Before diving into the 200-yard freestyle at the team’s first dual meet against Lyons Township on Dec. 1, senior Sam Gisiner watched his teammates secure a victory in the medley relay.
“Everybody was cheering, it was just a really energetic atmosphere,” said Gisiner. “So being able to see that happen with my teammates got me ready to do my part in my event.”
Gisiner finished second in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:50.02.
The team won five out of 11 events during the meet.
Junior Evan Gitlevich won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 54.3 and the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:01.19.
“I didn’t get the times I really wanted, so I was kind of bummed about that,” said Gitlevich. “But winning felt pretty good, I felt very accomplished.”
Gitlevich broke the school record last year for the 100-yard breaststroke during sectionals with a time of 57.18.
Gitlevich hopes to break this record again this season, he said.
According to head coach Jarod Schroeder, the team aims to have a winning record and send swimmers to state.
“We have a pretty tough senior class, and those guys will probably take on a pretty big leadership role,” Schroeder said.
According to Gisiner, before the meet, the senior swimmers try to build up the team spirit with a motivational talk.
“We made sure to remind everyone that every swimmer counts, no matter if you’re first string or more towards the bottom,” said Gisiner. “Your place matters and trying to beat someone on the other team is what is more important even if you’re not getting first.”
According to head diving coach Jessica Roby, the diving season is off to a great start and had a great first meet as far as scoring goes.
Junior Dennis Binkin reached a milestone in the first meet against Lyons Township when he scored over 200 points, Roby said.
Gitlevich won the 100-yardbreaststrokewith a time of 1:00.09 and Gisiner placed second in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.80 at a meet against Vernon Hills on Dec. 15 (0-2, 0-0 Central Suburban League South Division).
Many swimmers swam faster than they did a year ago in the meet against Lyons Township, so there was still a lot to celebrate, Gisiner said.
“So we’re starting in a good place, even if we didn’t win,” Gisiner said.