Boys swimming: Buffalo Grove’s Smith, Wheeling’s Akhter enjoy record-setting days at Libertyville sectional
Buffalo Grove senior Nolan Smith and Wheeling junior Adam Akhter punched the water after races in Saturday’s Libertyville boys swimming sectional.
They were emotional outbursts of record-setting jubilation for Smith in the 50-yard freestyle and Akhter in the 100 backstroke. They accomplished the proverbial punching of tickets to next weekend’s state meet in Westmont.
“I definitely wasn’t aiming for that low,” Smith said of his winning 20.8 that busted the BG mark by .4.
“I knew after the medley relay I felt really good and it carried all the way through,” Akhter said after his third-place 52.0 smacked the Wildcats’ record by .7.
Senior Sirui Wang won three events as Stevenson continued the successful retirement tour for coach Doug Lillydahl with a 10th consecutive sectional title (291 points). Sophomore Yury Plaksin was part of four victories for runner-up Vernon Hills (209).
BG was third (150) as senior diver Michael Surowienic had a 576.5 to join Smith as a champion. Smith has traditionally focused more on the 200 free but plans changed after a strong 50 in a dual meet.
“I’ve worked really hard this season,” Smith said, “and I was gonna show people what I can do even if I was in an inside lane.”
Smith was second in the 100 free (46.04) and on the qualifying 200 free relay with David Olaru, Luke Gavrilos and Ben Ingles (1:26.59). Freshman diver Luka Tarabrin was third with 472.65.
Akhter was on the 200 medley relay with Van Paul, Paul Glinkin and Kristian Pavlov that qualified in third (1:35.01). The disappointment of missing state in the 100 fly by one-100th of a second fueled him in the 100 back.
“It was really frustrating,” Akhter said. “In the 100 back I shut off my mind, wanted to race it really well and beat the guy next to me really badly.”
Paul also qualified in the 100 fly (second, 50.54) and 100 breast (fifth, 58.09).
Wang won the 200 IM (1:51.61) and 100 breast (55.88) and was on Stevenson’s winning 200 medley relay (1:31.38) with Joshua Wang, Kasper Lee and Matthew Oakes. Lee also won the 100 back (49.99) but two of its biggest stories were first-time senior qualifiers in 500 champion Tim Rhee (4:45.13) and 50 free runnerup Oakes (21.42).
“I feel like I’ve had a great support system with more people all giving each other helpful info to improve,” Rhee said.
Lillydahl said Oakes is the first swimmer he’s had progress through all three JV levels his first three years to qualify for state as a senior.
“It feels nice and I’m looking forward to next week,” Oakes said.
Plaksin led Vernon Hills with pool-record wins in the 200 free (1:39.31) and 100 free (45.33). Plaksin, Will Rendall, Dan Berke and Edgar Chan won the 200 free relay (1:24.96) out of the slow heat and Will Blackmer, Chan, Berke and Plaksin won the 400 free relay (3:09.10).
“It’s really fun and we have a really good group,” Plaksin said. “When you have fast guys it’s even more exciting.”
Libertyville’s Nicholas Ozimek (100 breast), Warren’s Evan DiVito (100 back) and Lakes junior Mitch Gedville (100 back) also qualified for state. Lakes doesn’t have a pool or full team so Gedville, who was fifth in 52.63, trains at Libertyville with his club team.
“It feels great,” Gedville said. “It’s nice to put in all the effort and see that outcome.”