Eiken, Naperville North thinking championship
Since this season began the Naperville North boys swimming team has been planning to win a trophy by finishing in the top three at state, but at least one of the Huskies is dreaming about winning the whole thing.
According to Andrew Eiken, one of the mainstays on the senior-dominated team, the state championship is not beyond the realm of possibility, even though New Trier is the heavy favorite.
The Huskies finished behind New Trier in several invites this year, and while Eiken admits it is a longshot, he believes it can be done.
“We have a chance against New Trier,” Eiken said. “We have been competing with them so long that we kind of know the way they work. They’re a great team and it’s going to take a lot to beat them. But we’ve been swimming this season with them in mind. It’s been motivating us all year, and we want to take a shot at them at state.”
Eiken has faith that he and fellow seniors Kevin Butz and Nick Bessler, who have been starring for the Huskies the past four years, are in top form. The Big Three all put in pool and meet record-breaking times at the Metea Valley Invite last Saturday and were instrumental in capturing victories in all three relays.
But he also believes that the core swimmers behind those three, including David Healy, Tim Hubbard, Eric Curia and Sam Hiller, have made great strides this season both in individual events and as contributors to the relays.
“Those other guys stepping up the way they have been is a big reason for where we stand at this time,” Eiken said. “Their swims will be a big factor in how high we finish at state.”
Eiken reports that the lineups for the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay are set and ready to score big points for the Huskies at state.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in the relays the past few weeks,” he said. “Two are set and in the 200 free relay we know who will swim, but we’re still toying around with the order.”
New-look Warriors:Waubonsie Valley is experiencing something of a renaissance this year thanks to a fast and deep lineup of talented sprinters.At last Saturday#146;s Metea Valley Invite the Warriors finished 1-2-3 in the 50 freestyle with Adam Stacklin breaking the pool and meet records with a 21.80. Not far behind him were teammates Michael McWhirter and Joe Poletto. The performance was encouraging because both Stacklin and McWhirter have been limited by back injuries this season.Stacklin, who missed the early part of the season, is just rounding into form and expects to be at or near 100 percent by the state meet, and McWhirter has been swimming well despite back pain that he has to deal with in every practice and every meet.#147;I haven#146;t been able to train full-time,#148; Stacklin said. #147;I can#146;t do the distance races, but I have the endurance for the 50 and the 100. I should be OK in the free relays.#148;#147;We#146;re heading in the right direction,#148; said Waubonsie Valley coach Nick Arens. #147;Stacklin and McWhirter are pushing through it. I think we have a shot at scoring in state in the sprint relays.#148;Arens pointed out that the Warriors also have some depth as both Stephen Ernst and Bailey York have proven to be reliable in those shorter races throughout the season. Lancers to look for:Lake Park is looking for big things in the postseason from junior Jacob Vance and sophomore Sean Gregor.Coach Dan Witteveen expects both to qualify in at least one individual event and spearhead one or two relays that also have a chance at making it to state.He believes Vance can qualify in the 100 breaststroke and either the 200 IM or the 500 freestyle, while Gregor will go in the 100 backstroke and the 100 freestyle at sectionals.#147;Those two are also critical for our 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams,#148; Witteveen said. #147;They#146;re just good kids and hard workers. They#146;re our leaders in the water who set the tone every day.#148;Hilltoppers#146; hope:Patrick Schrauth is Glenbard West#146;s big hope to qualify for state.#147;He#146;s gotten a lot bigger and stronger this year and his mechanics have gotten more fluid,#148; said the Hilltoppers coach Chris Flamion. #147;He#146;s gained 15 pounds of muscle.#148;The coach believes that Schrauth has a chance to qualify in either the 100, 200 or 500 freestyle.A senior, Schrauth will be swimming next year at St. Bonaventure, where his grandfather Mike Schrauth started for some fine Bonnies basketball teams in the late 1950s.Diving in:Wheaton co-op expects its two divers and only two seniors to lead the team#146;s sectional team and qualify for state.Swimming coach Jacob Ayers believes that both Mark Ciesielski, a returning state qualifier, and Liam McLaughlin are among the top divers in the state and both can make it into the top 12.Among the swimmers, junior J.T. Simoneau, another returning qualifier, is a good bet to make it to the finals in both the 100 and 200 freestyle races.Ayers is also optimistic about the chances of junior James Hasbrouck in the 50 free, sophomore Tommy Reminger in both the 100 butterfly and the 500 freestyle and freshman Max St. George in both the 100 backstroke and the 500 freestyle.#147;This is an exciting year,#148; Ayers said. #147;Because we#146;re such a young team, whatever we accomplish will be a positive building block for next year.#148;