Pivotal piece

Marmion's Matt Pircon took second in the state in the 50-yard freestyle and helped all three Cadets relays finish in the top four. For his efforts, the junior is The Beacon News' Boys Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year.
(Heather Eidson/Staff Photographer)

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Marmion's Matt Pircon is a fierce competitor, an athlete driven by the opposition. And the he 2009 IHSA boys swimming and diving state finals provided the perfect environment for his personality.

This year's state finals proved the fastest in state history, and Pircon excelled at the meet. For his accomplishments, the junior is The Beacon News' Boys Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Year.

Pircon claimed a second-place medal in the 50-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 20.72 seconds -- a mere 54-hundredths of a second behind Dominik Cubelic of Glenbrook South. Pircon was also a member of the three Cadets relay teams, all of which placed in the top four in the state and helped Marmion to a fourth-place finish as a team.

In a season full of highlights, Pircon said the finals of the 50 freestyle was the most memorable.

"I was so scared that I was going to get sixth place, but I touched a lot of other people out and it was great to look up at that board and see Pircon and have a '2' next to it," he said.

On a team loaded with senior talent, Pircon was a leader by example. Seniors Matt Lifka, Thomas Delves, Tyler Capen and Austin Cox all contributed to the Cadets' success, and Pircon was grateful to have such quality teammates. Still, Pircon managed to fill a role as a leader.

"Matt's been swimming with a lot of those guys since he was 8 or 9 years old," Marmion coach Bill Schalz said. "He's got a great attitude and his leadership really comes when he is in the water. When he steps up to race, you know you're going to get a great swim from him.

"Our seniors were phenomenal leaders this year, and we were really blessed to have that leadership. And Matt's leadership really came in his racing and stepping up. He had the attitude that 'I'm going to take on anybody that comes at me.' He brought that kind of fearless racing attitude to the team."

Capen, Pircon, Lifka and Delves raced to second place in the 200 medley relay, and the 200 freestyle relay team of Pircon, Lifka, Delves and Cox claimed third. Pircon, Lifka, Delves and Cox also composed the 400 freestyle relay squad, which finished fourth.

"They're a great bunch of guys and we're all friends," Pircon said. "It was a lot of fun. We're really close. We knew we had to step up and we all did our best. They're all great leaders."

Lifting weights and working out year round, Pircon increased his strength and stamina. After playing running back for the Cadets football team, Pircon said he didn't have much stamina when the swimming season began, but he progressed throughout the season.

"Every year I got stronger and faster," Pircon said. "I guess I can attribute that to my weight training. I lift for football and I also lift at Acceleration in Naperville, so I came into swimming stronger."

That type of work ethic allowed Pircon to be the competitor he is. Motivated by the rest of the field, Pircon excelled beyond expectations.

"I definitely like being the go-to guy in some cases, but there is no 'I' in 'team' in this case," he said. "It really felt nice to be a top competitor for this team."