Boys swimming: Ben Castro, Cary-Grove co-op flying high into state

Cary-Grove co-op’s boys swimming team has amassed a tremendous amount of talent over the years, but this year’s group might have top bragging rights.

Led by Crystal Lake Central senior Ben Castro, the Trojans are in position for what could be a big weekend at state.

“Amongst all the legends on the team, this guy is probably No. 1,” coach Scott Lattyak said of Castro. “But what’s even more crazy is that other guys in the lineup are right up there as No. 2 or when they get older, the potential to be No. 1.

“Ben is by far our faster flyer ever on the team, Drew Watson is the the fastest backstroker and Kameron Fadden is our second-fastest [in the 50 free], right after his brother. It’s an insane group of guys that are up there as far as the most talented we’ve seen in this program, and they all happen to be here together.”

Castro, Watson and Fadden will be among a strong group of area athletes to compete at the IHSA Boys Swimming and Diving State Meet at FMC Natatorium in Westmont. The preliminaries begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday, with the top 12 in each event advancing to Saturday’s finals.

Castro has the most state experience of any local qualifier and will swim in the 100-yard butterfly, his top event, as well as the 200 IM. Castro also qualified in both Trojans’ relays, the 200 medley and 400 free.

It’s an insane group of guys that are up there as far as the most talented we’ve seen in the program, and they all happen to be here together.”

—  Scott Lattyak, Cary-Grove co-op boys swimming coach

Castro has qualified in nine events (five individual, four relays) throughout his high school career. His best result was a 10th-place finish in the 100 butterfly as a sophomore. There was no state meet last year because of the pandemic.

Lattyak called Castro “a chill guy” and someone other swimmers have always looked up to.

“He’s very calm and just a very down-to-earth guy,” Lattyak said. “He’s always very well composed, and he has his mind set. He knows what his goals are, what he needs to perfect and what he needs to improve on.

“I think that people are definitely going to miss that perspective because it’s hard to find athletes who are very chill and hold their composure well. It’s very easy to get nervous in the sport, and he’s just not. He’s a very calm guy.”

Castro is aiming to advance and place in the “A” finals (top-six finish) in the 100 fly, where his sectional time of 50.10 seconds has him seeded sixth entering state. The team’s 200 medley (1:34.24) of Watson, freshman Kasparas Venslauskas, Castro and Fadden is seeded fifth after smashing the team record by more than two seconds.

Castro, Watson, junior Dexter Zielinski and Fadden also will swim in the 400 free relay. Watson also qualified in 200 IM, where he is seeded 14th, and 100 backstroke, where he is seeded 13th. Fadden will shoot for the team record in the 50 free, which currently is held by his older brother and 2019 graduate Kolin Fadden.

The team’s huge drop in the 200 medley relay was a surprise to many.

[ Boy swimming: Cary-Grove co-op does it again, wins 14th FVC championship in 15 years ]

“I’ve never been this fast, so I’m super excited,” said Castro, who will swim next year at Tampa. “The kind of cool part about it is that there’s still a lot of things we need to work on. That kind of shows you that we can drop a lot more.

“The first day at state is so crazy, intense and fun. You know you’re going to drop times, it’s just where you finish. The second day, it’s more toned down and it’s more on you.”

Huntley was the only other area team to qualify individuals for the state meet and could see some records broken. Senior Gavin Heard, who is legally blind, won sectional titles in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free and 100 breaststroke for Athletes with Disabilities.

And junior Ben Rocks, who was named co-Most Valuable Swimmer, along with Castro, at the Fox Valley Conference Meet, will compete in his second state meet after he qualified in both the 100 free and 200 free, breaking the school’s record in the 100 free with a time of 46.97.

Rocks also set the team’s 50 free record as part of his 200 free swim at sectionals with a split of 21.73.

“I think my tempo was really good going into my races, especially that first 50,” said Rocks, who placed 35th in the 100 free at state as a freshman. “Generally I’m a little sluggish, so if I get out good in that first 50, then it’s going to be a good race. I think that really showed at sectionals. Now that I’m fully rested, I’ll be able to bring it back on that second 50.”

Heard enters the state meet with the top times in all four of his events. His 2:04.11 time in the 200 free for Athletes with Disabilities event already is faster than the state record (2:04.31) that was set five years ago.

Heard said he is going into state looking to break some records. He has been a part of the high school team all four seasons, but this is the first time he has competed in the Athletes with Disabilities events.

“I was surprised with my times at sectionals because I was not fully tapered,” he said. “Especially my 100 breaststroke, I was really surprised by that time. I just had to have a really strong mindset. I was the only one there swimming at sectionals. I had to know how to be strong and how to know I felt in the water by myself. It was definitely different.”

Rocks expects a loud and fast state meet after a year off and offers advice to first-timers, including his teammate Heard.

“Honestly, just have no stress and just enjoy the moment because it’s a lot of fun,” Rocks said. “You get so wrapped up in the racing that you’re not going to experience where you’re truly at as a swimmer. You’re never going to relive something like it. Just have fun, don’t take anything too serious, but also race your heart out.”

IHSA Boys Swimming and Diving State Meet

at FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Friday (prelims) and Saturday (finals)

200-medley relay: Cary-Grove co-op (Drew Watson, so., Kasparas Venslauskas, fr., Ben Castro, sr., Kameron Fadden, sr.)

400 free relay: Cary-Grove co-op (Ben Castro, sr., Drew Watson, so., Dexter Zielinski, jr., Kameron Fadden, sr.)

200 free: Ben Rocks, Huntley, jr.

200 IM: Drew Watson, Cary-Grove co-op, so.; Ben Castro, Cary-Grove co-op, sr.

50 free: Kameron Fadden, Cary-Grove co-op, sr.

100 butterfly: Ben Castro, Cary-Grove co-op, sr.

100 free: Ben Rocks, Huntley, jr.

100 backstroke: Drew Watson, Cary-Grove co-op, so.

50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 breaststroke for Athletes with Disabilities: Gavin Heard, Huntley, sr.