Speedy Senators: Springfield High boys race to CS8 swim win

Springfield High School won the Central State Eight Conference boys swimming and diving championship for the first time since 2017.

Springfield won two relays and three individual events, leading to 413 points at Eisenhower Pool on Saturday. Normal U-High was second with 328 points, followed by Chatham Glenwood (277), Jacksonville (149), Sacred Heart-Griffin (91) and Southeast (19).

The prolific Senators program last won the title during a seven-year run when The State Journal-Register's two-time All-area Swimmer of the Year Gage Hamill was roaming the pool.

Here are four takeaways from this season’s meet:

Senators start, end fast

Springfield opened the meet with a dominating win in the 200-yard medley relay in 1 minute, 42.75 seconds. Senior Will Hovey, sophomore Riley Herr, freshman James Maeda and senior Logan Allen finished more than eight seconds ahead of second-place Jacksonville.

With junior Rohan Ugrappa, Maeda, Allen and Hovey, the Senators (3:26.06) turned away Normal U-High (3:28.18) in the 400 freestyle relay — the final event of the day. Springfield dropped more than eight seconds from its seeded time in the race.

“Coming home on that 400 free relay, to win that was great to end the meet,” said Hovey, who anchored the race. “To find out that we’re winning conference ... I’m a senior so I’ve been here for three years, and we haven’t won as a team for a long time. It’s been a long time coming and we’re going to enjoy that.”

Herr wasn’t around during the Springfield glory years, but he was present for the sour taste of defeat during his freshman year when Chatham Glenwood nipped the Senators 353-350 at last season’s conference meet.

“It’s very nice. I’m only a sophomore, but we were so close to beating them last year,” Herr said. “We were upset that we didn’t beat them, and it feels nice to win this year.”

Individual wins are just as nice

Herr had the top time coming into the 200 IM ahead of U-High's Baylor Convery. Convery blasted out to an early lead until Herr caught and passed the freshman while swimming the breaststroke. Herr streaked to the win, finishing in 2:08.55.

“There were no thoughts in my head,” Herr said, "and I dropped seven seconds.”

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Hovey was a winner in the 100 backstroke (58.20) and Allen took second in both the 50 freestyle (22.76) and 100 freestyle (49.72) while it was Maeda (55.44) swimming his best time in the 100 butterfly as he and Hovey (56.71) finished 1-2, giving the Senators some big points.

“I’m feeling pretty good, I’m only a freshman,” said Maeda, also a second-place finisher in the backstroke in 58.59. “The other teammates are really helping me through this season because I'm only a freshman, just getting to know stuff and swimming faster. This is my first time in maybe three or four meets swimming the fly.”

Glenwood senior brings A-game

Xavier Try swam a pair of personal bests by winning the 50 freestyle (21.85) and 100 freestyle (49.45). His time in the 50 free was 0.13 seconds from the state qualifying time. His win in the 50 free was much different from last season’s race when he placed second in 22.92.

“It feels amazing,” Try said. “I’ve had some great competitions in the last few years, and it especially shows with Springfield winning the meet. It’s been tough this year.”

Try had the top-seeded time coming into the 50 free but was seeded third in the 100 free.

“I’m looking at the heat. I’m not looking at the seed times,” he said. “I show up and swim as hard as I can, give it 100% effort for everybody including my team. It’s amazing to do that.”

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Try’s reaction after he finished the 50 free was priceless.

“I felt like I was going fast — I didn’t think I was going that fast,” Try said. “So being able to hit the wall and turn around and see the results of the last few months of training is astounding. That puts me on a great track because my goal is to make it to state this year.”

Southeast diver breaks through

Senior Amir Womack broke a Southeast school record that lasted for 25 years. Womack’s score of 398.00 won the 1-meter diving event in the morning session. He snapped Brian Egger’s 11-dive record of 348.25 that was set in 1999.

“At first it was bittersweet because I didn’t know I was going to break the record,” Womack said. “But I really believe in myself, and I take deep breaths and that really got to me, and it helped me to complete my dives.”

Womack said he trained with Ben Eicher of the Redbird Diving Club last summer in Bloomington. He noted that his dives have expanded — and along with coach Elisha Herr — he’s gotten the push he’s needed to get over the hump.

He has also been pushed by Springfield sophomore Andrew Kotner, who finished second with 379.15. Kotner won the diving title at the City meet on Jan. 23.

“I’m proud of him, he’s come a long way,” Womack said of Kotner. “It’s kind of a little rivalry between the two of us, which I like. He really challenges me to do my best and (vice versa). We both support each other either way.”

Contact Trevor Lawrence: trevor.lawrence@sj-r.com or at 217-788-1548.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: CS8 boys swimming: Springfield High dominates to win conference meet