Swimming: Lake Forest claims sectional crown

• Reprints

Lake Forest-Boys Swimming. Lake Forest Sectional. Peter Grumhaus Lake Forest 200 Freestyl.| Joe Cyganowski ~ For Sun Times Media

Article Extras

Updated: February 22, 2012 12:08PM

Clutch.

Lake Forest won the final event of the meet — 400 freestyle relay — to secure the team title in Saturday’s sectional.

The host Scouts finished with 266.5 points to ease past Warren (257), which took second in the 400 free.

Libertyville and (226 points) and Mundelein (219) also contended for the team crown. Vernon Hills tallied 95 points for fifth place.

Peter Grumhaus and Andrew Marsh came up with sectional gold. Marsh followed up his second-place finish at conference with a championship effort (447.75). Grumhaus won the 200 free (1:42.11) and added a second in the 500 free (4:35.66).

Bryan Bunning and Colin Rowe also had terrific showings. Bunning claimed runner-up honors in the 100 free (51.46) and 100 backstroke (51.93). Rowe helped the cause with a second in the 100 free (46.99) and a third in the 50 free (21.56).

Lake Forest’s 200 medley relay gave Warren a battle. The Scouts were timed in 1:35.75. Warren’s winning time was 1:35.69.

Daniel Smith and Bogdan Balteanu also qualified for the Scouts. Smith was fourth in the 100 back (53.29). Balteanu placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.29).

Jack Williams, a sophomore, was sixth in diving (343.45).

Lake Forest’s winning time in the 400 free was 3:09.93. Warren was clocked in 3:10.96.

Libertyville came up with its best effort of the season. Freshman Matt Harrington opened some eyes by taking second in the 200 free (1:43.63), while he shared second with Rowe in the 100 free (46.99).

Wildcats star Alex Snarski, a sophomore, advanced to state in two individual events, racing to third-place finishes in the 100 butterfly (52.13) and 100 backstroke (52.83).

Libertyville also qualified all three relays: 4th in 200 medley (1:38.38), 3rd in the 200 free (1:27.28) and 3rd in the 400 free (3:12.68).

Connor Black and Bryan Weiner starred for Mundelein.

Black, the team’s sensational junior, beat runner-up Weiner in the 50 free (20.98 to 21.38). He added a championship in the 100 free (45.78).

Weiner’s title came in the 100 backstroke (50.66).

Kevin Franz had a third best diving score (400.00), while teammate Theo Vergis took fith (364.50).

The Mustangs also qualified two relays: 200 medley (1:35.96) and 200 free (1:27.04).

The school’s other state qualifier was sophomore Art Kasemets in the 100 free (1:00.42).

The highlight for Vernon Hills came in diving. Junior Alex Zuniga added to his fine season by picking up runner-up honors with a 441.20 total.

Teammate Nathan Lightman, a senior, placed fourth with a 392.80.