Top backstroker brings positive attitude

Danny Sivak will get his chance this year to show what he can do at boys state swimming in the 100-yard backstroke.

The Wheaton co-op senior was good enough to make the state cut last year, but his path to the postseason was blocked by the presence of a pair of then-senior teammates who were two of the best in Illinois in that event.

Max St. George, who now swims at Duke, was the state champion after setting the Illinois record in the preliminaries with a 48.07 in the 100 backstroke, and Matt Rogers, now at Emory, finished 11th.

"Max and Matt really pushed me to do well last year," Sivak said. "And now that they're gone I'm trying to take over and fill their shoes. They both stay in touch a lot and they're still doing everything they can to encourage me."

Another person who believes that Sivak is headed for a big postseason in the backstroke is Wheaton Co-op coach Jacob Ayers.

"Danny is one of the top backstrokers in the state," Ayers said. "He has as positive an attitude as anyone I've ever coached. This year he took a big jump forward in his ability. He got a little bigger, so it was an example of where his size caught up with his work ethic."

Ayers was especially impressed with how quickly Sivak bounced back from illness and a shoulder injury this season.

"I've really focused on getting stronger," Sivak said. "I'm taking lifting more seriously. I take pride in my training. That helps me in meets when I get tired. My goal is to be a better swimmer at the end of every practice day. I'm also concentrating on being more competitive in races."

In addition to the backstroke, Sivak will swim the 200 IM at sectionals and he'll also do the 50 backstroke in the 200 medley relays.

At last Saturday's DuPage Valley Conference meet, Sivak swam the fastest backstroke in the field in the 200 medley relay, a 24.75, and he finished fourth in the 100 backstroke behind conference champ Scott Piper of Naperville Central, I.I. Qiao of Naperville North and Michael Schwers of Waubonsie Valley, all expected to be major competitors in the event at state.

"With the added size Danny really looks the part of a top swimmer," Ayers said. "I expect him to swim in college."

"We were proud to finish in the top 10 at state," Sivak said. "This year I'm working with my teammates to keep the Wheaton name out there."

Setting the standard for hard work:

Michael Schwers is the bellwether of a Waubonsie Valley team that is expected to be near or among the elite going into the postseason, but it took hard work and a lot of dedication for the Warriors senior to become a top-level swimmer.

"Michael didn't come in as a top-tier kid," said Waubonsie Valley coach Nick Arens. "He was undersized, but he was willing to work and learn the things that would make him successful as he went on. He's grown physically and matured in terms of his preparation, and he really sets the tone for our team. It's exciting to see how he's progressed."

Schwers didn't qualify for state as a freshman, but in his sophomore year he scored, finishing 10th in the 100 butterfly.

"He put in a ton of work in that off-season," Arens said. "And he came back last ready to improve."

As a junior, Schwers finished sixth at state in the 100 fly and 11th in the 200 free.

"And Michael is really versatile," Arens said. "He can swim the 500, the IM and the backstroke."

Schwers' success in the pool can be traced to the complete enjoyment he gets from the entire swimming experience.

"A lot of how I feel about the sport comes down to my relationship with my coach and with my teammates," said Schwers, who won the DVC 100 butterfly championship and swam on the winning 200 medley relay team. "The highlight of my high school career is just coming in every day to practice and the relationships we have. Overall it's just a great experience."

Arens is impressed with how Schwers' commitment inspires the entire Warriors team.

"All of our young people have benefited from the way Michael shows them the level of work it takes to accomplish great things. From that standpoint he has been a major factor in our success."

"I'm not that much of a vocal leader," Schwers said. "The leadership thing just happened naturally. My teammates see me working hard and they're encouraged by that. I lead by example."

Schwers is planning to continue as a college swimmer, though he hasn't decided upon a school.

Going for the triple:

Lake Park junior Eric Sgarbossa has a shot at scoring at state this year, he just has to choose the events that will give him the best chance.

He qualified last year in the 100 breaststroke but he's also strong in the 200 IM and the 100 fly.

"He can make state in all three," said Lake Park coach Dan Witteveen. "And he has an outside shot at scoring. He's also a valuable member of our relays."

"My goal this year is to place higher than last year and to drop some time and possibly finish in the top 12," Sgarbossa said.

The experience at state last year was a motivation for Sgarbossa and he's come in this year with a great appreciation of what it takes to succeed.

"It made me realize how important it is to train throughout the year," he said. "I want to get a scholarship to swim in college so I have to keep working toward that. I'm taking better care of how much I sleep and what I eat and drink. I'm staying on the same routine."

"Eric has been a good leader for us," Witteveen said. "He brings a sense of fun to the program, but he can still turn it on because he has that great work ethic that is an example to our other swimmers."