Bombers' Scheurich is gunning for top-8 finish

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Ben Scheurich won't have the whole weight of Rensselaer High School on his shoulders this weekend at the state swimming finals.

Just a few, about 30 or so, well-meaning friends and family who are excited about his accomplishment: qualifying as a Bomber in the 50 freestyle.

Those folks will be at the Natatorium at IUPUI on Friday and, hopefully, Saturday, cheering him on wildly.

"I'm really looking forward to this," Scheurich said. "Last year, I was surprised to make it. This year, I'd like to make it to the top eight."

The trip down I-65 to Indianapolis for the state swim finals isn't frequently traveled by Rensselaer swimmers. The last time a male swimmer from Rensselaer made it down state, before last season, occurred in 1995 when Grandon Spence won the breaststroke title. (Spence also won state in 1994).

Last year, Scheurich finished 11th at state.

For Dan Kellow, the Rensselaer coach, getting down there with Scheurich is a great thrill.

At smaller schools, the chance to qualify for the state finals comes in spurts. Every once in a while a swimmer comes along who has the right drive and determination, mixed with the talent, to make it downstate. Kellow calls Scheurich a "thoughtful, hard-working swimmer" who has maximized his potential.

"I like to say we're like Lowell," Kellow said. "Some years, we have some strong athletes, some years we don't. This year, we do."

The swimmers at Rensselaer aren't nearly as maniacal about summer training as they are at some of the serious programs, like Munster and Chesterton.

Scheurich does chores on his family farm in the offseason. In the summer, the club swimming season for him lasts about a month.

This makes for a different climate -- one where the expectations aren't as intense.

"I'd like to see him meet or exceed what he did last year," Kellow said. "Whatever happens, I'm proud of his accomplishments."

Last year, Scheurich swam a 21.90 in the finals and a 21.79 in the preliminary round. Last week, he swam a 21.71 in the finals and 21.31 in the preliminary round of sectionals.

Both Kellow and Scheurich were happy with his finals time, even though he is seeded 18th.

Kellow said that Scheurich was distracted by a strange airhorn-like sound at the start of the Crown?Point Sectional but he still managed to recover and qualify. Both are optimistic because the early season times that Scheurich had this year were better than his early season times from a year ago.

"That was probably the worst start I've had all year," Scheurich said of what happened at Crown?Point. "I?messed up a little. I think can do better at state."

Kellow thinks so, too. Both coach and pupil can take solace in the fact that Victor Sikorski, a sprinter at Wheeler who was basically a part-time swimmer for much of his career, won the 50 last year.

It's such a short race anything can happen.

"It's crazy," Kellow said. "You just never know."

Contact Mike Hutton at 648-3139 or mhutton@post-trib.com

Scouring the state meet

Where: Natatorium at IUPUI

When: Preliminary round, 5:30 Friday. Finals, noon Saturday

Outlook: Can Chesterton defend its state title? How well can Munster finish? Those are the main story lines for this meet, though there are all kinds of delicious subplots. The Seahorses and Trojans tied in a scintillating dual meet earlier this year. Kyle Whitaker set a national record last year in the 200 IM and a state record in the fly. Look for him to go for new records in both events. Munster landed three swimmers in the individual medley -- Dillon Thompson, Patrick Raycroft and Joe Wulf. Its best swimmer, Kevin Behrens, is going in the fly (he is seeded first, ahead of Whitaker) and the backstroke, where he is seeded second.?

Bill Bass of Chesterton is seeded second in the 200 free and eighth in the 500 free. Bass won the 500 free last year.

Chris?Johnson of Lake Central is the defending state champion in the breaststroke and a contender for a state title in the 50 free. It should be an eventful and interesting meet.

-- Mike Hutton