Boys Swimming: Highland Park nabs third place in conference meet

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Members of the Highland Park and Niles North relay teams cheer on their teammates the final lap in Saturday's CSL North meet at Deerfield. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: March 17, 2012 9:51AM

Going up against favored Niles North in the 200-yard medley relay was only part of the reason Jake Zuckerman and Highland Park were charged up last during the Central Suburban League North conference meet at Deerfield on Saturday.

Previously, the Giants set a pool record in the medley relay in a dual meet against Deerfield. However, Deerfield coach John Sullivan held off making any record-board changes.

“I thought that (dual meet) was an awesome swim, but … I don’t change the board until everything is done,” Sullivan said.

That gave the Giants contingent a little more incentive.

“It’s been in our heads the past two weeks,” Zuckerman said.

The teams battled in the first three legs of the relay on Saturday, with Niles North holding a small lead going into Zuckerman’s anchor leg. But Zuckerman’s finishing kick was too strong, and he touched the wall first for a winning time of 1:39.95, while Niles North was second in 1:40.02.

“We weren’t ready to lose,” Zuckerman said.

Solid splits were turned in by Ben Laedlein (backstroke), Zach Weiner (breaststroke) and Jacob Humerick as well.

“It was a tight race across the board,” said Highland Park coach Tim Sirois. “Everyone stepped up for us. It was right where I hoped it would be, time-wise.”

Though rivals in the pool, there is certainly a lot of respect between the two strong swimming programs.

“I was excited for the (Highland Park) kids to come right back and do it. Now we can officially change it,” Sullivan said about the records board at the Deerfield pool. “It’s nice to keep (the record) within District 113. They’re a good bunch over at HP.”

Next up for the Highland Park medley relay squad? The New Trier Sectional.

“We’re looking to make the state cut,” Zuckerman said. “That’s been our goal all year.”

Recap: Highland Park (223 points) finished in third place at the conference meet. State power Niles North captured first with 352. Deerfield (273), the Giants, Glenbrook North (201), Maine West (116) and Maine East (97) followed.

“We had a lot of great swims out there,” Sirois said.

The 200 freestyle relay (Humerick, David Kane, Weiner and Zuckerman) finished second (1:31.72) to Niles North.

“I’m excited,” Sirois said. “They were all good.”

Laedlein was second in the 100 backstroke (57.43), while Weiner was runner-up in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.70). Humerick was third in the 100 butterfly (55.12) and Zuckerman was third in the 100 freestyle (49.39). Jessie Ogawa was seventh in the diving competition with 284 points. Deerfield’s Sean Scarry won with 398.

Zuckerman was on the other side of a tight finish, as Chris Roberts (22.18) of Deerfield defeated the Giant (22.27) in the 50 freestyle. The HP speedster had previously beaten Roberts in dual meet.

“He did a good job and he got me,” Zuckerman said. “If we both make State, I’m going to make sure I’m ready when I face him.”

Sirois was quite impressed with his sprinter.

“Everything is clicking for him,” Sirois said. “We’re looking to not just to make the state meet, we’re looking for him to place a couple of weeks from now in Evanston.”

On the schedule: Highland Park will compete in the New Trier Sectional on Saturday.