Libertyville soaks up sectional triumph
The water was a bit chilly, but Libertyville boys swimming coach Mike Cunningham didn't mind one bit.
"Actually, it feels great," Cunningham said after being somewhat coerced into the pool by his swimmers shortly following the conclusion of the Lake Forest sectional Saturday. "This was really close and really exciting. We're super-stoked for next weekend."
Libertyville tallied a winning 233 points, while Lake Forest (232) was second. Highland Park (201) and Mundelein (174) placed third and fourth.
Libertyville junior Eric Turner had a lot to say about the outcome, qualifying for next weekend's state meet at Evanston in four events. Turner swam the first leg of the champion 200-yard freestyle relay, joining forces with Noah Jamison, Nick Harrington and Sean Coughlin to swim a 1:27.87. The same four capped off a terrific afternoon by qualifying in the last event, the 400 freestyle relay, with a time of 3:12.13 (second place).
"This has been a great day. We had a lot of best times," said Turner, who qualified for state last year in the 400 and 200 freestyle relays. "The hard work is paying off."
Turner also won the 50 freestyle (21.82) and 100 freestyle (47.42). Jamison had an equally impressive day, as he also earned state berths in the 200 individual medley (1:56.57, second) and 100 butterfly (51.74, second).
Motivation from a short pep talk on the bus ride over did wonders for Vernon Hills, especially for the Cougars' 200 medley relay team of Jeffrey Zhang, Derek Zhang, Brian Rabinowitz and Calvin Yoon. All four had personal-best splits en route to a victory in the 200 medley relay. Their time of 1:37.24 was also a school record.
"I just told them that it comes down to the shoulders of all four of them," Vernon Hills coach Adam Lueken said. "They wanted this so bad and have been working hard on their exchanges, and they did it."
It marked the first time a relay team from Vernon Hills qualified for state.
Rabinowitz, a senior, also qualified in both the 100 backstroke (53.29) and 100 butterfly (51.77).
"That relay was the most perfect relay we've ever swam," said Rabinowitz, a state qualifier a year ago in the 100 backstroke. "We really pushed each other. But this whole experience is more than I bargained for in my last year. I'm ecstatic."
Mike Ward of Mundelein is also looking to go out with a splash. A state qualifier last February in the 100 backstroke, the senior captured the first-place medal in the same event after swimming a 51.53.
Ward also joined Ryan Magee, Eric Kozokar and Duncan Black on the state-qualifying 200 medley relay (1:37.41, second). The same four swimmers also qualified for state in the 400 freestyle relay (3:13.36).
"We're really excited for the relay," Ward said. "We can always swim faster but I'm so proud of everyone. A lot of guys have been swimming their brains out."
Carmel Catholic senior James Dooley became the second swimmer in the school's history to qualify for state after he won the 200 IM (1:54.36) and 100 breaststroke (58.61), both of which were personal-best times.
"I was nervous but said, 'I can do this,' " said the soft-spoken Dooley, who is also the first Corsair who will be swimming at the college level on scholarship when he attends Southern Illinois University next fall.
"I'm actually surprised at how well I did," Dooley said. "I didn't expect that. I just wanted to save my breaths for the end and just tried to focus on bringing it home."
Lake Forest was paced by Dylan Boyd, who returns to the state meet after qualifying in the 200 freestyle (1:38.39), 100 butterfly (50.37) and 400 freestyle relay (3:11.58). He joined Wyatt Foss, Kevin Donahue and Michael Hambleton on the 400 relay. Lake Forest's Alex Streightiff won diving (590.80 points) to advance to state for the second year in a row.
Highland Park's Levy Nathan joined Andrew Vorobev, Allen Tran and Hugh Laedlein on the state-qualifying 200 medley relay (1:37.49). Levy also qualified in the 200 freestyle (1:42.06) and 500 freestyle (4:40.30). Laedlein (52.92) and Vorobev 53.46) qualified individually in the 100 backstroke.
Antioch was done proud by its lone representative, senior Jordan Jacob. He became the first male swimmer from Antioch to earn a sectional medal, as he finished fourth in the 100 freestyle.
"I know I'm going to get tired the last 25 yards, but I just had the will to keep going," said Jacob, who makes the hike to Gurnee every day to swim for the Blue Devil Swim Club. "I've been working on my turns, under-waters, mental preparation, everything. And I've worked so hard and am so proud to represent ACHS."