Boys Swimming: Lake Zurich’s McNair, Pelka qualify to State

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Lake Zurich's Kyle McNair drives to a state-qualifying fourth-place finish in the 200 IM at Saturday's sectional at Stevenson High School. He also advanced in the 100 backstroke. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:34AM

Lake Zurich High School senior swimmer Kyle McNair was faced with a tough decision at the end of his junior season. 

Should he continue on with track and cross country or focus all of his attention on swimming to give himself a better chance to post personal-bests, and perhaps qualify for the state meet? 

“It was hard to give up running, but it was worth it,” McNair said. “This way, I could stay in swimming shape year-round.” 

McNair’s decision was validated at the Stevenson Sectional on Saturday, as he became a State qualifier in two events. Junior Kuba Pelka advanced in one event as well. They were the first Lake Zurich team members in six years to qualify for the state meet. 

McNair dropped five full seconds in the 200-yard individual medley. He placed fourth in 1:58.  

“I really couldn’t be more thrilled for him,” said Bears coach Jill Kragseth. “He had a great taper, and that was an awesome time-drop.” 

McNair said he had a good feeling right after he dove into the pool. 

“I felt smooth and explosive going through the water,” he said.  

A while later, McNair qualified in the 100 backstroke (53.81). His fourth-place showing came in a personal-best time — by more than 1.5 seconds.

Pelka’s power: Pelka said that McNair’s performance motivated him to come through on the sectional stage. 

“Kyle did amazing, and his (showing) propelled me to swim my (absolute) best,” Pelka said. “I really wanted to follow Kyle into State.” 

Pelka responded with a personal-best 52.34 in the 100 butterfly. He finished in third place. 

“I had great momentum coming in and out of the walls,” he said. “I felt like I was going fast.” 

Added Kragseth: “He’s a (talented) butterflyer. He’s strong and has the technique and timing down.” 

Pelka almost was a double-qualifier, but came up just short in the 100 freestyle. 

“I give him a lot of props,” McNair said. “He had back-to-back events, which is one of the tougher things to do in swimming. He swam great.”

No pool: Lake Zurich, like some other schools, does not have a swimming pool on campus. As a result, the boys practice with their club team for most of the season and only get to compete for their school at the conference meet and in the state series. 

In the weeks leading up to conference, the Bears practice together in the morning several days a week. 

“It’s a different experience, because we swim club with younger kids and then it’s a big change once we get to high school meets and race against great competition,” McNair said.

On the schedule: McNair and Kuba will represent Lake Zurich at the state meet, to be held at Evanston High School Friday and Saturday. 

“Now that I made the state meet, my goal is to enjoy everything and hopefully perform at least as well as I did at sectionals,” McNair said. 

Kuba said it’s all about racing at State.

“There are no more time goals — you just race,” he said. “That’s my favorite type of meet.”