Boys Swimming: Stoffel, Stagg Edge Eagles for Sectional Title

Swimming coaches always tell you that sectional meets are meant mostly to qualify for state in as many events as possible.

Having said that, it’s also kind of nice to win, as Stagg found out Saturday at Lockport when the Chargers edged Sandburg in the meet’s final event—the 400 free relay—to hold off the Eagles’ for the team title 296-284.

 “Everyone just worked their butt off all year, and when it came time today everything just clicked,” Stagg coach Jason Carr said after Chargers’ standout Drew Stoffel swam a great anchor to help win the decisive relay. “Having a sectional title heading off to state has them extremely pumped.”

Stoffel had a tremendous meet, winning the 200 free in a pool-record time of 1:42.22 and taking first in the 100 free (47.25). He also helped the Chargers win both that 400 free relay and the 200 free relay in pool-record times.

 “This is mind blowing,” said Stoffel, who joined Kyle Workman, Ryan DeAngelis and Brandon Hadhazy to record a 3:08.51 that barely nipped the Eagles’ state-qualifying runners-up who went 3:08.88, which also bettered the Lockport pool record. “We just try to work hard every day.”

 In all, the Chargers advance eight individuals and two relays, with DeAngelis, Stoffel, Workman and Hadhazy each advancing in two individual events to the state finals at New Trier High School on Feb. 25-26.

 “Drew (Stoffel) motivated himself and he motivated his teammates. He’s a great captain and he definitely shined today,” Carr said. “He really helped us out in that 400 free. I saw it in him before the race, and I knew no matter what he was going to go after it.”

While Sandburg came up just short of claiming its third straight team sectional title, the Eagles are sending nine individuals and three relays to state.

 “Our goal is to do well in the state series, which means to do well here and do well next week at state,” said Eagles coach Jim Caliendo, who guided the school to an eighth-place finish at the state meet in 2010. “We’re in a great position to really finish this season out.”

 Sandburg’s Stephen Zieler won the 200 IM in 1:36.46 and the 100 backstroke in 53.90, while Stan Grotkiewicz made the state cut in the 200 free (third) and 100 free (second). The two Eagle standouts also each swam on two of the team’s three state-qualifying relays on Saturday.

 “I think we did awesome,” Grotkiewicz said. “We got almost everyone to state and we’re very happy with how we did.”

 Sandburg’s Lucas Krull (second) and David Apps (fourth) each advance in the 200 IM, while Brian Hopman made the cut while placing third in the 50 free. Matt Veldman (second in the 100 butterfly) and Krull (second in the 500 free) round out the Eagles’ individual state qualifiers.

 In the team standings, Shepard took fifth (113 points) and Richards finished seventh (49).