This Saturday, Feb. 11, Niles West will be hosting the annual CSL end-of-the-season boys swim meet. JV will be competing at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, while the varsity will compete the following day, beginning at 1:00 p.m. This will be the last major meet before the boys head to the IHSA Sectionals.
Head swim coach Jason Macejak expects nothing but the best from this group of boys. Currently holding a conference record of 3-2, the team’s glue is credited to the five power seniors. Though this bunch is a large mix of freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, he has no doubt that the youth of the team will not put a dent in their performance.
“We are hoping for 100 percent best times and scores, we expect to be competing closely with Maine South and Evanston. I am looking for the sectional athletes to take one step closer to achieving their goals, and I’m expecting the athletes finishing their season at conference to hit their season goals,” Macejak said. “I want the kids to have fun during the meet, but when they step up for their dive or behind the block for their swim, they should be all business and ready to leave it all in the pool.”
Being in one of the toughest conferences in the area, the boys realize that their performances need to be top notch this weekend, as they plan to break some of their personal and team records. Senior and co-captain Sam Bochina, who will be competing in the 100 meter butterfly, 400 meter free relay, and the 200 meter free relay, is excited to reflect on his individual progress, as well as the teams.
“I’m really looking forward to competing against other schools, and seeing how well my body has improved in the water throughout all the hard conditioning this season. My expectations are to swim fast and beat our lifetime best personal times, as well as get medals in some events,” Bochina said.
Senior and co-captain Nick Greiner has no doubt that the team will live up to the expectation set forth by previous years and their coaches. Greiner will be competing in the 200 meter individual medley and the 100 meter freestyle, hoping to beat his personal records set earlier this season.
“My only expectation for our team is to swim fast. I don’t care whether we win or lose, just as long as we are swimming fast and striving for best times. We have a very young team, so it’s fun seeing the younger guys attack their races and get faster every meet. Ranking doesn’t really matter to us, as long as we are giving everything we’ve got in our races,” Greiner said.
Make sure to come out and support the boys at Niles West this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. — it’s bound to be a meet for the books.
