As the two-time defending state champion in the 100-yard butterfly, Franco Reyes merits every bit of individual limelight he receives.
Instead of focusing on a potential three-peat, though, the Hinsdale Central senior’s attention is consumed just as much by a desire to carry his share of the load on the Red Devils’ three top-flight relays.
“I actually like swimming on relays more (than individual races),” Reyes said. “It’s so much fun getting hyped up for races with my teammates.”
Reyes, a Georgia Tech recruit, has swum a leg on five top-three Hinsdale Central relays over the past two years, including state titles in last season’s 200 medley and 200 free relays.
Still, defending his 100 butterfly crown would make Reyes only the 19th swimmer in Illinois state history to win the same individual event three times, with the last occasion coming courtesy of another Hinsdale Central athlete, Danny Thomson, from 2010-12 in the 500 free.
“I’m definitely proud of myself for how far I’ve come so far, but the chance at a three-peat doesn’t make me nervous, said Reyes, a Burr Ridge resident. “Of course, I love to win. But if I train hard and do everything I can to do my best and I don’t win, I won’t be unhappy.”
Reyes’ swimming career began a year after his first lessons as a 3-year old. He was coached until he was 14 by his father, Raul, who swam as a walk-on during his freshman year at West Point.
Franco Reyes credits his early introduction to swimming as one of the main reasons he has excelled in the pool.
An intimate knowledge of his stroke and ideal placement of his hands are two components of Reyes’ overall arsenal he feels give him an edge. Those traits are vital in making his path through the water “cleaner” than those of his competitors.
Technical superiority is among the reasons Hinsdale Central coach Bob Barber sees for Reyes’ immense level of success. In addition, he also likes his star performer’s mental disposition.
“Getting off the blocks, he enters the water very cleanly,” Barber said. “He starts his kick a half-body or full-body length ahead of his competition. It’s almost like a head start.
“He’s also a real competitor, there’s no doubt. The bigger the venue, the more excited he gets.”
The location of the boys swimming and diving state finals, New Trier, was the site for one of the Red Devils’ most stringent warmups, the 62nd annual Trevian Relays on Saturday.
With area swimmers at this juncture of the season being more interested in building endurance, the meet gave Reyes an opportunity to feel out the pool and continue ramping up his stamina and varying his stroke.
He didn’t swim the 100 butterfly but branched out to compete in both the 50 and 100 free, the 100 back and a leg apiece on the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay.
“My legs were pretty shot by the end, but I was happy with my swims,” Reyes said. “It’s great training at a fast meet. We’re just trying to get more precise, so when we do need to go lower (times), we already have those specific things down.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
