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Second-place finish, practice schedule indicative of Lake Forest’s ascension
Loyola' Andrew Jovanovic gets the Ramblers off to a good start in the 200 yard Medley Relay at the Evanston Swimming Invitational on January 5, 2012. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 9, 2013 5:00PM
EVANSTON — Colin Rowe stood on the block for the 200-yard medley relay Saturday and realized how tired he was from practicing.
The Lake Forest senior wasn’t talking about the cumulative effects from the marathon sessions during winter break.
No, Rowe was referring to the practice from earlier Saturday, the one before Evanston’s invitational.
For the first time in her seven seasons, Lake Forest coach Cindy Dell instituted the meet-day ritual usually saved for elite programs, not one with two top-10 finishes at state in the last nine seasons.
“This sport is so mental,” Rowe said. “You have to have the guts to fight through it.”
But the Scouts are seeking to get back to their golden era when Olympian Matt Grevers swam the waters. Lake Forest last placed at the state meet in 2003 when the Scouts won the team title behind Grevers, then a senior.
Despite the extra work Saturday morning, Rowe was able to overcome exhaustion in the afternoon to win two individual events.
He finished first in both the 50 freestyle (21.79 seconds) and 100 free (47.55). Both times were personal lows for the season and helped Lake Forest to second place with 2,851 college points behind two-time defending state champion New Trier (3,145).
“I didn’t really care about the times,” he said. “I just wanted to beat the guy next to me. It was awesome.”
Peter Grumhaus also won two events for the Scouts, touching out first in both the 200 free (1:42.78) and the 500 free (4:39.17). His 500 time was one of three individual meet records Saturday.
Loyola senior Andrew Jovanovic established two records in his races. The three-time state champion won the 100 butterfly (50.73) and 100 backstroke (51.49).
Glenbrook South sophomore Jon Salomon also won two individual events. He was first in both the 200 individual medley (1:55.67) and 100 breaststroke (59.83).
In a thrilling finale, Grumhaus held off New Trier senior Jack Mangan in the last leg to lift Lake Forest to the win in the 400 free relay (3:11.89). Mangan and fellow senior Reed Malone, who swam the opening leg Saturday, were members of the Trevians 400 free relay that set the national record at last year’s state meet.
Pick up your local Pioneer Press newspaper Thursday to read more about the Lake Forest, New Trier, Loyola, Evanston and Glenbrook South boys swimming teams.
