Boys Swimming: Ramblers pull together after plans wash out
BY DAN SHALIN Contributor February 20, 2012 11:38PM
2/18/12. Winnetka. Loyola's Blake Morgan dives into the water at the start of the 500 Freestyle at the New Trier Sectional. Morgan finished 4th and qualified for the state meet. | Tracy Allen~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:30AM
One of the interesting story lines entering Saturday’s New Trier Sectional came out of the Loyola camp, where seniors Andrew Jovanovic and Brendan Hulseman chose to sacrifice individual glory for team success.
Both had agreed to swim in just one individual event and three relays. Jovanovic, who won state titles in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly as a junior, said sacrificing an individual event for a relay was an easy decision.
“I have told (head coach Mike Hengelmann) many times that I would do whatever is best for the team,” Jovanovic said.
But the plot took an unexpected twist, when the Ramblers’ 200 free relay team did not qualify for the state meet, Friday and Saturday at Evanston. Loyola ended up finishing fourth (1:28.60), just off the state-qualifying time of 1:28.39.
One of the factors for the slower-than-expected time was that Jovanovic “missed a wall,” not getting the necessary push he needed on the turn of his opening lap. Jovanovic, a classy competitor who is respected by his peers throughout the state, took responsibility for the mistake and explained why it happened.
“It wasn’t a lack of training, it was a lack of judgement,” he said. “At that pool, the ‘T’ where the swimmers turn looks a little different under water. I forgot about that. I usually know where to turn, but I had it in my head (to follow) the black line at the bottom of the pool. I misjudged it. I do take a lot of responsibility.”
Despite the disappointment, the Ramblers showed an ability to bounce back when they posted a qualifying time (3:13.87) in the 400 free relay, placing third. Joining Jovanovic on that relay were Hulseman, and juniors Blake Morgan and Jack Considine. Jovanovic, Hulseman and Considine also were part of the 200 free relay.
Jovanovic said the Ramblers pulled together to overcome the sadness and frustration resulting from the missed opportunity in the 200 free relay.
“Hulseman and Morgan helped me. In the 30-minute window between the short (200 free relay) and the long (400 free relay), we got to where we needed to be (emotionally), so we could qualify (in the 400 free relay),” Jovanovic said. “Considine had the greatest mind-set out of everybody. He said, ‘Just forget about it.’ We got together for the 400 free and felt like we were there mentally.”
Hearing Hengelmann talk about the chemistry on the team, it’s not hard to understand why they were able to overcome the adversity.
“It’s a close-knit team, and all these guys do everything for each other,” he said. “I’m proud of these guys. It’s a good group. If I could coach one group for the rest of my life, it would be these guys.”
Hulseman also qualified in the 100 free (5th, 47.98), and Morgan made the cut in the 500 free (4th, 4:47.86).
Senior diver Michael Nash qualified after finishing second (508.65) and breaking a 40-yard-old school record, which actually was held by his uncle, Frank Nash. Freshman Ryan Nash (393.85) also will be heading to State.
Other notable performances for the Ramblers were: sophomore Jake Finn placing sixth in the 100 backstroke (55.78) and eighth in the 200 IM (2:03.63); Morgan finishing sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.54); senior Daniel Stauder taking 15th in the 50 free (23.63); and sophomore Thomas Haracz placing 13th in the 100 fly (55.01).
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