Veteran Stagg set for state swimming

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:18AM

Watching his team practice day in and day out this season, Stagg boys swimming coach Jason Carr knew the Chargers were capable of a breakout performance.

Seeing his team advance nine individuals and two relays to the state meet this weekend at New Trier High School, Carr couldn't have been more pleased.

"It's unbelievable because this is the day you work for four months, this one day," Carr said. "To see them, especially this group, do so well and get first place (at sectionals), they're just a great group of guys."

The boys swimming and diving state meet begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday at New Trier. The consolation and championship heats are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Beating Sandburg by a slim 296-284 margin at the Lockport Sectional last weekend, Stagg won its first title since 2008 and broke five pool records.

The senior-dominated Chargers are not worried about the state atmosphere.

"We're looking forward to being back," Stagg's Drew Stoffel said. "The first year was a little nerve-racking, but now that we've been there before it is easier to handle."

With one of the strongest sectional performances in the state, the Chargers are poised to score a significant amount of points this weekend. Senior Kyle Workman in the 100-yard butterfly and the 400 freestyle relay team both posted the best times in the state at sectionals.

Also seeded in the top 12 for Stagg are Ryan DeAngelis (12th in the 200 free and 500 free), Stoffel (fourth in the 200 free and seventh in the 100 free) and the 200 free relay (5th).

Junior Brandon Hadhazy and Workman are just outside the top 12 in the 200 individual medley and 50 free, respectively.

Carr said his swimmers have left room for improvement on the big stage.

"A couple of the guys aren't fully tapered so we're expecting to see more time drops at state," Carr said. "Just with the way these guys are maybe I don't expect as big a time drop (as at sectionals), but there will be another drop."

With a top-10 ranked team, Carr hopes the increased expectations drive his swimmers forward.

"Everyone who made it down has been there before and knows exactly what to expect," Carr said. "Normally the sectional is our real big meet, but throughout the years we're trying to put more and more pressure to compete at state."

Sandburg advanced eight individuals and all three of its relay teams.

While the Eagles were disappointed in their second-place sectional finish, they quickly shifted their focus to state.

"We wanted to win but Stagg was able to succeed over us," Sandburg's Stan Grotkiewicz said. "While we don't like losing, we're just really happy we were able to get a lot of people to state. That's the end goal, get as many people as you can there."

In the 100 butterfly, Matt Veldman posted the sixth-best time in the state. All three Eagles relay teams, the 200 medley (6th), 200 free (10th), and 400 free (2nd), are seeded in the top 12.

Lockport's 200 medley relay (9th) is also in the top 12 in the state.

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