Boys Swimming: Stevenson has no trouble with visiting Mundelein
By bill mclean Contributor January 24, 2012 3:40PM
Stevenson's Daniel Shtivelberg drives hard in the 200 freestyle during last Thursday meet against Mundelein. The Patriots scored a 128-58 victory. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:12AM
Greg Hartman gets it.
Gets what’s truly important about a swimming season.
That’s why the Stevenson High School boys team coach didn’t need a hose after a dual meet with visiting Mundelein on Jan. 19.
“We did not plan to set the world on fire, or break a bunch of pool records,” he said after his Pats’ 128-58 victory. “Mundelein didn’t, either. This was a mid-season dual, that’s all.”
If it’s midseason, it’s tired season for swimmers everywhere. Times, on scoreboards, mean little these days.
Same goes for dual-meet results.
Coaches, in January, want to see their exhausted, pre-taper swimmers race hard and drown any thoughts of surrendering to soreness.
The big deals — conference, sectional, state meets — come later, in February.
But it was hard to not be impressed by Stevenson’s convincing victory against Mundelein, blessed with a couple of super studs: junior Connor Black and senior Bryan Wiener.
Stevenson entrants finished first in eight of the meet’s 12 events.
“Depth … We have that going for us,” said Patriots senior Chris Hodges.
Indeed. Hartman’s boys of winter finished 1-2-3 in three events: the 200-yard freestyle, diving and the 100 backstroke. Seniors Langston Fitts (1:50.28) and Daniel Shtivelberg (1:51.67), and freshman Dimitriy Pelutis (1:57.03), took the top three spots in the 200 free; junior James Lichtenstein (250.45) dominated the diving segment, ahead of Blake Ripes (198) and Max Kontorovich (185.15); and senior Steven McKee (56.61) won the 100 back, in front of juniors Patrick Galas (1:00.47) and Henry Martlelon (1:02.54).
Fitts, Shtivelberg, Hodges and Ryota Kuwahara — seniors, all of them — combined for a first-place time of 3:16.03 in the 400 free relay.
Hodges was the unit’s anchor, vs. Black.
It got loud in the natatorium, particularly during the final 25 yards of the race.
Not state-meet loud.
But the cheers, from the fans and teammates on deck, split more than a few ears.
Mundelein’s quartet finished 1.3 seconds behind Stevenson’s.
“I like our team’s spirit,” Hartman said afterward. “It’s a respectful spirit. Our strong seniors — they know this is their moment, their year. They should enjoy it, and that’s what they’re doing.”
Stevenson’s other victorious results in the NSC dual meet: freshman Allen Feng (50 free, 23.31); Hodges (100 butterfly, 56.18); Kuwahara (500 free, 4:55.63); and the 200 free relay of Pelutis, sophomore Weilly Tong, junior Remy Dalloul and senior Daniel Budolak (1:34.26).
All ’hart: Hodges praised Pats junior Ryan Lenhart for his runner-up effort (5:03.77) in the 500 free against Mundelein.
“Solid time,” he said. “I liked the way he competed.”
Quote-worthy: “He’s absorbing diving like a sponge,” said Pats diving coach Amy Inselberger, on Lichtenstein’s desire to sharpen the technical aspects of his diving game.
‘Four’ front: Lichtenstein finished fourth at the Hinsdale Central diving invite on Jan. 14.
It’s annually considered the most competitive diving invite of the regular season.
On the schedule: Stevenson (4-0 NSC) visits Lake Forest at 5 p.m. Thursday.
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