A very busy first day at New Trier
It will be an especially busy Saturday for St. Viator junior Michael Balcerak, Barrington senior Colin O'Leary, Hersey junior Michael Petro - and an assortment of swimmers from Fremd.
Balcerak, O'Leary and Petro each excelled in their individual races in the high school boys swimming state meet preliminaries on Friday at New Trier High School.
And all find themselves in elite positions heading into the final day of the season, having advanced to the championship heats with top-six placements.
Balcerak has the best qualifying time in the 100-yard freestyle (44.91) and the second-fastest qualifying time in the 200 free (1:38.82). Both assure of him of All-American status, and both were lifetime bests.
O'Leary, too, had lifetime bests in his races, the 100 fly (50.22) and the 100 back (50.15).
Scoring points isn't anything new to O'Leary, who's done it the past two years. But he hadn't qualified to the championship heats in both of his specialties in the same state meet before.
He's positioned third in the backstroke and fifth in the fly - and sees room for improvement in both.
"It's mostly just little things I think I can tweak in both," he said. "But the goal was to get into finals, so having done that feels great. And now it's just, let's see if we can go faster."
Petro saw more than a minor tweak he'd like to address.
In his 100 fly, a too-deep dive left him perilously close to the bottom and prevented him from fully engaging his dolphin kick underwater.
The result, fortunately, was still plenty fast to get him into the finals of the 100 fly, in fourth position after clocking 50.21.
In Petro's other event, the 200 IM, he also saw plenty of room for improvement. His time of 1:50.45, though, has him third-fastest and in a terrific spot in Saturday's finals. Petro will compete next to Glenbrook South senior Sam Iida, who set a state record (1:47.27) in earning the top seed.
"I'm just looking at it like tomorrow's a new day," said Petro. "I would have liked to be faster, but I'm still where I was hoping to be - in finals."
Mid-Suburban League champ Fremd had plenty of activity Friday, and plenty of achievement as well.
The Vikings' medley relay of Tony Lee, Alex Schillinger, Nick Seroni and Nick Nevins got things started by grabbing the 12th qualifying spot in the 200 medley relay (1:37.06).
Nevins also placed 12th in the 50 free, and Schillinger grabbed the 11th spot in the 100 breast (57.91) after a lifetime best in the 200 IM (1:55.92, 20th).
And Nevins, Danny Konishi, Seroni and Arnas Maciunas qualified eighth in the 400 free relay (3:09.49).
"It really changes things when the relays are your focus," said Fremd coach Kristen Newby following the conclusion of the 400 relay. "We've had a great day."
And an unusual one.
After the main body of the meet had concluded, Fremd need to stay for one of several swim-offs to decide the 12th and final qualifying spot in the 200 free relay. Fenwick ended up beating out the Vikings by an eyelash.
The day's events left quite an impression on Schillinger, a junior who was making his first state appearance as an individual competitor.
"You always read about people being a little bit overwhelmed in their first state meet, but beforehand I was like, 'Not me, that's not happening,' " he said. "Then, sure enough - I was really, really nervous.
"But you know what? I kinda like that. I think it might have helped me out a little bit."
Among the others turning in terrific swims included Prospect junior Jacob Kosinski with a lifetime best in the 100 breast (59.00) in his second straight state appearance.
Two-time MSL diving champion Cole Aykroid, a senior from Conant, is well positioned for a top-six after a strong Friday morning effort. His score of 218.45 through 8 dives has him fifth. Fremd junior Zach Mega finished 20th, and Prospect senior Anthony Liva was 21st.
Lyons Township's Spencer Walker, Michael Walsh, Jeffery Vitek and Ryan Hammond established a state record in the 200 medley relay (1:30.91). The defending champs excelled on Friday, getting all three relays into finals, along with Hinsdale Central. New Trier, St. Charles East and Stevenson are among the other teams with multiple relays and individuals in point-scoring positions.
Barrington senior Mitch Gavars won't be competing on Saturday, but it would be way off the mark to consider him disappointed.
Gavars had lifetime bests in both his individual races. He finished 13th in the 500 free (4:36.09) and 18th in the 200 free (1:42.86).
"I'm thrilled, actually - what a great way to end up the high school season," said Gavars, who will continue swimming in college at Bucknell. "I've got four more years ahead of me, but you know what? I love this team. I wouldn't change a thing."