Boys swimming: Evenly matched Libertyville, Warren focus on the future
In a couple of months from now, the emphasis is on racing fast and dropping times in hopes of qualifying for the high school boys swimming state meet at Evanston.
For now, though, with the season just about a week old, the emphasis is simply on swimming fast.
"We're just trying to figure out some combinations and get back in shape," said Libertyville second-year coach Amanda Pechauer, whose guys slipped past host Warren 94-91 in a North Suburban Conference dual meet opener on Thursday evening in Gurnee.
"We're doing OK. We're down five swimmers who were out sick - but I'd rather have them sick now rather than in February."
And speaking of February, chances are a number of swimmers from both schools will represent at state.
Cats senior Nick Harrington is looking to be one of them.
On Thursday, he won the 100-butterfly (56.03) before swimming the second leg of the victorious 200 free relay, joining Billy Bennett, Sean Coughlin and Austin Stevenson in 1:30.14.
Harrington then swam the second leg in the final event of the night, the 400 free relay, where he joined forces with Coughlin, Joe Eads, and Stevenson to touch in 3:27.94.
"Things are a little slow right now. I haven't swam club for about 9 months, so I'm just getting back into shape," said Harrington, a three-time state qualifier. "This is really different this year. We have 10 or 11 seniors. We all grew up together, so we have excellent chemistry and we all push each other."
Other event winners for the Cats included Bennett winning the 50 freestyle (23.01) and 100 breaststroke (1:00.81), Coughlin taking the 100 free (50.25), Lukas Vla the 500 freestyle (5:28.94) and Cam Edmunds diving (170.80).
As for Warren, junior co-captain Brian Tabourot is on a mission after just missing qualifying for the state meet a year ago in the 100 backstroke.
"I was a little devastated after that," said Tabourot, who's definitely looking for his first trip to Evanston in February. "But it's all mental. I'm just trying to build on the downsides and improve my technique and underwaters. And I'm always thinking of my goals and the team goals. It's very motivating. We all push each other."
Tabourot won the 100 backstroke on Thursday in 55.94 seconds. It's an event in which has already twice better the state mark of 53.30.
Tabourot also won the 200 IM (2:04.89) and swam the first leg of the winning 200 medley relay with Taylor Vander-Jeugdt, Austin Edmondson and Leo Forney (1:40.60).
"We did a lot better than I thought, but it got us off to a good start tonight," said Warren coach Chris Bertana. "With the season just starting, we're just trying to swim fast and get back in shape. After winter break is when we really start training the hardest."
Vander-Jeugdt was also an individual event winner after he touched first in the 200 freestyle (2:00.11).
Warren finished fourth in the Green Division in the Stevenson relays last weekend.
"We're a young team but with a lot of potential," added Tabourot. "And we had one of our fastest time trials as a team a couple of weeks ago."
Libertyville and Warren will soon see one another again, at the Lake County Meet on Dec. 16.