Boys swimming and diving: Prospect free relay team breaks record once held by its coach
Prospect coach Alfonso Lopez was super excited that his 200-yard freestyle relay team set a school record Saturday at the Knights' boys swimming sectional tournament.
Even if the mark that was broken was one that was once held by the coach.
"I knew it had to happen sometime," said Lopez with a laugh, as the Knights 'quartet of Ben Zwolenick, Andrew Tonkovic, Jack Eyles and Tim Hays swam a 1:27.09 to qualify for next weekend's state finals.
Lopez was part of a Prospect foursome that had held the record since 1998.
"We always talked about it," said Lopez, "but I told the guys that up until now we never had the sprinters to do it - but this year we did."
The Knights qualified six overall teams/swimmers for the state meet to be held Friday and Saturday at the new FMC Natatorium in Westmont, while Maine South accomplished a school first.
The Hawks won the meet with a score of 281, and it was the first time the Maine South boys took a sectional crown.
"I think that in most ways we met expectations today," said Hawks coach Don Kura, "and in some ways we exceeded expectations.
"I know that a couple of the guys were actually disappointed today with the way they swam, but you can't be disappointed when you win a sectional. They took the next step today in building the program, and every single one of them had a great day."
Maine South won the 200 medley relay (Ljubomir Popovic, Bart Kubis, Dominic Mazurek, Zack Wagner) in the time of 1:34.34, and also triumphed in the 200 free relay (Popovic, Kubis, Danilo Marsenic and Lukas Nielson).
Individually, Mazurek of the Hawks won the 100 backstroke with a 51.06, while teammate Zach Chapovalov (4:45.88) was fastest of all in the 500 free.
Lake Park scored triumphs in the 100 breaststroke (Philip Stempien, 56.21) and the 50 free (Jacob Drozd, 20.85).
Bryce Loeger of Conant took first in the 100 free at 46.72, Hays of Prospect beat the field in the 100 fly with a 50.55, while teammate Tonkovic (1:43.11) won the 200 free.
Fremd grabbed second place as a team with a count of 197.5, with sophomore Jaden Heinlein (winner of the 200 individual medley at 1:50.15) and junior diver Ben Mears (536.15, first place) pacing the Vikings.
"The guys were awesome," said Mears of his team. "This was just a really good, fun experience. "I set goals for myself, and we have mock meets in practice, and today was about where I was at in those. Now I've just got to focus every day in practice, and push myself to get ready for next weekend."
Szymon Mieczkowski of Schaumburg won the 200 free, while Maine South was victorious the 400 free relay behind Nielson, Chapovalov, Wagner and Mazurek.
"I think we'll have a couple, two or three, advance to Saturday," said Kura, looking forward to the state meet. "It all depends on how the guys respond.
"We've never won a sectional before, so we hope they come in Monday, refocus, and come out Friday with the same intensity and want-to that they had today. If they do, we'll be in good shape."