Hinsdale Central Boys' Swimming Wins IHSA State Championship

Submitted by Hinsdale Township High School District 86.

Hinsdale Township High School District 86 congratulates the Hinsdale Central High School Boys’ Swim Team for winning the IHSA State Swimming Championship on Saturday at New Trier High School in Winnetka. The win brings the total number of state championships won by Hinsdale Central this school year to seven, setting a new IHSA record.

This is Hinsdale Central’s first state win in swimming since posting three consecutive wins from 1987 through 1989. A former Central swimmer himself, Coach Bob Barber competed as a freshman on the 1989 winning team. This is his first year as head coach.

“Ultimately, everything we had planned came together,” said Coach Barber. “We were ready to perform on the first day of the state meet.”

Reflecting on the events from the weekend Coach Barber said, “It still hasn’t sunk in.”

“This win has meant so much to so many people,” he continued. “As a coach, the thing that has meant the most to me is the support from alumni, other swimmers and former coaches. I must have received over 100 emails from people from the ‘60s through the ‘90s telling me that this win brought them back to their successes. Don Watson, the former head coach who led the team to 12 state titles, took an active role following the team and that was a huge compliment. And I also feel a tremendous sense of pride in this win because I can share this with a man in whom I have a great deal of respect, my co-worker and my former swim coach Tom Schweer. It’s a real honor.”

The Red Devil swimmers participated in 10 events on the final day of competition. Highlights of the day included sophomore Franco Reyes winning the 100-yard butterfly, senior Adam Pircon taking second place in the 500-yard freestyle and fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. In the 200-yard team relay medley, junior Craig Smith, freshman Billy Leader, senior Brian Powell along with Reyes placed second.

The win was captured when Pircon, Powell, along with sophomore William Bowater and senior Brian Portland placed fourth in the 400-yard freestyle medley.

Looking ahead to next season, Coach Barber said the team will again be very powerful in medley. The Red Devils will miss the strong seniors who will graduate but says there is depth to the team and a ton of talent coming up through the middle school level.

The previous six IHSA state wins for 2014-2015 include boys’ golf, girls’ golf, boys’ cross country, boys’ soccer, girls’ tennis and forensics.

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