder.
Hanas took a leap toward that goal on Thursday, when he won two individual events to help the Trojan boys to a 131-54 victory over host Munster.
The sophomore distance specialist set personal bests in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.90) and 500 free (4:44.87). When he walked into the pool and looked up at the record board, he thought Ethan Whitaker’s 2012 pool record of 4:44.43 was attainable, but he narrowly missed that mark.
Prior to last season, Chesterton coach Kevin Kinel didn’t expect Hanas to swim varsity. Now, he has followed his breakout freshman season with an even better sophomore year.
Hanas opened the season averaging six seconds faster than last year in the 200 free and 10 seconds faster in the 500 free. According to Kinel, Hanas has picked up right where he left off after “coming out of nowhere” a year ago.
“I’ve noticed a lot of the freshmen are looking up to me,” Hanas said. “I’m proud of that.”
Wesley Slaughter recorded victories in both the 50 free (22.17) and 100 butterfly (54.45) for the Trojans, while Gary Kostbade won the 200 individual medley (1:56.19) and 100 breaststroke (59.06).
Chesterton’s Vanessa Krause established a pool record in the 100 free, finishing in 51.35 to lift the Trojan girls to a 128-58 victory over the Seahorses.
“This was my last dual meet as a senior, so it was awesome to go out with a record,” Krause said. “When I come back here someday, I’ll be able to see my name up there. My teammates make fun of me every day asking, ‘Which record are you going to get today?'”
Munster freshman Kay Foley won the 200 free in 1:54.10, dropping one second off her previous personal best. Foley outdid Chesterton sophomore Lauryn Kallay, who finished second in 1:54.54.
“She’s older than me and she’s really good, so it’s exciting,” Foley said. “They’re a really good team, so I tried to go out there and race hard. In past meets, I haven’t had as much competition, so that was key in this one.”
Foley also placed first in the 500 free with a personal-best 5:06.46.
“The nice thing about Kay is that she’s steadily doing it,” Munster coach Matt Pavlovich said. “She’s been getting better and better, which has been fun to watch. That steady drop in time is cool to see.”
Cara Kroeger was the other multiple event winner for the Chesterton girls, taking the 100 backstroke (59.78) and the 200 IM (2:10.01).
“We always come into the meet knowing that Chesterton is the top program in our area,” Pavlovich said. “We’ve known all along that their girls team is deep and talented this season. We knew we were going to have some tough swims.”
VU announces football schedule: Valparaiso University will open its 2016 football schedule with a Sept. 3 game at lllinois State. The Crusaders’ home opener will be Sept. 17 vs. Trinity International and VU also has dates at Brown Field against Davidson on Sept. 24 (homecoming), Drake (Oct. 8), Butler (Oct. 29) and Jacksonville (Nov. 12). Valpo’s other road games will be Sept. 10 at Sacred Heart, Oct. 1 at Morehead State, Oct. 15 at Stetson, Oct. 22 at San Diego and Nov. 5 at Dayton.
St. Joseph’s women fall: St. Joseph’s lost 85-65 to host Bellarmine (Ky.) in Great Lakes Valley Conference women’s basketball. Lauren Davis led the Pumas (13-7, 6-4) with 17 points, Courtney Kvachkoff added 16 and Kalea Parks scored 12.
Brandon Vickrey is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Post-Tribune staff contributed to this story.
More Top Picks Blue Light Glasses