Boys Swimming: Sectional title to Lincoln-Way East’s Gramont
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media February 16, 2013 10:00PM
Tony Mikrut, of Lincoln-Way North. | Gary Middendorf~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 18, 2013 6:43AM
Lincoln-Way East senior Andy Gramont had a different feeling this season going into the 100-yard breaststroke at the sectional meet.
“I was seeded third going in, so I was a little bit nervous,’’ Gramont said. “I didn’t have the confidence I had last year because I was seeded first. But it pumped me up.’’
Gramont overcame the jittery feeling to win the breaststroke (1:00.40) on Saturday at the Lincoln-Way North Sectional, his second sectional title in a row. He also swam on the second-place 200 medley relay (1:38.08) with Alex Newell, Riley Murphy and Spencer Smith that beat the state qualifying standard of 1:38.34.
“I swam every race to the best of my abilities and I’m very happy about that,’’ Gramont said.
Smith just missed qualifying for the state finals in the 100 freestyle. He took second in 48.53 and the qualifying standard is 48.09. Smith came back to swim this season after missing his junior year because of a back injury.
“I couldn’t be more proud of how my team swam today,’’ Gramont said. “We all swam best times.’’
Newell was third in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, coming close to the qualifying standards in both races.
“Today was the highlight of the season, watching everybody swim really well,’’ Newell said.
East freshman Patrick Hackett will be a swimmer to watch in the future. Hackett didn’t qualify for the state meet, but his second-place time in the 500 freestyle (4:48.54) was close to the qualifying standard (4:47.79).
Lincoln-Way Central sophomore Cody Moris won his second consecutive sectional title in the 100 backstroke, setting a pool record of 51.94. The previous mark was 52.11, set three years ago by Lincoln-Way North’s Kyler Vanswol.
Lincoln-Way North won the championship of the 14-team meet with 254.5 points, finishing ahead of Andrew (234), Lincoln-Way East (225.5) and Lincoln-Way Central (161).
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Kevin Kuchta won a sectional title in the 200 individual medley (1:57.07) for the third year in a row. Kuchta also qualified in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.44).
Other pool records Saturday were North’s 200 medley relay (1:36.47), North’s Jake Pearson in the 500 freestyle (4:40.06) and Andrew’s 400 freestyle relay (3:11.94).
