Big finishes for Rodriguez, Burke
It was a mixed day in a standout high school swimming career for Buffalo Grove’s Ian Rodriguez.
On the pool deck at Evanston Township High School for the finals session of the boys swimming high school state championships Saturday, the unthinkable happened for the Michigan State-bound senior standout.
Rodriguez was called for flinching on his start in his first race of the day, the championship heat of the 200-yard IM, and was disqualified after finishing his swim. His time would have placed him fifth.
Rodriguez was far from alone in his exclusion. Three relays were disqualified, along with a 50 freestyler and a 100 butterflyer — an uncommonly high total for a state finals.
“In retrospect, when something horrible like that happens at a championship meet with the highest caliber of athletes, one of two things can happen,” said Buffalo Grove coach Jamie Klotz. “You can totally self-destruct and have a bunch of negative behavior — or you can take your disappointment, deal with it and let it make you better.”
After a readjustment period, Rodriguez opted for the latter, concluding his high school career with a terrific effort in the 100 breaststroke. On a day when most swimmers’ performances were actually a bit slower than the previous day, Rodriguez produced a time faster by a half-second.
That helped him improve from 12th place to eighth overall as he touched the wall at 58.35.
His final swim capped a season which saw Rodriguez set team records on all three relays and in every individual event except the sprint freestyles and the 100 fly. By any measure, he’s the best boys swimmer in Buffalo Grove’s history.
Rodriguez ended up having a great relationship with Klotz and assistant coach Tim O’Hagan, who introduced some new weight-training techniques this season that benefitted not only Rodriguez but the entire team.
Rodriguez was asked what he thought he’d remember about Klotz down the road, maybe 20 years from now.
“Just how much he cared, and how much he tried to mentor me,” said Rodriguez. “I’ll never forget him.”
The appreciation from his coach is mutual.
“He’s a phenomenal kid,” said Klotz. “You’re lucky in your life when you get to run into people like that.”
Conant junior Jonathon Burke was in the water for the day’s marquee event, the championship heat of the 500 freestyle.
Having qualified in sixth position, Burke found himself in a tight race with St. Charles North junior Kyle Gannon. Burke ended up having a bit more energy down the stretch and moved up to fifth place, finishing in 4:32.94.
Burke says the 500 is his favorite race, mainly because of the strategy involved, and for the feeling he gets when the race goes the way he’d planned.
“That feeling at the end, there’s nothing like it,” he said. “Today, it was incredible. Euphoric.”
With two seniors who finished ahead of him out of the picture next year, Burke will have the third-best returning time in the state in his senior season.
There’s more to look forward for Conant. Its 200 free relay of Alan Wojciechowski, Martin Pozniak, Burke and Alex Shozda placed 12th, and of the Cougars’ state qualifiers this season, only Wojciechowski and Brandon Grzegorek were seniors.
Conant coach Brian Drenth pointed out that Burke has dropped 10 seconds in the 500 in each of his first three high school seasons, which could put him in the running for a state title next season presuming New Trier junior Reed Malone gives the event another try.
Burke certainly had some fine company in his 500 heat, as Hinsdale Central’s Danny Thomson was taking aim at a national record in the 500 freestyle after setting a state record in Friday’s prelims.
The Stanford-bound senior didn’t equal Jeff Kostoff’s otherworldly mark from 1983 (4:16.39) — but he did better his own state record, finishing in 4:18.86 to a standing ovation from fans.
Thomson and Malone were even until the halfway point, when Thomson started slowly but steadily pulling away. Malone was second in 4:21.02. Both had claimed titles earlier in the meet; Thomson the 200 free (1:37.47) and Malone the 200 IM (1:48.35).
It was nothing but good news Saturday for Barrington.
Junior Jack Strauss improved upon his prelim time and finish in the 100 freestyle. He placed ninth in 46.71.
“(Friday) is the stressful day here, trying to make sure you get a chance to come back,” he said. “And then today, it’s just, you’ve got a chance to race. I was a little more relaxed, and that helped.”
That vibe also seemed to permeate the Broncos’ 200 freestyle relay, where junior Kyle Ujiye, sophomore Sebastian Pekarski, senior Tom Clement and Strauss placed ninth in 1:26.54, slighty faster than their qualifying effort. Strauss provided an anchor leg of 20.7.
“We accomplished what we set out to do here,” said Barrington coach John Valentine, who’s encouraged that he’ll only lose one senior from his group of state meet qualifiers. “We wanted to race here on Saturday, and we wanted to score points in the state meet.”
Barrington and Conant, the top two teams from the Mid-Suburban League, finished tied for 23rd with 12 points apiece.
New Trier won its fifth state title in the last seven years, and this was clearly its best team yet. The Trevians won all three relays and placed one competitor in each championship heat in every event except the breaststroke.
Senior Max Grodecki led the way, winning the 50 free (20.24) and the 100 free (44.66). New Trier senior Jordan Sacks also won diving as the Trevs amassed 250 points.
Naperville North placed all three relays in the finals and had finalists in Andrew Eiken (200 free, 100 free) and Nick Bessler (200 IM, 100 fly) in finishing second at 130. Warren — despite getting a disqualification in the 100 fly — took third place at 80 for the program’s first state trophy.
Naperville Central senior Sean Lehane won the 100 backstroke and placed second in the 200 freestyle, and Edwardsville senior Max Byers won the 100 breaststroke.