Freshman Levy 'flying' for Warren
It's always nice being one of the guys.
It took a while, but Warren freshman swimmer Caleb Levy has come into his own on the varsity level. He's emerged as the Blue Devils' top butterflyer.
"He was so quiet and reserved," coach Chris Bertana said on Thursday night after his Warren team lost a 122-62 decision to host Stevenson, which improved to 4-0 in the North Suburban Conference. The Blue Devils fell to 4-1 in NSC duals. "As time has gone by, though, the guys have really embraced him. He's a neat kid to have on the team. He brings a lot of energy."
Levy is an accomplished cross country runner, but two hairline fractures in the last year have prevented him from doing his first love.
"I just wanted to be real careful to not reinjure myself," said Levy, who has been swimming since age 7. "I'm hoping to run track in the spring and, with training over the summer, get back to cross country next fall."
Reluctant at first, Levy did the best thing possible as far as an alternative to running. He listened to Mom.
And Mom Donna knows best, being a one-time Olympic hopeful and world-class runner.
"I didn't want to go out for swimming at first, but she pushed me and encouraged me," Levy said. "Now I love it. I love being on the team and the team environment. And I like Coach because he gives us mental toughness and motivation."
Levy has been swimming club for the Kenosha Seahorses, where his best time in the 100 fly is 59 ticks.
As for high school, he posted his best time of 58.22 seconds in winning the 100 butterfly against Stevenson.
"I just thought people would beat me," Levy said. "I was just trying to swim for my best time. It was a good swim, though."
Bertana likes where Levy and the Blue Devils are headed.
"He's one example of how we've been moving forward as a team and not looking back," Bertana said. "We just try to race within ourselves and not worry about points. Just focus on the process."
In addition to the 100 fly, Levy also competes on all three relays.
"I like the relays because you're part of a team trying to win the race," he said.
Warren also posted a victory when Jack Foster won a hotly contested 100 freestyle in a season-best 50.68 ticks. Foster earlier took third in the 50 freestyle (23.10).
Stevenson won 10 out of the 12 events.
Patriots coach Doug Lillydahl has been particularly impressed with his divers: freshman Danny Silverstein and sophomore Jack White.
"They have been competing at the highest level," Lillydahl said.
Silverstein amassing a winning 234.55 points against Warren. White tallied 227.15 points to finish second, receiving all 8s on one dive.
Stevenson swept the relays. The 400 relay team of Jonny Farber, Jack Zhang, Michael Wywrocki and Jack Curtin touched first in 1:42.42. Farber then teamed with AJ Carollo, Elik Gurovich and Dima Kobets to win the 200 free relay in 1:30.92. The victorious 400 free relay consisted of Farber, Jake Kim, Kobets and Brian Povilus, as the foursome touched in 3:23.54.
Foster Swanson won the 200 freestyle in 1:52.03, while Gurovich captured the 200 IM (2:05.02). Zhang finished first in both the 50 freestyle (22.72) and 100 breaststroke (1:00.56).
Wywrocki also won the 500 freestyle (5:12.51) and Kim took the 100 backstroke (58.69).