Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Public League not able to advance any boys swimmers to state meet

The IHSA state boys swimming sectionals were on last weekend. At the end the entire Public League was not able to advance anyone past sectionals to this weekend's state meet.

The Public League had their top schools at the Evanston Sectionals (Lane Tech, Northside), St. Ignatius (Whitney Young), and Oak Park (Curie). Defending city champ Lane Tech - with a senior laden team could not have anyone reach the state qualifying time at Evanston. The same with Curie at Oak Park. The CPS's best chance to qualify appeared to be at the weak St. Ignatius sectional. Whitney Young had to find a way to win any one of the events. But St. Ignatius swept all of the events to qualify everyone to the state meet.

Senior Laden Lane Tech Team Dominant in Taking City Boys Swimming Title

Lane Tech easily outdistanced the competition to win the 2009 Boys Varsity City Championship in Boys Swimming. Lane scored a whopping 363 points to take its 6th city championship in the last 7 years. Relay wise, Lane took firsts in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. Individually, Lane had victories in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle with Joe Klontz. Klontz, a senior, was the defending city champion in both of those events. Lane's only other individual champion came when senior Stamen Tintikov repeated as city champion in the 100 breast stroke with a very good time 1:04.22. Tintikov's time of 1:04.22 is just over 2 seconds above the state qualifying time of 1:02.19 in that event.

A much improved Curie team opened a lot of eyes (including my own) by finishing in 2nd place ahead of city swimming powers Whitney Young and Northside Prep. Last year, Curie finished in 5th with 195.5 points. This year, Curie scored 283 points, to bring home a city 2nd place trophy. Curie had firsts by Eduardo Chavez in the 200IM and Ramiro Almarez in the 500 freestyle.

BOYS SWIMMING- PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 2009

Teams: Lane 363, Curie 283, Young 276, Northside 229, Morgan Park 203, Lincoln Park 179, Amundsen-Jones-Payton Co-op 126, Von Steuben 102.5, Kenwood 101, Taft 85.5, Mather 45, Foreman 43, Juarez 40, Simeon 32, Kennedy 30, Hubbard 26, Little Village 14, Gage Park 13

200 medley relay: Lane (Todd Erdenebileg, Stamen Tintikov, Alex Ruiz, Ziggy Czykieta) 1:43.74; 200 freestyle: Peter Lau, Payton, 1:53.53; 200 IM: Eduardo Chavez, Curie, 2:04.06; 50 freestyle: Joe Klontz, Lane, 22.76; 100 butterfly: Mark Wilcoxen, Young, 56.10; 100 freestyle: Klontz 50.76; 500 freestyle: Ramiro Almarez, Curie, 5:02.54; 200 freestyle relay: Morgan Park (Zachary Wenner, Timothy Lewis, Carl Kirk, Denzell Blackmon) 1:34.47; 100 backstroke: Almarez 57.20; 100 breaststroke: Tintikov 1:04.23; 400 freestyle relay: Lane (Klontz, Ruiz, Tintikov, Diego Ledesma) 3:25.11

Can this be the year Lane qualifies someone again to state for Boys Swimming?

Lane Tech has a storied history in boys swimming. For much of the 1940's and 1950's Lane was always a contender for state.

In recent years, the goal is to improve from year from year to year and to try to get someone to qualify for the state meet. The last state meet qualifier for Lane was Timothy Schmucker in the 100 yard freestyle where he swam a 49.42.

What are Lane's chances for qualifying a swimmer to the state meet this year? Well, let's look first at their sectional assignment. They are going to be in the Evanston Sectional- which this year consists of primarily CPS schools. The only problem is that also in the sectionals are perennial state powers Evanston and New Trier. Evanston is a bit down this year but are still very dangerous and will get some swimmers qualifying for the state meet. New Trier, as usual, is unbeatable in this sectional and will probably qualify 1-2 simmers in every event. New Trier is a school that is so good that they have freshman on the team every year routinely swimming 24 second 50 yard freestyles and sub 5:00 500 yard freestyles. For those of you who are not familiar with swimming times, by comparison the 500 yard freestyle champion last year in the Public League was junior David Garcia of Lane Tech who won the event in 5:03.09.

In swimming the first place finisher in each event automatically qualifies for the state meet. But, Lane does not have any individuals capable of beating anyone from New Trier. So Lane's best chances for qualifying for the state meet will have to come if an individual or relay will have to beat the state qualifying time.

Does Lane have any individuals who can beat the state qualifying times? I'll tell you what, they don't have any locks, but they do have a couple swimmers who are within reach.

Their best chances probably will come from seniors Diego Ledesma and Joe Klontz. At last year's sectional meet, both nearly qualified in the 50 yard freestyle. Ledesma finished in 8th with a time of 23.0 and Klontz was in 9th with a time of 23.44. The state quliying time this year is 22.21. Both are also within reach of qualifying in the 100 yard freestyle. Long distance swimmer David Garcia also has a chance in the 500 yard freestyle. He swam a 5:03.09 to win city last year in the 500, but will need to drop his time to the state qualifying standard of 4:50.25.

We will find out soon if Ledesma, Klontz, Garcia, and others have improved their times well enough to qualify for state. City championships are coming up this Saturday, February 7th, and then sectionals on the 21st.

Lane Tech Dominates Boys Swimming City Relays

In the first big boys swim meet of the season pitting the top Public League teams, Lane asserted itself as the clear favorite to win city again this year. Lane scored 310 points in Last Saturday's Public League Relays to out point rival Whitney Young who scored 288 points. An improving and surprising Curie team finished 3rd with 260 points ahead of Northside Prep. Northside Prep's showing of letting Curie beat them was a bit surprising in that Northside finished 3rd in the city last year and Curie finished 5th.

In other boys swimming results,  Lane upended Northside Prep 114-62 in a dual meet on 1/9/09.

PUBLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT

at Young

Teams: Lane 310, Young 288, Curie 260, Northside 212, Lincoln Park 178, Morgan Park 132, Taft 132, Von Steuben 96, Amundsen/Jones/Payton Co-op 72, Mather 62

Here are some top swimmer for Lane this year (how they did last year):

Diego Ledesma (sr) - (100 yard back stroke city champ, 200 yard IM city champ)
David Garcia (sr) - (200 yard free style city champ)
Joe Klontz (sr) - (50 yard free style city champ; 100 yard freestyle city champ)
Ziggy Czykieta (jr) - (100 yard butterfly city champ)
David Garcia (sr) - (500 yard freestyle city champ)
Stamen Tintikov(sr) - (100 yard breastroke city champ)
Ariel Duarte
Alex Ruiz

Highlights of 2008 - Lane Tech's 100th Anniversary - Part 3 (boys swimming, boys soccer)

Top 10 Lane Tech Highlights 2008 - #7, #6

#10 - Girls Bowling Upends Morgan Park
#9 - Boys Track wins 3rd straight city championship
#8 - Wrestling Team Wins City Championship - 1st for Lane Tech in 2008

#7 - Boys Swimming Wins City - 6th time in last 7 years

 

1943 Lane Tech Boys Swimming State Championship team

Lane Tech has as many state championships in boys swimming (8) then all the other sports teams combined. That is a fact that not too many people know. So Boys Swimming IS Lane Tech's most successful sport in it's history as far as winning state championships. While the boys swimming team no longer dominates against state competition as it once did, there is no question that it rules the city. In 2008, Lane Tech captured its 6th city championship in 7 years when it won with 384 points to Whitney Young's 355 points.

#6 Boys Soccer Team Knocks Out Kelly to Win City Championship

 

Greg Gaczol (left) and Humberto Pina display the city championship plaque

There can be a strong argument that after basketball boys soccer is the most competitive Public League sport. That is why Lane Tech's city championship in boys soccer in 2008 deserves to be high on the list. Lane Tech defeated soccer power Kelly in penalty kicks for the victory.

There are strong signs that Lane Tech is becoming a serious city soccer program versus the soccer rich Public League. Lane Tech has appeared in three of the last 4 city championships, after appearing in only one city championship the past 27 years prior to 2005. Furthermore, Lane has won the frosh-soph city championship the past two years.

See the video below for a clip of the winning penalty kicks in the city championship:

Lane Favored Again......Boys Swimming Preview 2008-09

Lane Tech Boys Swimming has as many state championships (8) for Lane Tech than all other the Lane Tech sports team combined. A fact that many Laneites are unaware.

The Ubra successful boys swimming team at Lane opens it's season this Wednesday when they travel to CPS foe Von Steuben for a dual meet. See the 2008-09 Schedule.

This year, look for the Indians to be the clear cut favorite to win it's 6th city championship in the last 7 years. Their only blemish during the last 7 years was in 2007 when a senior laden Whitney Young team eclipsed Lane Tech for the title. This year's Lane Tech is senior laden as well and returns most of it's talent from last year, so the Indians will be tough.

Here are some top returnees for Lane this year (how they did last year):

Diego Ledesma (sr) - (100 yard back stroke city champ, 200 yard IM city champ)
David Garcia (sr) - (200 yard free style city champ)
Joe Klontz (sr) - (50 yard free style city champ; 100 yard freestyle city champ)
Ziggy Czykieta (jr) - (100 yard butterfly city champ)
David Garcia (sr) - (500 yard freestyle city champ)
Stamen Tintikov(sr) - (100 yard breastroke city champ)

Adding depth to Lane's team this year will be members of the Lane Tech frosh-soph team who dominated city at the frosh-soph level last year.

LaneTechFan.com CPS Boys Swimming Rankings 2008-09
1. Lane Tech
2. Whitney Young
3. Northside Prep
4. Von Steuben
5. Curie
6. Payton/Amundsen Co-op
7. Morgan Park
8. Taft
9. Foreman
10. Lincoln Park

New Lane Tech Boys Swimming Website

Click the link below for the new Lane Tech Boys Swimming Website:

http://mr.rummelhoff.googlepages.com/swimming

Back where they belong: Lane Tech Boys Swimming Team Takes City

Lane Tech's boys swimming team is huge reason why Lane Tech is known as the School of Champions.

Lane Tech claimed the 2007-08 Public League city championship in boys swimming with a narrow 384 to 355 point victory over rival Whitney Young. The victory was especially good because Whitney Young  beat Lane Tech last year for the city championship. Previous to last year, Lane had won city for every year since at least 2002, but Whitney caught upto Lane last year. However, last year's Lane's team was realtively young, whereas Whitney Young was blessed with a couple seniors that advanced to the state meet.

Lane's boys swimming teams joins the girls swimming team, 16-inch softball team, and wrestling team as city championships for the 2007-08 school season.

PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Final team standings
Lane 384; Young 355; Northside Prep 280; Von Steuben 231; Curie 195.5; Amundsen/Jones/Payton Co-op 192; Morgan Park 177.5; Lincoln Park 81; Taft 75; Kenwood 65; Foreman 38; Kennedy 30; Hubbard 27; Mather 21; Farragut 14; King 13; Ag. Science 8; Little Village 4

Lane Tech Boys Swimming Diving List of State Medalists

Ron Gora (class of 1951) captured six individual state championships for Lane-the highest number of state championships for any boys swimmer ever. He later swam for the University of Michigan and finished 8th in the 100 meter freestyle in the 1952 Helsinski Olympics.

Lane Tech Boys Swimming Diving List of State Medalists can now be found at the Boys Swimming Page

RELAY TEAMS            1932    200 free rel   3
                               200 med rel    3
                       1937    150 med rel    2
                               200 free rel   2
                       1938    150 med rel    5
                               200 free rel   1
                       1939    150 med rel    1
                               200 free rel   1
                       1940    150 med rel    1
                               200 free rel   1
                       1941    150 med rel    1
                               200 free rel   1
                       1942    150 med rel    4
                               200 free rel   2
                       1943    150 med rel    2
                               200 free rel   1
                       1944    150 med rel    3
                               200 free rel   3
                       1945    150 med rel    1
                               200 free rel   4
                       1946    150 med rel    2
                               200 free rel   2
                       1947    150 med rel    1
                               200 free rel   1
                       1948    200 free rel   1
                       1949    150 med rel    3
                               200 free rel   2
                       1950    200 free rel   4
                       1951    200 free rel   4
                       1952    200 free rel   4
                       1953    200 free rel   4
                       1954    200 free rel   3
                       1956    200 free rel   4
Henry Ackermans        1949    diving         5
Edwin Allen            1941    50 free        3
Bob Amundsen           1937    200 free       4
                       1938    200 free       2
                       1939    200 free       1
                               50 free        2
                       1940    200 free       1
                               50 free        1
Miller Anderson        1939    diving         1
Irvin Bedard           1945    diving         5
Richard Brennan        1939    200 free       3
Robert Brodhagen       1943    200 free       4
Bob Burr               1942    200 free       3
                       1943    100 back       1
Jim Cherry             1949    200 free       5
William Christiansen   1938    100 breast     5
Mark Dahlberg          1968    200 IM         6
Peter Dahlberg         1967    100 breast     5
Art Ebeling            1936    100 free       4
                       1937    200 free       1
Ralph Erickson         1940    100 free       3
Bernard Fischer        1941    100 back       2
John Geschrey          1943    diving         3
Bob Gibe               1944    100 free       5
                       1945    100 free       1
                               50 free        1
                       1946    100 free       1
                               50 free        1
Tom Gibe               1947    100 free       5
                       1948    50 free        2
Harold Gold            1942    100 breast     5
                       1943    100 breast     2
Ron Gora               1949    100 free       1
                               200 free       1
                       1950    100 free       1
                               50 free        1
                       1951    100 free       1
                               50 free        1
Henry "Bud" Griesbach  1946    100 back       1
Stephen Grimm          1939    100 breast     3
Elroy Heidke           1940    100 breast     1
                       1941    100 breast     1
Henry Heinichen        1939    50 free        4
                       1940    100 free       1
Dick Hennigan          1944    200 free       1
Tom Jacobson           1952    200 free       5
                       1953    200 free       3
Otto Jaretz            1937    100 free       1
                               50 free        2
                       1938    100 free       1
                               50 free        1
Herbert Johnson        1946    200 free       2
Ralph Johnson          1945    100 back       1
                       1946    100 back       2
Franz Klafs            1937    100 breast     3
Robert Korte           1943    200 free       1
Tony Kozakiewicz       1944    100 back       3
                               50 free        2
Henry Kozlowski        1940    50 free        2
                       1941    100 free       1
Kutyna                 1951    100 breast     5
Jack Lappla            1939    50 free        3
Larson                 1932    100 breast     4
Fred Lehman            1948    100 free       5
Herman Lehman          1946    200 free       5
                       1947    200 free       4
Joseph Lewkowicz       1968    100 fly        5
Bill Maass             1943    100 back       4
Jack MacDonald         1946    100 free       3
                               50 free        6
Jack Madsen            1944    50 free        3
George Malten          1941    50 free        2
Hank Mautner           1943    50 free        4
McCarthy               1932    100 back       2
Bill McDonald          1941    diving         1
                       1942    diving         2
Jack McDonald          1945    200 free       2
Jim McNerney           1940    200 free       3
Mueller                1938    50 free        4
Bill Neilson           1938    200 free       4
John Nikolich          1945    100 breast     2
Richard Olufs          1941    200 free       5
Pakucko                1939    100 breast     4
Dave Paschal           1978    100 free       6
Whitney Pearson        1939    100 free       5
Bob Proctor            1938    100 free       5
                               200 free       1
Gene Raichel           1942    100 free       2
                               50 free        2
Oscar Reed             1941    100 breast     4
Vern Rose              1940    200 free       5
Gaither Rosser         1950    200 free       3
                       1951    200 free       2
Jim Schubert           1949    50 free        2
Bob Schumacher         1948    100 free       2
                               50 free        3
Holger Stohl           1946    200 free       4
                       1947    200 free       1
                               50 free        1
Kenny Stoll            1940    100 breast     5
                       1941    100 breast     2
Robert Stone           1941    diving         4
                       1942    diving         1
Jack Thomas            1945    200 free       3
                       1946    200 free       1
                               50 free        3
                       1947    50 free        5
George Thompson        1946    diving         1
Jack Tillson           1946    50 free        5
                       1947    50 free        2
Dick Treskow           1948    200 free       2
Dick Wartena           1942    200 free       2
Glenn Weber            1944    100 breast     3
                       1945    100 breast     4
Lawrence Wehrheim      1937    100 back       4
                       1938    100 back       3
Donald Wenstrom        1938    50 free        3
Bruce Wimer            1973    100 fly        5
Frank Woodman          1941    100 free       4
Dick Zachary           1941    200 free       4
                       1942    100 free       3
                               50 free        4

Boys Swimming List of State Finishes

1943 Lane Tech state cahmpionship boys swimming team.

The boys swimming team at Lane has had as many state championships (8) as all the other teams at Lane combined.

The list of Lane Tech boys swimming state finishes has been added to the boys swimming page.