Boys Swim: Maine South will wait to rest until after CSL South meet

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Maine South's Tom Larocca swims in the 200 Yard Freestyle against Evanston on Jan. 13, 2012, in Park Ridge. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:11AM

As a freshman, Tom Larocca was asked to fill in and swim the 200-yard individual medley.

Before arriving at Maine South, he had never competed in the four-stroke event.

The Maine South junior now is the Hawks’ best in the IM and will swim the event Saturday at the CSL South meet at Evanston and again at the Glenbrook North Sectional. Oddly enough, Lacrocca pairs it with the 500 free, not a combination often seen.

“It is a weird combo,” Larocca said. “But it’s working out fine.”

Maine South’s Don Kura will use the conference meet as a dress rehearsal for next weekend’s sectional, which features six CSL clubs.

“It’s a tuneup for us,” said Kura, who is saving the rest-and-shave for the IHSA postseason. “I’ve got guys in events they will be swimming the following week. We want them to go in there Saturday and attack the races the way we want them to next week, even if they are not completely ready to go.”

On one of Kura’s smallest teams, Larocca stands out, along with Daniel San Gabino, Matt Kramer, Michael Zadlo and Makai DeNeve-Arnam.

Even though he started the IM late, Larocca said he’s grown to like the event.

“It’s been good for me, especially to swim it that season,” he said. “After my freshman year, (Kura) really wanted me to improve on it. I’ve seen a lot of improvement this season. I still need to get some time down at the sectionals.”

Larocca is looking forward to competing Saturday in the uncommonly grueling conference meets. It will be the second time in two weeks the Hawks will race against New Trier, the defending state champion and title favorite this season.

“Having our conference be this good is a good way to pressure our team to learn to be the best we can be,” he said. “It pressures us to swim in the offseason. If you don’t, you won’t do well.

“Anywhere else in the state, and we might be at the top of a conference. But this is a good challenge.”

In the final league dual meet of the season Friday, the Hawks lost to the Trevians 138-47. New Trier won all 12 events.

Larocca touched second in the 500 free (5:06.62) and third in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.55). San Gabino was third in the IM (2:16.51) and fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:04.18).

One of Maine South’s best chances to score Saturday might be in diving. Sophomore Andrew Grabowski totaled a season-best 195.45 last week against New Trier to finish second to Jordan Sacks. The New Trier senior posted a 316.20 and is one of the favorites to win the state title.

“He is a great diver, and I liked going up against him,” said Grabowski, who started diving when he was 7. “It was good to feel out one of the best competitors in the state.”

While Sacks is far and away the best diver in the league, Grabowski is shooting for a spot in the top three.

Kura believes he can do it.

“He’s really improved a lot since joining the team,” the coach said. “He has a chance to score very well, and he probably has a chance to place the highest out of anybody on our team.”