Swimming: Highland Park drops heartbreaker to rival Deerfield
By mark perlman Contributor January 31, 2012 10:16PM
Zach Weiner swims the second leg of the 200 medley relay during Friday's showdown against Deerfield. The Giants took first in the race. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 3, 2012 8:12AM
Although beating your biggest rival is always near the top of the list, what might be more important — especially for swimmers — is to continue to drop times.
What it all comes down to is the conference meet, sectionals and then State.
For Highland Park High School, dropping a 93-91 heartbreaker to host Deerfield on Friday was difficult, but many Giants stepped up nonetheless. One, in particular, was Jake Zuckerman.
Zuckerman won both the 50-yard freestyle and 100 free, keeping Highland Park right on the heels of the Warriors.
“Jake swam great all day,” said Highland Park coach Tim Sirois.
But, Sirois added, “He’s got room for improvement, especially in the turns.”
That’s really the essence of the sport — there’s always room for improvement. Even Michael Phelps is looking to cut that 1/100th of a second off his time.
“Jake is powerful, physically intimidating,” Sirois said about the 6-foot-1 Zuckerman. “He can move a lot of water.”
Zuckerman moved a lot of water in helping the 200 medley relay (including Ben Laedlein, Jacob Humerick and Weiner) win in 2:12.33.
One of the other races that pleased Sirois the most had Zuckerman on the ‘B’ 200 free relay team (with Jeremy Solomon, Scott Sonneborn and Louis Kelley), which registered some important points by finishing in second to help keep Highland Park neck-and-neck with Deerfield.
“Jake anchored the race and chased down the Deerfield swimmer,” Sirois said.
Recap: The Giants delivered plenty of strong performances against Deerfield. David Kane won the 200 IM, and anchored the 400 freestyle relay (with Laedlein, Eddie Kochman and Jack Tresley), which was barely edged by Deerfield (3:29.28 to 3:30.21).
“David looked very strong,” Sirois said. “He’s a tough kid.”
Weiner, “really stepped up,” Sirois said, in winning the 100 breaststroke (1:03.89). Weiner also helped the 200 free relay touch first in 1:35.52 (with Humerick, Kane and Phillip Goldberg). He placed third in the 100 free (52.71).
Goldberg contributed an important win in the 500 freestyle (5:07.31) as well.
Laedlein took runner-up honors to Deerfield’s Kevin Ewing in the 200 free (1:53.91) and in the 100 back (57.15).
Hummerick was second in the 100 fly (55.54). He added a third in the 100 back (1:00.15).
Farm report: It was another thrilling finish in the JV clash, as Highland Park held on for a 92-91 victory. Leading the way was Kevin Donovan’s 500 freestyle victory in 5:42.38.
The freshmen were in total control during a 83-30 dunking of the Warriors. Jonathan Talbert won the 50 and 100 freestyle, while Darien Sukach finished first in the 150 freestyle — and as part of both the 200 medley relay (with Daniel Hoffman, Marc Weiss and Alan Brint) and the 200 freestyle relay (with Hoffman, Jonny Bazelon and Rowan Nelis).
On the schedule: The Giants will host Glenbrook North in a Central Suburban League North dual meet at 5 p.m. Friday.
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