Boys Swimming: Grodecki’s goal: a Trevians title

Updated: February 22, 2012 11:44PM

The boys swimming state finals are this weekend at Evanston, which means it is Max Grodecki’s time to shine.

Grodecki is the leader of a New Trier team that is heavily favored to win its second straight state championship and sixth in the last nine years. The Trevians are loaded with at least six future Division I swimmers, but Grodecki is their hammer.

“We call Max ‘Mr. February,’” New Trier coach Mark Onstott said. “There’s two days in February where you don’t mess with Max. He’s pretty tough those two days in February.”

Grodecki, a Wisconsin signee, seems to save his best racing for the state finals. Last season he won the 100-yard freestyle, was third in the 50 free and anchored the Trevians’ 200 and 400 free relays to victory.

“Max really gets our morale high because he’s a really good guy,” New Trier junior Jack Mangan said. “During season he’s going fast, but when it comes time for state, he just gets ridiculous with how fast he’s going.”

This winter Grodecki has the fastest time in the state in the 50 free (20.89), which he recorded Jan. 14, and the fourth-best mark in the 100 free (46.30). New Trier also has the top time in all three relays.

Grodecki says this squad is the best he’s been a part of. But that doesn’t mean he takes anything for granted.

“[Being ranked No. 1] is fine but I wouldn’t say we’re the favorites because a lot of people want to see us fail and also a lot more people want to see us succeed and do really well,” Grodecki said. “Nothing is a given.”

Except, perhaps, that Grodecki and his teammates will give maximum effort. “I don’t know anyone who likes to race more than Max,” said New Trier senior Nick Killeen, a Michigan recruit who swims with Grodecki on two relays.

“Max is not afraid to race anybody,” Onstott said. “He’s stubborn. You can call that determined, I guess. He’s just a good racer.”

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