STCE sectional produces most state qualifiers
One of the offseason tasks for St. Charles East boys swimming coach Joe Cabel is going to be an update to the school's pool record board which sits high above the Norris Center swimming pool.
On a day when swimmers around the state worked to swim fast, nowhere was the field as consistently swift as at the St. Charles East sectional. A total of five pool records fell and a total of 66 swimmers qualified for next weekend's state meet at New Trier.
"Yeah, that's awesome," Cabel said. "There are some old ones on there and you like to reset them."
The number of qualified swimmers is the most in the state. Neuqua Valley's sectional had 59 qualifiers.
"That was fast," Cabel said. "The top heat in just about every event got in. And then the crowd got into it too. They were watching the times. It was a great meet, a great field."
By day's end, Marmion had the largest list of qualifiers, and earned the sectional title plaque thanks to that performance. The Cadets qualified all three relays and a further 12 individuals for next weekend's finals.
"I was so happy," Marmion senior Thomas Delves said. "Our guys swam so well. I can't wait until the state meet."
Delves qualified as a member of all three Marmion relays and in the 100-yard freestyle. A core of Marmion swimmers - seniors such as Delves, Tyler Capen, Matt Lifka and Austin Cox - are in their final trip through the state postseason.
"I try not to think about it," Delves said. "I have a friend who always mentions it. I tell him to shut up and that I don't want to hear it. But it's true."
Marmion qualified 12 of a possible 16 individuals. Some recovered from potentially devastating moments to qualify. Will Butzke missed qualifying in the 50 freestyle by .06. He later advanced in the 100 butterfly.
Marmion won only two races as most of its swimmers are still in the midst of the tapering resting process. Capen won the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke.
St. Charles North finished second to Marmion in the team standings and sends a strong contingent to New Trier. The North Stars advanced two relays and nine individual entries.
"It was an exciting meet," St. Charles North senior Nick Smith said. "There were some ups and downs, but that can be expected. Some guys had phenomenal swims, which was really cool."
Smith's 20.95 time in the 50 freestyle was the fastest in the state and marked one of the pool records set on Saturday. Smith also won the 100 freestyle.
"I've still got a week left to taper," Smith said. "(North Stars coach Rob) Rooney's plan has been working so far, and today was awesome."
The North Stars also won the 100 butterfly through Alex Peterson and were meet champions in the 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.
The host Saints had a strong meet of their own, and qualified two relays and seven individuals.
St. Charles East senior Ken Tiltges won the 100 breaststroke in pool record time and also qualified in the 50 freestyle.
"Being at sectionals and state last year, I thought my nerves weren't going to be as bad," Tiltges said. "But I woke up this morning earlier than I expected and the nerves were definitely there. I got on-deck and I could tell I wasn't my normal self. But we have great coaches, and they prepared us to come here and swim fast."
Batavia and Kaneland each had a qualifier as well. Batavia's Albert Roth advanced in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly while Kaneland's Grant Aleff qualified in the 500 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.