Thanks to Sean Sullivan for covering the Illinois High School State Championships for us this weekend.
The finals session lacked some of the fireworks that characterized the prelims session but there was still plenty of fast swimming to go around including a new National Public High School Record by Connor Black and a pair of state championships by New Trier teammates Reed Malone and Jae Park.
Read more about Black’s record here.
200 Medley Relay
New Trier started off their quest for a third consecutive team title with a win in the medley relay a time of 1:32.35 with the foursome of Jack Mangan, Jae Park, Brian Walsh, and David Schriesheim. Hinsdale Central took second and Lake Forest third.
200 Freestyle
The 200 free saw six swimmers under the 1:40 mark including a 1:36.82 from Reed Malone from New Trier, who is headed to USC next year. While the swim was not quite up to the incredibly high standard he set yesterday, it was still a solid time to win by over a second with the win. The second and third place finishers also turned out a pair of good times with Peter Grumhaus of Lake Forest finishing in 1:37.94 and Matt Conway from Warren Township touching in third with a 1:38.56.
200 IM
Jae Park took his second win in as many tries by .01 over Nick Zito of Addison Trail in a time of 1:50.04, reeling in Zito with a strong back half. Sophomore Jon Salomon of Glenbrook South touched in third with a time of 1:50.95
50 Freestyle
Connor Black from Mundelein was able to hold on the final to take the win in 19.95, .15 off of his state record time from prelims while junior Ryan Held of Sacred Heart-Griffin closed the gap slightly, touching in 20.27 for second.
100 Butterfly
Connor Black was able to shake off the tenth of a second he added in the 50 free to drop a half second from his prelims swim and set a new National Public Record along with breaking his own state record in this race with a 46.71. Andrew Jovanovic of Loyola Academy touched in second with a 48.11
100 Freestyle
With no Connor Black to race in this one, Matt Held managed to put up a great time with a 44.43 a huge improvement from his 46.53 at the same meet last year. His swim also gave Sacred Heart-Griffin their first ever state champion in swimming. Adam Stacklin of Waubonsie Valley touched next almost a full second behind with a 45.42 with junior Steven Tan just behind him.
500 Freestyle
Peter Grumhaus managed to make this race a lot closer than Reed Malone would have liked, but he managed to get the win with a 4:23.27 over a 4:24.24. While the swim may have been something of a disappointment for Malone, who was 4:19 at the meet last year and 4:25 as a sophomore, it was anything but for Grumhaus who turned out his second great individual performance and he should be a great addition for Iowa next year.
200 Freestyle Relay
Hinsdale Central took the win in this event with a 1:23.43 with Connor Schroyer, Brian Powell, Brian Portland, and Will Leach. Fenwick was able to hold off Reed Malone’s anchor of 20.45 for the Trevians who finished in third. In the Consolation final Adam Stacklin helped his team to a seventh place finish of 1:24.58 with his 19.95 anchor, the fastest split out of any swimmer in the race.
100 Backstroke
While Andrew Jovanovic, a Northwestern commit, was not able to improve upon his state record time from prelims, he still won handily with a 48.25. Alex Snarski, a junior from Libertyville finished in second just under 50 with a time of 49.98.
100 Breaststroke
Jae Park took his third state title and second individually here with a 55.86 with Connor Black and Reed Malone being the only other swimmers to win both of their individual events. Kyle Aerne of Lake Community High and Eddie Mapel of Hinsdale Central took second and third.
400 Freestyle Relay
New Trier wrapped up a team title with a win in the final relay going 3:02.75 with Jack Mangan, Brian Walsh, Jae Park, and Reed Malone. Malone split a 43.71 on the end of New Trier’s relay to help them stay ahead of second place Lake Forest and Peter Grumhaus and the third place Marmion Academy.
Team Standings (Top 10)
1 Winnetka (New Trier) 189
2 Hinsdale (Central) 96
3 Lake Forest (H.S.) 93
4 Libertyville 78
5 Normal (University) 68
6 Wilmette (Loyola Academy) 67
7 Aurora (Marmion Academy) 63
8 St. Charles (North) 62
9 Aurora (Waubonsie Valley) 61
10 Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest) 51
Good because Southlake Caroll boys also ran away with 3rd straight title and girl’s team repeated as State Champions. There was also great competition from so many other individuals and teams.
hey, braden
are you going to cover the finals of the Texas high school meet?
Yep. Marylyn Toledo is working on full recaps, and her brother took some great pictures.