2010 Illinois State Glenbrook North Sectionals 50 Free Finals - 2/20/2010

Описание: Loyola's Rahill (lane 2, on left) peaks at right time for State
February 23, 2010 By GEORGE M. WILCOX [email protected]

BOYS SWIMMING -- Despite struggling all season, some competitors can keep the faith when sectionals roll around.
Loyola junior Patrick Rahill knew he had a prayer of qualifying for this weekend's State Meet at Evanston. But even he was surprised Saturday when he looked up at the scoreboard to see that he made it as the last of five qualifiers in the 50-yard freestyle from the Glenbrook North Sectional.
The final heat of the 50 free featured four swimmers who had already reached the state qualifying time of 22.21. Rahill, with a 22.79 seed, was not one of them, but he trimmed nearly a second to make an improbable run to State.
"I was hopeful (about qualifying)," Rahill said. "All week I practiced with energy and I was hopeful that I would drop a lot of time."
"Even though he is surprised, we were not," Loyola coach Dennis Stonequist said. "We kind of knew that he was right about to pop out again this week."
Loyola (283) won its ninth sectional title in school history, including back-to-back championships for the first time since 1996-97. The team will be looking for a top-five finish in the standings Friday and Saturday in Evanston.
Rahill became one of six Ramblers in nine events to advance. With Andrew Jovanovic, Connor Murphy and Frank Toops, Rahill also will compete at ETHS on the 200 free relay after it came in second (1:27.69) to Glenbrook South (1:26.86).
Loyola also advanced its 200 medley (1:38.09) and 400 free relays (3:11.67).
Justin Pasquesi will swim the 100 free (47.78) and clocked 1:44.03 in the 200 free to advance with Toops (1:43.64). Chris Konopka emerged as the final qualifier in the 200 IM (2:00.62) and snagged a berth in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.92). Jovanovic will join Rahill in the 50 free (21.27), as well as swim the butterfly (51.47). Michael Mahard (433.00) and Michael Nash (398.50) will compete in diving. Connery Brennan earned a bid by touching in 54.39 in the 100 backstroke.
"It's amazing. I can't wait for next week," Rahill said. "We have worked so hard. I didn't know what to expect."
A few weeks earlier, Rahill actually had eclipsed his time that was used to seed the sectional.
He swam 22.76 at the MCAC meet Feb. 6 at Fenwick to place fifth, far behind Jovanovic (21.40) and Marmion senior Matt Pircon (21.69). The Fenwick swimmers -- juniors Eric Bell and Ryan Greenway -- who touched ahead of Rahill also qualified for the State Meet, so the MCAC's top five finishers in the 50 free will be represented Friday in the state preliminaries.