Boys Swimming: Host Sandburg takes sectional

Updated: February 18, 2012 6:04PM

The goal all season for the Sandburg Eagles was to make as much noise as possible at the state meet.

The wins along the way were just gravy.

Having finished second to Stagg last season at the sectional meet, host Sandburg turned the tables Saturday with a 307-271 win over the Chargers.

“It’s always our goal to win this meet,” Sandburg coach Jim Caliendo said. “But we’d never sacrifice this week for next week (at state). Our seniors really led the way. We missed a couple cuts by tenths of a second, but that’s what happens when you don’t shave or rest (for today).”

Sandburg advances all three of its relays and six individuals swimmers to next week’s state meet at Evanston. At the sectional, all winners advance along with any competitor finishing under a state-qualifying time.

“We did pretty well,” Sandburg’s Matt Veldman said. “It feels good to be back on top again. We took some gambles as a team, but it was a pretty good meet for us.”

Veldman won the 100-yard butterfly (:50.33) for the Eagles, setting a pool record. Other advancing individuals for Sandburg included David Apps in the 200 IM (3rd, 1:58.89), Stan Grotkiewicz in the 50 freestyle (1st, :21.96) and 100 free style (3rd, :48.09), Stephen Zieler in the 100 free (2nd, :48.02) and 100 backstroke (1st, :53.73) to go with the first-place relay teams, the 200 medley (1:37.13), the 200 free (1:25.68, school and pool record) and 400 free (3:10.11, pool record).

For second place Stagg, Brandon Hadhazy led the way, winning the 200 IM (1:56.94) and finishing second in the 100 backstroke (:54.11). Also advancing for the Chargers was Harlan Long in the 100 breaststroke (2nd, 1:01.23).

“I thought I did really well, and the whole team did really,” Hadhazy said. “We all picked it up, and it was just a great meet for everyone.”

Third-place Lockport (234 points) was paced by Jake Knowles’ wins in the 100 free (:48.00) and 100 breaststroke (:59.05). Dan Oldendorf won the 200 free (1:46.91) and advances in the 500 free (2nd, 4:45.95). Diver Austin Mastela (440.70) took first.

Brother Rice’s Mitch Strahlman won the 500 freestyle (4:42.91) and finished second in the 200 IM (1:57.12) to advance. The Crusaders finished fourth (169).

Rounding out the team standings were Shepard (5th, 112.5), Oak Lawn (7th, 64.5), Richards (8th, 46), Morgan Park (9th, 33), Lemont (10th, 31), Ag Science (12th, 19), and Eisenhower (14th, 6).

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