Boys swimming: The Trojans’ terrific trio
By Mike Clark Post-Tribune correspondent December 5, 2011 11:06PM
Highlands big three swimmers, Matt Dyer (left), Adam Johnson (center) and Steve Castillo pose for a photo at Highland Highschools pool on Monday November 21, 2011. | Jim Karczewski~for Sun-Times Media
Boys Swim Extras
P-T Top 5
1. Chesterton; 2. Highland; 3. Crown Point; 4. Munster; 5. Valparaiso
swimmer of the week
Blake Pieroni, Chesterton
The sophomore won three events to lead the Trojans to the Indiana High School Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Classic over the weekend at Franklin. He won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 41.30 seconds, the 200 backstroke in 1:59.30 and the 400 individual medley in 4:14.79.
Article Extras
Updated: January 7, 2012 8:13AM
For a long time, the goal of the Highland boys swimming team was to grind away during the regular season with the goal of sneaking up on opponents at the end of the year.
But there will be no flying under the radar this winter for the Trojans, who are primed for what could be a historic season.
With returning state qualifiers Adam Johnston, Stephen Castillo and Matt Dyer leading the way, Highland is taking aim at ending Munster’s stranglehold on the Northwest Crossroads Conference and sectional titles. The Trojans’ third and last sectional championship came in 1985; Munster won in ‘86 and every season since, extending its state record of sectional crowns (now 41) every season like clockwork.
But the Trojans are 17th in the state coaches poll, which is heavily weighted on returning swimmers, and the Seahorses are unranked after graduating a loaded senior class.
Now Highland is the team in the spotlight in the NCC and beyond, something Castillo welcomes even if he wasn’t expecting it.
“When I came into high school, I never thought I would be joining one of the best teams in the state,” the junior said. “Highland basically stepped up these last three, four years. I don’t want to be known as (just), ‘That team, Highland.’”
The Trojans’ strength is in the sprints. Castillo and Johnston, a senior, both qualified for state as individuals in the 50-yard freestyle last season. They joined Dyer, another senior, and since-graduated Sam Zuke on the 200 and 400 free relays that also qualified for state.
One of the top priorities this season is to find the best possible replacement for Zuke. Among the candidates are seniors Nate Postell and Trevor Speigel.
“We’re doing everything we can to fill (Zuke’s) spot,” Johnston said. “We do have a couple people here capable of doing it.”
The competition for that final relay spot is a good thing, all agree. Ditto for the individual battles for supremacy among the sprinters.
“Over the offseason, I trained really hard trying to beat Adam,” Castillo said. “By me and him pushing, we got Matt Dyer to push against Sam Zuke. This team has evolved into something more.”
Johnston is pushing against his own history. “Obviously we’re going to expect him to go a little bit faster,” coach Ryan Harrington said. “He didn’t have the sectional and state meets he personally would have wanted.”
Johnston is aiming to go under 21 seconds in the 50 free after swimming 21.45 in the sectional final and 21.67 in the state prelims a year ago. That kind of time would make him one of the state’s best; Castillo, who’s shooting for top five in the 100 free, has similarly big dreams.
It’s a great situation from Harrington’s vantage point: “They are a highly motivated bunch of boys.”
And potentially a highly successful group as well.
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