Boys Swimming: Highland Park gearing up for league meet

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:13AM

With the Central Suburban League North boys swimming conference meet set for Saturday, Highland Park coach Tim Sirois was looking for some momentum, and he certainly got it in the first race of a dual meet against visiting Glenbrook North on Friday.

The Giants finished 1-2 in the 200-yard medley relay (Eddie Kochman, Zach Weiner, David Kane and Jake Zuckerman) touching first (1:44.61), closely followed by Ben Laedlein, Jeremy Solomon, Jacob Humerick and Scott Sonneborn (1:45.42).

One of the strongest swims was turned in by Humerick. The senior swam his butterfly leg in 24.35.

“Jacob looked great in the fly,” Sirois said. “We’ve got a really good medley relay team.”

Humerick (55.58) finished a close second to Glenbrook North’s Brian Roytman (54.99) in the 100 fly, and he helped the 200 freestyle relay (with Weiner, Kane and Zuckerman) to a strong second-place showing (1:32.85).

“Jacob had a great meet,” Sirois said. “He gives us another dimension in the 200 free relay.”

Sirois pointed to the strength and technique that Humerick possesses in the water.

“He’s a powerful kid, who has very good technique underwater — and off the wall,” Sirois said. “He’s constantly working on his technique.”

In the CSL North meet, Sirois expects Humerick to participate in the medley relay, the 100 fly, and in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

“We’re expecting great things from Jacob,” Sirois said.

Recap: Although Glenbrook North came away with a 102-84 victory over GBN, the meet was more about preparation and positioning for the conference meet and sectionals.

Sirois divided his 200 medley relay team against the Spartans. At the CSL North meet, Laedlein will lead off with the backstroke, followed by Weiner (breaststroke), Humerick and Zuckerman (freestyle).

Weiner dropped his time in winning the 100 breaststroke (1:06.31), while Laedlein captured the 100 back in 56.90.

“Zach swam really well right from the start and through the turn,” Sirois said. “Ben looked great. That was his best time of the year.”

Zuckerman won the 50 free in 22.52. Sirois said he has a strong chance to be in the finals on Saturday.

Glenbrook North’s Ben Stoehr (176.85 points) won the 1-meter diving competition, but he was pushed by Highland Park freshman Jessie Ogawa (163.10).

“Jessie is a great athlete,” Sirois said. “He has a lot of athleticism.”

On the schedule: The conference meet will be at Deerfield on Saturday. Diving begins at 9 a.m., while competition in the pool will begin at 1 p.m.

It should be a tight, four-team battle with Niles North, Deerfield, Glenbrook North and Highland Park vying for the title.