Boys Swimming: Lockport Jake-ing it into state meet
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media February 20, 2013 10:18PM
Jake Knowles, of Lockport. | File photo
Boys State
Swimming and Diving
When: Diving preliminaries and semifinals, 9 a.m. Friday; swimming preliminaries, 3:30 p.m. Friday; swimming and diving finals, 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: New Trier High School, 385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka
AREA QUALIFIERS
Diving: Tyler Pastore, Lockport (494.80); Jake Voltarel, Lockport (458.20); Ryan Kojder, Lincoln-Way Central (419.25).
200 Medley Relay: Lincoln-Way East (1:38.08); Lockport (1:38.13).
200 Freestyle: Dan Oldendorf, Lockport (1:44.24).
100 Freestyle: Jake Knowles, Lockport (47.82).
500 Freestyle: Alex Netzel, Plainfield co-op (4:43.49).
200 Free Relay: Lockport (1:27.62).
100 Backstroke: Cody Moris, Lincoln-Way Central (51.94); Alex Netzel, Plainfield co-op (53.52).
100 Breaststroke: Brandon Tran, Plainfield co-op (58.87); Jake Knowles, Lockport (58.94); Andy Gramont, Lincoln-Way East (1:00.40).
Article Extras
Updated: March 22, 2013 10:29AM
The trip to the state swimming meet will be a little more crowded this season for Lockport.
Along with returning qualifiers Jake Knowles, Dan Oldendorf and diver Tyler Pastore, the Porters also advanced their 200-yard medley relay and 200 freestyle relay to the two-day meet that starts Friday at New Trier.
“It (allows) some kids who weren’t able to qualify as an individual to still have the opportunity to participate in the state meet, which is the ultimate goal,” Lockport coach Grant Ferkaluk said of the two relays.
The sectional champion “all-Jake” medley relay, as Ferkaluk calls it, consists of Knolwes, Jake Speechley, Jake Gillis and Jake Elias. Like the medley relay, the 200 free team of Knowles, Elias, Gillis and Oldendorf will have one goal in mind.
“To be swimming or diving on Saturday,” Ferkaluk said.
Individuals reaching the meet’s second day earn a medal and All-State status.
“We’d really like to get some guys through on Friday and score some points at the meet,” Ferkaluk said. “The 200 relay could crack the top 12, but we’ll really have to perform well to do that.”
Pastore and teammate Jake Voltarel, 1-2 at the Lockport Sectional, rank among the top 10 divers going into the meet.
“They’ve got the right mix of skill and degree of difficulty, especially Tyler,” Ferkaluk said. “He has exposure to enough of the area that he’ll get that respect you need at the state meet.
“But it’s a fresh meet. You’ve still got to go in and execute. The sectional doesn’t mean they’re a shoo-in. They still have to do the things they need to do.”
It will be a busy meet for Knowles, who also will swim the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Knowles is a two-time sectional winner in both events.
“I think he’s very confident,” Ferkaluk said. “He’s certainly poised to be able to take a shot at being in the top 12. The breaststroke is his best chance, but he certainly has a chance in both. He’s got a great mental approach.”
“I’m going to fully rest for state,’’ Knowles said after the SouthWest Suburban Blue meet.
Freshman standout Brandon Tran, of Plainfield co-op, will be another local individual to watch in the breaststroke. Tran’s impressive sectional time of 58.87 seconds is the 10th-fastest in the state.
Earlier this season, Lincoln-Way Central sophomore Cody Moris said he wants to do more than just qualify for the state meet during his high school career.
“I’d like to place at state, come in the top six, make the finals,” said Moris, who earned a second straight sectional title in the backstroke last week. His time of 51.94 ranks 13th going into the state meet.
