Luke Maurer Sets State Record, St. Charles North Defends Illinois Boys State Title by Two Points

Photo Courtesy: Melinda Roberts Twitter (@melindar303)

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The 2020 Illinois Boys State Swimming and Diving Championships took place on Saturday, Feb. 29 at the New Trier Natatorium in Winnetka, Ill.

The meet was highlighted by Loyola Academy’s Luke Maurer who broke the Illinois state record in the 200 free during prelims with a time of 1:34.49.

St. Charles North defended their state title with a total of 137 points, just two points ahead of runner-up Loyola Academy (135). This is St. Charles North’s second championship crown in program history.

Click HERE for full results and team scores.

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. St. Charles North – 137
2. Loyola Academy – 135
3. Glenbrook South – 128
4. Oak Park River Forest – 98
5. Waubonsie Valley – 85

The meet got off to an exciting start as Hinsdale Central’s Nolan Lahmann (23.16), Alexander Cho (25.50), Cullen Cochlan (21.85), and Ekran Ozgen (20.80), as well as Glenbrook South’s Adam Zulker (24.77), Max Iida (24.53), Nick Khatkovyy (22.14), and Mike Hadjivanov (19.87) tied for first in the 4×50 medley relay with a time of 1:31.31.

Maurer, who has committed to Stanford, successfully defended his state title in the 200 free after racing to the wall in 1:36.35 during finals. His prelims time of 1:34.49 broke Reed Malone’s state record of 1:35.60 set in 2013 and broke Colton Paulson’s pool record of 1:35.63 set in 2018. St. Charles East’s Calvin Windle (1:36.95) and Woodstock North’s Quinton Cynor (1:37.47) rounded out the top three finishers.

After placing third in the 200 IM last year, Iida found himself with the gold medal this season. His winning time of 1:47.40 broke Jake Miller’s pool record of 1:48.08 set in 2014. Waubonsie Valley’s Aayush Deshpande was second in 1:49.16 while Metamora’s Justin Alderson took third in 1:49.45.

Neuqua Valley Naperville’s Connor Boyle, who has pledged his verbal to Virginia, splashed-and-dashed his way to a state title in the 50 free with a quick 20.04. St. Charles North’s Aleksej Filipovic raced to second in 20.48 while LaGrange Lyons’ Jack Thorell placed third in 20.61.

Jack Williams of Homewood-Flossmoor dove to first on the 1-meter board for the second-straight year, posting a final score of 544.20 to break the pool record of 537.45 set by Trevor Nelson last year. Riverside Brookfield’s Harrison Nolan was second with 522.95 points and St. Charles East’s Joey Scimeca finished third with a total score of 506.90.

Shortly after earning silver in the 50 free, Filipovic flew to the top of the podium in the 100 fly with a time of 48.25 to secure the gold medal. Brother Rice’s Seth Miller was the runner-up with a final time of 48.87 while Deshpande grabbed the bronze in 49.06.

Boyle, who finished third in the 100 free last season, proved his sprint talent this year and won the 100 free to match his 50 free from earlier. He clocked in at 43.82 – just shy of Ryan Held’s state record of 42.73 – to out-touch defending champion Maurer who wound up second in a close 43.91. Naperville North’s Grant Bochenski took third in 44.78.

Wilmette Loyola Academy’s Everet Andrew, last year’s 500 free runner-up, cruised to first this season after dropping over two seconds from his prelims time to win in 4:24.50. Loyola Academy’s Rex Maurer, who is only a freshman, raced to second in 4:26.35 and a time of 4:29.07 was fast enough for Oak Park Fenwick’s Mike Flynn to finish third.

LaGrange Lyons’ Bryson Breitenbucher (21.13), Jack Wanless (20.68), Michael Schoneman (20.64), and Thorell (20.25) joined forces to win the 4×50 free relay in a combined time of 1:22.70; their prelims time of 1:22.40 set a new pool record. Loyola Academy (1:23.59) and Glenbrook South (1:23.93) finished second and third, respectively.

Chicago Jones’ Jaden Olson powered home to a win in the 100 back, leading the charge in 49.29 as the first of five swimmers to crack the 50-second barrier. Defending champion Griffin O’Leary of Barrington was second in 49.43 while Windle took a very close third in 49.44.

Iida added another gold medal to his hardware collection after getting his hands to the wall the fastest in the 100 breast with a time of 54.62. Metamora’s Justin Alderson touched in 54.93 to secure the runner-up spot while Marmion Academy’s Ty Spillane took third in 54.99.

Loyola Academy’s R. Maurer (46.57), Andrew (46.14), Andrew Kelly (46.86), and L. Maurer (43.23) concluded the meet by winning the 4×100 free relay in a final time of 3:02.80, nearly three full seconds ahead of runner-up Glenbrook South’s 3:05.77. Oak Park River Forest was third in 3:06.73.

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Thomas A. Small

4 years ago

Congratulations great job

Gleneen Kozlowski Orndahl

4 years ago

Alec Orndahl