Bulldogs bring huge group to swim at state this time

Especially for Hayden Marrs and the rest of the Riverside Brookfield High School boys swimming and diving team seniors, everything came together Saturday at the York Sectional.

“[The pairings were] a blessing but I really feel like this was our season,” Marrs said. “Things are clicking. The team’s getting along really well. We’re all motivated. I really feel blessed to be a part of this senior season.” 

Led by third-time state qualifier Drew Rosa, seven seniors contributed to seven state-qualifying performances and helped RBHS win a sectional (249 points) for only the second time and not since 2014.

Everyone but Rosa will compete at state for the first time Friday and Saturday at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

“A lot of us don’t swim year-round and after this, except for Drew, it’s done. To have the opportunity to go out with a bang, it’s providing some closure,” Marrs said. 

Sectional champions automatically qualify for state, along with entries who achieve state-qualifying standards. 

Taking first were Rosa in the 100-yard breast stroke (58.17 seconds), Marrs (50 freestyle in 21.80), the 200 free relay of Marrs, Rosa, junior Aiden Pankros and senior Will Kallas (1:27.09) and the 200 medley relay of seniors Lucas Hedrich (backstroke) and Alex Jacobs (breast), Rosa (butterfly) and Hayden Marrs (free) in 1:36.49.

Second-place Rosa (100 fly in 51.50) and third-place senior Cooper Marrs (200 individual medley in 1:56.63) beat respective state cuts of 51.98 and 1:57.20. Junior diver Nate Kissel (4th, 424.40 points) advanced by being among the top 32 at-large scores. 

“The No. 1 goal was sending as many people to state as we could. The second priority was winning sectionals,” Pankros said. 

The sectional was not as competitive as years past but all RBHS swimming qualifiers achieved the respective state cuts, other than Hayden Marrs in the 50 free.

“I knew we had a chance [for several qualifiers],” RBHS swim coach Mike Laurich said. 

“It was kind of weird because normally on the bus ride there’s a lot of talking, music, noise. It was the quietest bus ride I’d ever been on. We’re either nervous or getting ready. They were ready to go, so it was a fun day.”

The worst cut happened to Pankros. Five minutes before his 50 free, he gashed his left shin against the corner of the bleachers. 

The trainer protected his leg with waterproof bandages, tape and plastic wrap. The dressings were changed before each of his other three events. Pankros also competed in the 100 fly, the 200 free relay and 400 free relay with Cooper Marrs, Kallas and Hayden Marrs (2nd, 3:13.11), which just missed the 3:12.78 state cut.

Afterward, the wound required three stitches.

“It did throw off my 50 free. After [that] I was able to lock in, focus a little more,” Pankros said. “At that point, I still couldn’t feel the cut. The pain wasn’t even registering yet. It was just mainly a mental game and I knew I had to suck it up. You have to hold yourself accountable. You’re not just racing for yourself. You’re racing with other people.”

“He really stepped up in a situation where most other kids would have crumbled,” Laurich said.    

This year, top 16 prelim finishers advance to Saturday’s finals instead of top 12. In 2023, Rosa was 14th in the 100 fly (50.73) and 15th in the 100 breast (57.53). He should drop considerable time from Saturday considering he was not shaved for a complete taper.

Hayden Marrs has competed for the 2022 Class 2A state championship boys cross country team and qualified for state track with relays. The 50 free victory marks his first individual state experience.

“I love competing with a team and bringing guys with but everyone wants a first and that’s definitely validating,” Marrs said. “I was a little selfish and really, really wanted [that 50 free]. That’s been my bread and butter for so long, and it’s such a precise event. I’m just glad things went right and I had a lot of fun.”