There is a new face on the Nebarska swimming scene. Jacob Molacek is ready to enter into the vernacular of swim geeks everywhere. The junior at Creighton Prep in Omaha, by far the state’s dominant team (6-straight State Championships), has been having a whale of a season: unlike any perhaps Nebraska swimming has ever seen.
This is Molacek’s first season of high school swimming, and even then he got a late jump on things. He has been homeschooled for his entire career and had to sit out of racing for 90 school days beginning this year. In mid-January, when Molacek made his high school debut at a travel meet in Seattle, Tom Beck said his energy could be felt by the team.
“He was, to put it mildly, extremely excited to swim in Seattle. His swims gave our team jolts of electricity throughout the meet.”
Molacek is the kind of swimmer that every high school coach dreams of. He has unreal versatility (think Ryan Murphy, giving up some on the backstroke and taking a lot on the breaststroke) that can help assembling relays in a big way.
At that first meet, the Kentridge Invitational, he won the 200 free in 1:39.51 and the 100 fly in 49.92, with only the rest of a travel day counteracted by Friday afternoon spent walking around the city. He also led off the two free relays with flat-starts of 20.58 (en route to a team 1:25.46) and 45.19 (en route to a 3:09.09), respectively. Creighton Prep was already anticipating a really good team this season, with sophomore twins Ryan and Sean Tate already capable of 46’s (or better) in their 100 freestyles.
Then, last week, at the Millard South Invitational, he thought he’d switch things up a little. He swam a 55.92 in the 100 breaststroke, which is unoficially an all-time State best (though in Nebraska, State Records can only be set at the State Meet). He broke the 1998 record set by David Anderson.
Molacek also led off the 200 medley relay in 23 seconds, and split a 20.05 to anchor their 200 free relay, totally unrested. Without even tapering yet, Molacek has gone 5 best times this season and is within striking distance of State Meet Records in all 5 events, depending on which he swims; based upon that medley relay split, he could probably go after the 100 back mark as well.
And with a young team (they return all of their top freestylers), they’re going to put up some really impressive relay times in 2014. With continued development, this could be a 400 free relay next season that approaches the three-minute barrier.
The Nebraska State Championship meet will be Thursday, February 21st through Saturday, February 23rd in Lincoln.
Nebaraska swimming gets no respect bc it is unwarranted. As a state, it is weak from a depth perceptive and has been for years. Good for Jacob to rise out of the mediocrity NE has seen for years.
Adam Mania and Scott Usher with their National Championships and olympic medals are considered mediocre? Both hail from Nebraska, the speed up towards the top is there and of course theres no depth the state has only 1 million people. The fastest swimmers in the state of Nebraska could compete and win almost anywhere
It is great what Jacob has done but is he really a mystery? He has been on the National Age Group listings since a 10 & Under swimmer and very well may be the fastest 8 & Under swimmer I have ever seen. He placed top 8 at Juniors over the summer, had the Nation leading time in the breaststroke this past summer and went to the National Select Camp a couple of weekends ago. How is that a mystery? I guess that shows you how much respect Nebraska swimming gets from a USA Swimming standpoint. High school swimming is everything in Nebraska, unlike most other swimming states.
Creighton Prep will dominate the earth!
Haha this comment thread is a nice little insight into the Nebraska high school swim scene. Sounds like its quite the show over there!
I’ve got news. The problem isn’t isolated to Nebraska high school swimming. Bickering, whining, and people saying awful things to each other is part of the culture of the sport.
It’s more of an Internet, I can be tough/stupid/mean/inconsiderate at my keyboard because its safe then it is a jealousy within swimming thing.
If you step outside the world of swimming, spend some time away from it, and take a look later from the outside, you’ll see what I’m talking about. I’ve never seen a community with as much bickering, from recreational age group swimming to masters swimming.
Yeah I definitely agree. People need to stop being so jealous of the most talented swimmers and quit the sport.
That’s weird, I don’t remember posting the night of the 9th…
That’s quite possibly true, Bill, but none of this would even come close to happening if people had to log-in and actually post as who they really are. Internet tough.
Just so we’re clear, I’m posting under my real name. 🙂
I think some of these comments are getting a little ridiculous and personal. We are losing sight of what is really important here. Let these two swimmers enjoy the rest of their swim season. They should be able to compete and have fun at state without all this added pressure… and drama. Creighton Prep and Millard South are two great teams and it will be exciting to watch them at state. Coach Beck and Coach Hammond are two dedicated coaches and I think it is unfare to question either’s ability or the teams they have worked so hard to build.
I nationally ranked in soccer
As a millard south parent i would love to see glover win but i think hands down jakes going to win since jakes better than him
As humble as i am i wish for Jake to win and beat me. Go jake your the next star. I just wish i was faster but like they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
People. Stop posting as someone else. This post is not from Bob and these phony Millard Swim Parent posts are fake as well. Haters.