Alex Jacobs and fellow senior Riverside Brookfield High School boys swimmers had a special feeling for their final home invite Saturday: complete gratitude the event wasn’t canceled by bad weather.
“We were definitely worried, especially with school going to e-learning on Friday, but very fortunate that not all of the snow came,” Jacobs said. “We’re very happy that we got the meet in. Our first normal meet coming [from winter break]. It was great to see all of these new times.”
The Bulldogs posted several season and even lifetime bests and finished third (193 points) of 11 teams at the 65th annual RB Invite behind St. Ignatius and Oak Park and River Forest.
Heavy snow resulted in Friday’s diving being canceled and Saturday’s start time being moved from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Only one team didn’t come.
“Everyone was really happy we got a chance to race. And it showed,” RBHS coach Mike Laurich said.
“That’s one of the things we talked about, opportunities, and this was an opportunity almost taken away because of the weather. They really took advantage of it and showed some great some swims.”
For sectionals Feb. 17, the Bulldogs appear on pace to bring more than senior Drew Rosa back to state alone. RBHS had second-place finishes from Rosa in the 100 butterfly (season-best 52.50) and 100 breast stroke (59.58), senior Lucas Hedrich in the 100 backstroke (55.28) and the 200 medley relay (1:40.05) of Hedrich (back), Jacobs (breast), Rosa (fly) and senior Hayden Marrs (free).
The 200 free relay of Hayden Marrs, senior Cooper Marrs, Rosa and junior Aiden Pankros (1:30.49) and 400 free relay of Hayden Marrs, Cooper Marrs, Hedrich and senior Will Kallas (3:24.35) both were third.
Rosa, a two-year state qualifier, already is on the verge of the state cuts in the 100 fly (51.98) and 100 breast (59.22) – his two 2023 state events.
Rosa once again was second in both of his individual invite events, Saturday, but much faster than his 2023 times of 53.36 in the fly and 1:01.82 in the breast.
“Obviously I would have wanted to win but it’s just a number. What really matters is the time and the times weren’t bad,” Rosa said. “The medley was really good. Everyone did well. I think we’ll be able to keep going fast in that race, especially at sectionals, and I think we’ll be able to make state. I think we can even get the 200 free relay there.”
Laurich said the Bulldogs are generally swimming as fast as they did at the end of last season. That has them chasing state-qualifying standards in the 200 medley relay (1:36.87) and 200 free relay (1:27.40).
“As a team, our goal is just to get our relays down to state this year,” Jacobs said. “Just keep pushing forward. We’ve been doing really well at practice with all of our sets.”
Taking fourth were Cooper Marrs in the 200 individual medley (2:06.23) and 100 back (56.52) and Jacobs dropped two seconds for fourth in the 100 breast (1:04.69).
Sophomore Jake Kocourek (500 free in season-best 5:13.85) and Hayden Marrs (50 free in 23.00) were fifth.
Senior Kamil Ptak added two lifetime bests. He dropped two seconds in the 100 free (13th, 55.35) and seven for the 200 free (16th, 2:05.62).
“I couldn’t have probably done it if I didn’t practice over the summer with [Laurich] and all of the rigorous training that he’s put me through,” Ptak said. “I was hoping for the best that I could do and from what came out today, I think I did that. It is my best meet. Hopefully there’s more to come.”