South Elgin’s Hasemann excited for state

It’s a term 99 percent of the general public would have no inkling what it means.

But for South Elgin sophomore boys swimmer Nick Hasemann, the meaning is quite significant.

“I’ve been working hard on my underwaters,” Hasemann said of the technique he employs during the backstroke. “You see a lot of swimmers use it when they are in the pool. My coach and I have really focused in on my backstroke.”

How about a swimming definition for idiots lesson?

“It’s basically when you are underwater you need a really tight streamline,” Hasemann explained. “You need to use from your core down to your legs and whip your hips so you can propel under water. It gives you an advantage when you are swimming against others. My underwaters have come a long way from where they were at last season.”

And so has Hasemann’s overall performance in the pool. The Storm 10th grader will make his second state finals appearance in as many years in the 100 backstroke and the 200 freestyle today at New Trier High School in Winnetka.

Hasemann is seeded fifth in the backstroke and eighth in the 200 free. The Top 12 swimmers from today’s action advance to Saturday’s finals.

“The 200 comes down a lot to the flip turns and your breathing,” he said. “It’s also about how I’m swimming during the face and even how I feel before the race.”

Hasemann took 16th in the state in the backstroke last year and 22nd in the 200.

“I feel like I gained a lot of experience last year as a freshman,” he noted. “Things are a lot better for me now. I know what to expect at state. It’s nice to have that experience under my belt. I look forward to swimming again this weekend.”

Hasemann has swam as fast as 51.8 in the backstroke and 1:43.2 in the 200.

“Hopefully I will improve from last year and be able to get in at least the Top 12 if not the Top 6,” said Hasemann, who sports a 4.2 grade-point average and has been swimming for 7 years.

Because South Elgin has no formal boys team, Hasemann only represents the school at the sectional and state levels. Six South Elgin swimmers competed in the sectional. The rest of the year, Hasemann competes for coach Marcelo Possato at the Bartlett Electric Swim Team (BEST).

“Not too many people know about me going into the high school season,” Hasemann said. “I’d like to make my name for South Elgin and for myself.”

Hasemann is far from the only Fox Valley-area swimmer competing at New Trier today.

Cary-Grove sophomore standout Michael Hamann is seeded sixth in the 200 IM (he won the sectional last week) and 10th in the backstroke.

Jacobs junior Alex Elston is seeded 10th in the butterfly (he won the sectional last week). Elston will also compete in the 50.

The Jacobs 200 medley relay team will also compete at New Trier. That quartet features Jacobs freshman Alex Reinbrecht (backstroke), Jacobs junior Ryne Quinlan (breaststroke), Elston (butterfly) and homeschooled junior John Jost (freestyle).

Hampshire sophomore Josh DeDina will swim the breaststroke.