Mike Slavik figured he had little to lose entering the 100-yard backstroke finals at last Saturday’s Metro Catholic swimming finals.
“I was feeling a little sluggish with hard practices this week,” said the Benet Academy senior. “But in the backstroke I was going to give it everything I had, and it paid off.”
Slavik finished the race in 53.94 seconds, less than a second off the Catholic League record and nearly two seconds ahead of his closest competitor, for the Redwings’ only varsity championship of the day.
“It was my best time ever,” he said. “I was really happy with that.”
With Slavik leading the way, the Redwings tied for fourth place with St. Viator at the Metro Catholic meet, held in Fenwick.
The effort gave Slavik a timely boost heading into the boys state swimming series, which opens Feb. 16 with sectional competition in Downers Grove North.
“He has a great seed time going into sectionals,” said Benet coach Thad Whildin. “And he’s capable of going quite a bit faster.”
Slavik, who finished 15th in the backstroke at last year’s state meet and failed to reach the finals, thinks he has a good shot at a top 12 finish this time.
“I know I can succeed, and I know I can do well. I’m a senior and this is my last hurrah, and I’m going in with a positive attitude,” he said. “My coach and I have been looking at times and what it takes to get into the finals, and that time has gotten into the top 12 the past five years.”
It already has been a successful season for the Redwing swimmer. Two weeks ago at the Fox Valley Invitational, he won the backstroke in 54.92 as the Redwings took fifth at the 10-team invitational.
“Big picture, he’s gotten progressively better,” said Whildin, who is in his first season as head coach after serving as an assistant last year. “He’s learning to swim his races a little bit smarter, a little bit better. Compared with past years, he’s learning to be a little bit more of a sprinter.
“At this point, he amazes us every day. He’s still working hard in practice.”
Slavik also took fourth in the 100-yard freestyle last week. Other top Redwing varsity performances came from senior Scott Forte (sixth in the 100-yard butterfly and 200 individual medley) and sophomore Ben Gensler (sixth in the 500-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke).
“We’re actually looking really good,” said Slavik. “The guys who tapered”– cut back on intensity in training for a big meet–“for Fox Valley last week and conference this week have just been phenomenal. So the guys that are tapering [now] are looking forward to dropping time as crazy as they have.”
And there’s apparently much more to come in coming seasons. Benet’s frosh-soph team took the Metro Catholic crown Saturday as freshman Jeff Hassberger won the 100-yard freestyle in 52.94 seconds.
“The future looks real good,” said Whildin.
