Boys Swimming: Andrew Eiken’s return restores Naperville North’s hopes

Updated: February 6, 2012 11:30AM

A career interrupted is back in full swing.

Two years ago, Andrew Eiken was one of three star sophomores primed to make Naperville North into a swimming powerhouse. He finished fifth in the 200-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100 free and combined with Kevin Butz and Nick Bessler to lead the Huskies to fourth at the 2010 state meet.

Plans for a run at a state title were dashed, however, when Eiken tore the labrum in his right shoulder the next summer. After initially trying to swim through the pain, he underwent surgery in November 2010 and sat out his junior year.

‘‘It was definitely frustrating,’’ Eiken said. ‘‘It was probably one of the toughest things I’ve had to do so far, even deciding on the surgery. I tried to swim with it in the fall just because I wanted to be with the team for our junior year, but it didn’t really work out. Knowing that I could have been there making that extra difference, it was upsetting, to say the least.’’

Butz and Bessler did a good job of holding the fort without Eiken as the Huskies were eighth at last year’s state meet. Eiken was at
every practice and meet urging his teammates on.

‘‘There was at least some benefit to the team with me not being there because Nick Bessler stepped up into such a big freestyle role, where before it was something that he could kind of do,’’ Eiken said. ‘‘I think our junior year without me there, he really stepped up.’’

Eiken says his shoulder is stronger than ever, and though he missed the first month of the season after spraining an ankle in gym class, he is fast rounding into form. In his first meet back, the Naperville North College Events, he won the 100 free in a meet-record 47.98 and captured the 200 free in 1:46.16 in his second meet. He figures to contend for at least one individual state title as well as lead the Huskies to a trophy, a goal the seniors set for themselves three years ago.

With Eiken, an honor student who has signed with Penn State, back in the lineup, the Huskies are one of the few teams with three Div­ision I recruits. Butz is headed to Duke, while Bessler is considering several Ivy League schools.

The three combined with senior Tom Hubbard to break set the 400 free relay meet record Jan. 7 at the Evanston Invite. Their time of 3:11.70 is the best time in the state this year.

‘‘It’s great having Andy back,’’ Butz said. ‘’Andy is a natural leader. He knows how to work hard and get things done. He’s a very goal-oriented person. I know he has big goals for himself and our team, and he demonstrates that every day at our practices.’’

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