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| SportsWednesday, November 28, 2007 8:23 PM CST |
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Timing everything for BHS swim star
You can’t play defense in swimming. For that reason alone, it’s wise for 100-yard butterfly state title contender Justin Wolfe to make time goals instead of place goals this season. The Bloomington High School senior is aiming at a sub-49-second clocking, which is well under his Intercity record of 50.59, the nation’s 46th best time last season. Such a goal also puts Wolfe close to the state meet record of 48.69 set by Champaign Central’s Dan Trupin in 2001. “We’re looking for him to crack the top 15 in the nation,” said Purple Raider coach Bob Loy. “Realistically, I think he has a good shot. “This is the first year he has really come in totally healthy. His shoulder was bad last year.” Wolfe placed fourth a year ago in the state butterfly behind three seniors. He hopes to improve by extending how far he dolphin kicks underwater. “He’ll swim half of every length (underwater) and kick it really hard,” Loy said. “He’s a great kicker.” The three-time Intercity butterfly champion is feeling great about his decision to accept a partial scholarship to Southern Illinois University. “It’s close and they offered me good academics as well as good financial help,” said Wolfe explaining his choice. “Money was a big factor going into it. “Their coach (Rick Walker) is also the only one who contacted my parents. My parents liked that.” Wolfe, who will study engineering, also visited Iowa, Missouri and Purdue. “I like that he is going to the top division in the NCAA,” Loy said. “His ability is at that level. He should make the NCAA Meet after about his second year.” Wolfe made waves in several events last season including the 50 freestyle in which he placed 27th in the state in a Pantagraph area leading 21.85. Wolfe’s dreams for relay success are on the rise with the arrival of his freshman brother, Shaun, and the return of state veteran Jared Bradd. “He’s way ahead of where I was as a freshman in his strokes,” said Wolfe, noting Shaun’s specialty is the 100 breaststroke. “He’s really been surprising the last six months.” Shaun Wolfe bounced back well from surgery to relieve pressure on his lungs in March. “Shaun could take down our breaststroke record in the first two or three meets,” said Loy, noting Shaun’s 1:03.2 best is just off Ted Waterson’s 1:02.20 from 1991. Loy expects to see school records in all three relays from his 12-man roster, which lacks depth, but not top-end talent. “We’re looking to take down at least five, six, maybe even seven school records, which will be tough to do, but the guys have dedicated themselves,” he said. Reigning Intercity champion University High returns 11 lettermen as does last year’s Big 12 Conference runner-up Normal West. “I’m sure (winning Intercity) is one of the goals,” said U High coach Michelle Meyer. “If it happens in the process of dropping times, great.” Normal West coach Becky McGrew returns five men from her sectional runner-up lineup including fifth-place state diver Justin Ruszkowski, who will join Wolfe at SIU next year. “Justin is looking awesome,” McGrew said. “He’s got new dives in the works.” Normal Community coach Heather Budak has the biggest roster to work with at 33 strong including seven lettermen. “We have a large team that is very young,” she said. “We only have a couple of kids who swim year round so we are looking forward to a few weeks of hard work to get us into shape.” Intercity swimming capsules University High Coach: Michelle Meyer, 15th season 2006-07 record: 1st in Intercity, 3rd in sectional Returning letterwinners: Michael Fritz, Sr.; Nick Houska, Sr., Sun Weikang, Sr.; Josh Davis, Jr.; Sebastian Grobe, Jr.; Jack McCarthy, Jr.; Jack Mecherle, Jr.; Tyler Hines, So.; Zach Parton, So.; Cole Rosenbaum, So.; Kegan Saajasto, So. Newcomer to watch: John Williamson, Fr. FYI: Josh Davis led the area in the 200 IM (2:04.58) last season and ranked second in the fly (55.82). Cole Rosenbaum took 43rd in the state 100 back, in which he ranked second in the area (58.32). He ranked fifth in the 500 free (5:13.46). Tyler Hines won the Intercity 200 IM and had the area’s third-best times in both the IM (2:06.99) and 500 free (4:55.62). Sebastian Grobe ranked third in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.80) and fourth in the IM (2:07.15). Michael Fritz was part of the state’s 32nd best 200 medley relay (1:44.76) with Rosenbaum, Grobe and Davis. Quoting: “Everybody is looking very well,” Meyer said. “A lot swim year-round on club team. They do a fantastic job of keeping in shape throughout the year.” Bloomington Coach: Bob Loy, 29th season 2006-07 record: 6th in Big 12, 4th in Intercity, 5th in sectional Returning letterwinners: Justin Wolfe, Sr.; Jared Bradd, Sr.; Geoff Clayton, Sr.; Joey Fleming, Jr.; Kyle Bean, Jr.; Steven Lust, So.; Charlie Boaz, So. Newcomer to watch: Shaun Wolfe, Fr. FYI: Justin Wolfe is the reigning Big 12 champion in the 100 butterfly. Jared Bradd placed 24th in the state 100 free and 49th in the 50 free, leading the area in the former (48.47) and ranking second in the latter (22.18). Joey Fleming was the area’s No. 2 diver (193.05), missing a state berth by a half point. Look for Steven Lust or Charlie Boaz to join Bradd, Justin Wolfe and Shaun Wolfe on a state-placing relay or two. Quoting: “The bigger meets we get into, the more fun it will be,” said Loy, whose 12-man team still might have enough depth to challenge U High for Intercity supremacy. “They are going to have to use a lot of depth because I feel we can win quite a few events in the Intercity.” Normal West Coach: Becky McGrew, 2nd season 2006-07 record: 2nd in Big 12, 3rd in Intercity, 2nd in sectional Returning letterwinners: Justin Ruszkowski, Sr.; Trevor Mitchell, Sr.; Drew Frey, Sr.; Jake Kelley, Sr.; Daniel Kohlhase, Jr.; Ian Sheridan, Jr.; Joshua Peterson, Jr.; Adam Meyers, Jr.; Brad Ross, So.; Josh Light, So.; Kyle Thede, So. Newcomer to watch: Matt Frey, Fr. FYI: Reigning Big 12 champion Justin Ruszkowski placed fifth in state diving (418.75) and is the state’s No. 4 returnee. The two-time Intercity and sectional champion’s six-dive best of 266.35 ranks second in area history behind the 271.35 by Anthony Holzhauer of NCHS in 2005. Trevor Mitchell placed 44th in the state 100 breaststroke and led the area at 1:03.47. Quoting: “If (Ruszkowski) could get in the top two or three at state, that would be awesome,” McGrew said. “Mitchell has the mindset of making a repeat trip to state.” Normal Community Coach: Heather Budak, 2nd season 2006-07 record: 3rd in Big 12, 2nd in Intercity, 2nd in sectional Returning letterwinners: Alex Moore, Sr.; Ben Fewkes, Jr.; Kreighton Satterwhite, Jr.; Ethan Jacobsen, So.; Conrad Morger, So.; Scott Pinter, So.; Kyle Wissler, So. FYI: Ben Fewkes ranked fourth in the area in the 500 free (4:57.70) and fifth in the 200 free (1:52.23). Scott Pinter ranked fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.43) and fifth in the 100 back (1:00.65). Quoting: “I am looking to our returning letterwinners for leadership in and out of the water,” Budak said. Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. 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