Oak Park Swimming Sectional
The upperclassman on Fenwick’s swim team stepped up and torpedoed the Friars to the Oak Park Sectional championship in their own pool on Saturday.
Seniors Tom Parolin, John Barrett, Dave Meyer, Chris Bonk, Mike Mackin and Luke Baldwin helped their team to 328 points as the Friars won eight out of 12 events and qualified for the IHSA State Meet beginning Friday at New Trier High School, home of the defending state champs. Fenwick qualified in every event for the first time in years, according to head coach Dave Perry.
“I cannot remember the last time I had a team qualify in every single event,” said Perry, who is in his 20th year coaching at Fenwick. “It may have happened, but I can’t remember it ever happening.”
Parolin showed his diverse swimming ability by winning both the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.09) and the 100-yard butterfly (52.46 seconds). Barrett took first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.30 seconds, while Meyer won the 100-yard freestyle in 47.79 seconds. Chris Bonk outswam St. Patrick’s Dan Kalupski to win the 500-yard freestyle in 4:50.76. Kalupski touched the wall at 4:51.81.
Mackin qualified for state in the 100-yard backstroke by finishing second (54.81) behind Fenwick sophomore Chris Wendt (54.44).
Luke Baldwin’s second place time of 1:58.96 in the 200-yard individual medley earned the senior a trip back to the State Meet.
Parolin, Baldwin, Meyer and Barrett also took first in the 200-yard free relay (1:27.04) and the 400-yard free (3:11.81). Parolin and Baldwin were members of last season’s 200 and 400 state champion relays.
Brian Barron finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke to qualify with a time of 1:01.54. Barron also aided Mackin, Baldwin, and Barrett in the medley relay that qualified for state with a time of 1:38.37.
Leo Galvez-Roldan qualified in the diving event with 376 points.
Fenwick finished third at state last season, and Perry said he’s confident his Friars can crack the top three again.
“New Trier may again be in a league of their own and run off with the top spot, but with the three solid relays we have, we certainly have a shot in that top three,” he said.
The State Swim and Diving Meet begins Friday at 3:30 p.m. with the prelims. On Saturday, the finals begin at 1 p.m.
OPRF’s Meyer dives into state
Phil Meyer will represent Oak Park and River Forest at the State Meet this weekend. Meyer won the diving competition at the Oak Park Sectional held at Fenwick on Saturday. The junior took first with 394.50 points.
The Huskies finished third at the sectional with a total score of 245.5.
