Chasing historical past may be loads of stress, because it was final yr for Oswego East’s Chase Maier.
As a junior, Maier got here up simply brief in his quest to change into the primary state champion in program historical past, ending second in each the 200-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle.
However the near-misses didn’t improve the warmth on Maier as a senior.
“When you’ve skilled it one time, it’s much less stress, I feel,” Maier stated. “Final yr I acquired second in each in opposition to two seniors, so this yr I used to be the favourite to win.
“I simply went on the market, backed my coaching and did fairly properly.”
That’s an understatement. Maier completed his highschool profession on a robust observe, capturing state titles Saturday within the 200 and 500 of the boys swimming state meet at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
The Navy commit beat his earlier finest time by over a second within the 200, successful in 1:35.91. Maier got here again within the 500 with a fair higher efficiency, clocking 4:19.36, which was only a half-second off the state file set by former Stanford swimmer Danny Thomson in 2012.
“I used to be trying to take it down,” Maier stated. “However I used to be perhaps a little bit bit too drained from different occasions.”
It’s comprehensible contemplating the exhaustive extent of Maier’s accomplishments. He’ll graduate as Oswego East’s most adorned swimmer.
Together with relays, Maier received seven state medals, three coming Saturday.
“It means quite a bit,” Maier stated. “Our boys are getting higher. We’re one of the best we’ve ever been, and I’ve confidence that even after I’m gone after this yr, they’re going to proceed to be nice.”
There’s motive to imagine Maier will, too. His grandfather was drafted into the Military in the course of the Vietnam Battle, however Maier is the primary member of his household to attend a service academy.
Already achieved within the water, the Navy may enable Maier to serve on the water as properly.
He should serve 5 years on energetic responsibility upon commencement.
“It’s such a great alternative and privilege to go to the Naval Academy,” Meier stated. “I’m trying to enter engineering, so it’s a little bit little bit of a combination between swimming and my schooling.
“I’ve all the time been extra of a math man and I wish to construct issues. It looks as if it’s going to be actually enjoyable.”
The numbers additionally added up for St. Charles North’s Thomas McMillan, who received the 100 butterfly in a state-record 46.52. He turns into simply the third swimmer in Illinois Excessive Faculty Affiliation historical past to set a state file as a sophomore.
The opposite two are Hinsdale Central’s Luke Vatev, who set the 100 backstroke file throughout Friday’s prelims earlier than successful the occasion Saturday, and former Lake Forest star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers.
“It was positively in my thoughts for me, attempting to win,” McMillan stated. “I positively must set some extra targets and reevaluate for the long run.”
McMillan stated his preliminary response to the file was reduction.
“I swam the entire season working towards this, so I used to be glad I acquired it performed,” McMillan stated. “Simply competing, attempting to be one of the best, is what drives me.”
McMillan, who was runner-up to Vatek within the 100 backstroke, is continuous a advantageous custom within the butterfly. He’s the third North Star to win a state title within the occasion. Will Myhre took the 2018 title and Aleksej Filipovic received in 2019 and 2020.
“It feels nice to maintain it going,” McMillan stated. “I’ve all the time been a flyer since I began, so it made sense to maintain it going for highschool.”
Matt Le Cren is a contract reporter for The Beacon-Information.
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