The New Trier 200-yard medley relay began the Niles North boys swimming sectional by smashing the Vikings’ pool record and staking its claim as one of the contenders to win a state title at this weekend’s state meet.
The Trevians’ relay — at sectionals, it included sophomore Ryan Gridley (backstroke), sophomore Charlie Scheinfeld (breaststroke), senior Danny Brooks (butterfly) and senior Riley Mech (freestyle) — shaved more than two seconds off of its previous best. Its time of 1:34.09 was the third-fastest time at any sectional. Only Lyons (1:32.45) and Hinsdale Central (1:33.16) were faster.
New Trier’s 200 medley relay has turned in some of Illinois’ top times all season. However, Brooks said the members of Trevians’ 200 medley relay haven’t closely followed where they stack up among the other top medley relays this season.
“There are so many good teams this year. There are high schools that I didn’t even know [existed] that are dropping crazy times, so we try not to get caught up in that,” Brooks said. “If you start thinking about numbers, then it’s mind-boggling [with] some of the times teams can go. We’re happy to be up there with those teams. I think it speaks to our depth and the quality of guys we have.”
Brooks went on to explain there’s a friendly competition throughout the season among the Trevians to earn one of spots on the team’s 200 medley relay.
“That’s the great thing, to be able to get on each other in practice and race each other in practice, race each other in meets,” Brooks said. “Just the fact that there’s so much competition pushes you to swim faster in the season, which I think in turn sets you up better for these final meets coming up.”
The members of the 200 medley relay will be joined by several of their teammates at the state meet, which takes place at Evanston on Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27. Other individual qualifiers include: seniors Willie Kinsella, Charlie Gentzkow, George Owen and Maxwell Robertson; juniors Patrick Drake and Jack Walter; sophomores Patrick Gridley and Cameron Rosin.
New Trier finished first at the Niles North Sectional (300 points). Evanston was second (219.5), while Loyola took third (212). Niles North (195.5) was fourth.
Niles North
Last year, the Niles North boys swimming team was comprised primarily of freshmen and sophomores and Anthony Zagorov, then a freshman, was the lone Vikings swimmer to qualify for the state meet.
A lot has changed since then. Four Vikings swimmers qualified for state in individual events. Together they combined for seven entries. In addition, junior diver Maxim Royzen and two relays also advanced to the state meet. The Vikings’ 400-yard freestyle relay put an exclamation point on the team’s excellent sectional meet by setting a school record (3:12.55) in the last event of the Niles North Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 20, and qualifying for state. Niles North took fourth.
“We’re all sophomores and juniors this year,” junior Mitchell Mages said. “We knew we had more time ahead of us, for junior and senior year. It’s really an accomplishment [to] have [six] guys going to state.”
Mages added that the team’s focus was on winning a Central Suburban North title a year ago.
It accomplished its goal.
Winning conference remained a goal this year, but Mages said many of the Vikings were focused all season on getting under their state cuts. Mages qualified for state in both the 200 individual medley (1:57.86, fourth) and the 100 breaststroke (59.92, fourth).
“Making state is such a great accomplishment,” Mages said. “It feels so good to know that all the hard work that I’ve done [has paid off].”
Mages and Royzen will be joined by Zagorov (500 free and 200 free), junior Ethan Lee (50 free, 100 free) and Jared Brown (50 free). The Vikings’ 200 free relay also qualified for state. It included Lee, Zagorov, Brown and junior Patrick Cox at the sectional. The same four also were on the 400 free relay.
Loyola
Niles North sophomore Anthony Zagorov and Lane sophomore Daniel Puczko were the top seeds in the 500-yard freestyle at the Niles North Sectional, and the first two-thirds of the race played out as expected.
Zagorov and Puczko set the pace. They were neck-and-neck in the middle two lanes of Niles North’s pool, seemingly poised to pull away from the field.
But Loyola junior Daniel McGowan, who ended up winning the 500 free from lane No. 2, hung with Zagorov and Puczko. McGowan looked over at the leaders while he remained in excellent position.
“I could tell they could not see me the entire time,” McGowan said. “Every time I hit that wall, I saw them. The last 150, I was right with them. I knew I could win. The last 100, I was like, ‘Oh, this will be a close one.’ “
It wasn’t, however.
McGowan implemented his racing strategy, which he referred to it as “outside smoke,” with 100 yards remaining. He swam as hard as he could in the final 100 yards of his 500 free. He left Zagorov and Puczko behind.
McGowan touched the wall in 4:41.94. He also beat New Trier senior Maxwell Robertson, who also used a late burst to finish in second place (4:43.00).
McGowan shaved nearly 8.5 seconds off of his seed time at the sectional. His hope, entering this weekend’s state meet, is to drop even more time and make the state finals in the 500 free. McGowan will likely use the same late-charging racing strategy at state, he said. It could prove to be even more effective — in part because he won’t swim the 200 free earlier in the meet and he will be fully tapered.
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“I’ve only had a week taper, so next week, I feel really confident about making it to A or B finals at state,” McGowan said.
McGowan will be joined at state by senior Chris Kearney (100 free, 200 free), junior Nathaniel Guenther (200 IM), sophomore diver Alex O’Toole and junior diver Chris Canning. The Ramblers’ 200 free relay and 400 free relay also qualified for state. Senior Walter Haracz swam on both relays at the sectional.
The state meet is scheduled to take place at Evanston on Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27.
Evanston
Zach Grossman-Torres qualified for the state meet both this year and last year, but the 2016 state meet likely will have a different feeling, Grossman-Torres said.
The senior — like classmate Adrian Lafont-Mueller — will wrap up his high-school career at his home pool, racing amongst the state’s best swimmers. The state meet was held at New Trier last year.
“Even if I’m the slowest one there, I’d still take it because it’s my last year and I’m at home,” Grossman-Torres said.
Grossman-Torres will try to break Evanston’s school record in the 100-yard backstroke at the state meet. The record, which stands at 52.41 seconds, is held by Tim Silkaitis.
Grossman-Torres qualified for state with a time of 53.00 in the 100 back at the Niles North Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 20. His next attempt at the school record will take place at the state preliminaries on Friday, Feb. 26. The state finals are the following day.
“I’m just going to push myself for that time,” Grossman-Torres said.
Grossman-Torres will be joined at state by Lafont-Mueller (50 and 100 freestyle), junior Thomas Fies (100 breaststroke), sophomore diver Harel Anolick, sophomore Aaron Holzmueller and freshman diver Trevor Nelson. Holzmueller is slated to compete in the Athletes with Disabilities races of the 50 free, 100 free and 100 breaststroke.
All three of the Wildkits’ relays also qualified for the state meet.
Niles West
The Wolves will be represented at the state meet by diver Brendan O’Shaughnessy. The junior finished eighth (442.50 points) at the Niles North Sectional, but earned an at-large berth. Niles West senior Cameron Lee also is slated to compete at state. He qualified in the Athletes with Disabilities races of the 50 free, 100 free and 200 free.
The Athletes with Disabilities races take place at Evanston on Saturday, Feb. 27.
Notre Dame
The Dons finished 11th (14 points) at the Niles North Sectional.
Eric Van Dril is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @VanDrilSports