It’s an interesting mix and there was really no telling what would happen when the year started.

Seniors stars, talented freshman and everything in between helped push the Chesterton boys swimming and diving team to a fourth place finish at the IHSAA State Finals on Saturday at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

“I don’t know that we could’ve done a whole lot better,” Chesterton coach Kevin Kinel said. “We pretty much maximized our scoring position.”

The Trojans started the meet with a sixth place finish from the quartet of Nick Brahos, Aaron Whitaker, Jack Wallar and Tyler Fozkos in the 200 Medley Relay (1:35.57).

“Brahos was such a big part of our relays and did such a great job as a leader,” Kinel said. “He had lifetime best legs at the State Finals on the last day. That says something about him.”

Then a trio of individuals took over with freshman Blake Pieroni making the first big impact in the 200 Free. Pieroni swam his way to a second place finish in 1:40.23.

“It’s probably my favorite race of the year,” Pieroni said.” I didn’t even expect to be here. To be a runner-up in an individual event is pretty crazy.”

Two-time defending state champion Tyler Fozkos (20.87) couldn’t make it three in a row as Indianapolis Brebeuf senior Harrison Wagner set the State Record with a 20.25 time.

“Tyler does what he does,” Kinel said. “He got up for the big ones and he was a great leader in and out of the pool. All you can control is what you do and he did everything he was supposed to do. He had a terrific end to the year.

“From an individual standpoint, he had a marvelous career and did an awful lot of good things for our program.”

Senior Alex Olson added more points to the team total with a 15th place finish in 1-meter diving.

“I’m so happy for Alex,” Kinel said. “I think the experience really helped him and he just went about things one dive at a time.”

The Trojans closest thing to a state championship came from freshman Aaron Whitaker in the 100 Fly. Whitaker would finish tied for second with Munster senior Kevin Behrens (49.83). Homestead’s Blake Johnson won in 49.80.

“I thought I had it at the end, but just missed,” Whitaker said. “My start was the fastest out there and then it was just race. I didn’t know it would be this exciting (to be in the State Finals). I’ve seen it, and been here before, but it’s not the same when you come down here on deck.”

“Aaron had the confidence to go after those guys in the final,” Kinel said. “He didn’t get shaken and scramble at all. He hit his finish and almost got the win.”

Fozkos finished third in the 100 Free as well.

“They were both great races,” Foskos said. “My 50 time was a little faster and my 100 was just a little slower. I got off the blocks great in both and gave it my best shot. No regrets.

“It’s been a great career and there was some great swimming today.”

In the 500 Free, Pieroni led through the first 100 and finished fourth overall in 4:35.35.

“He’s been working hard on pacing and I thought he swam a great race in the finals,” Kinel said. “With a young kid, you’re afraid that his emotion would get the better of him.”

Pieroni’s times in the 200 and 500 Free were the third fastest times in school history behind former Trojans’ Kyle Whitaker and Bill Bass.

“You certainly see the potential,” Kinel said. “That’s pretty good company.”

The last points for the Trojans came in the 200 Free Relay (10th, 1:27.42) with the group of Wallar, Whitaker, Brahos and Pieroni.

“Jack had great swims for us in the Relays all weekend,” Kinel said.

Chesterton also won the consolation final of the 400 Free Relay with the quartet of Pieroni, Whitaker, Nick Borzych and Fozkos finishing in 3:09.47.

“Borzych’s first state meet swim, he did great,” Kinel said. “We couldn’t have asked him to do much more than he did and he got some incredible experience.”

Kinel was also quick to credit his staff with the team’s success.

“Our staff was great all year and getting these kids ready for the post-season,” Kinel said. “Especially with coaching both the girls and boys. They all have individual strengths that make us as successful as we’ve been.”

1. Carmel, 227; 2. Bloomington South, 171; 3. Westfield, 146; 4. Chesterton, 141.5; 5. Northridge, 138.5; 6. Hamilton Southeastern, 117; 7. Munster, 116.5; 8. Homestead, 112; 9. Zionsville, 93.5; 10. Indianapolis North Central, 93; 11. Jeffersonville, 86; 12. Indianapolis Brebeuf, 82; 13. Yorktown, 51; 14. (tie) Crown Point and Castle, 50; 16. Michigan City, 49; 17. Concord, 41; 18. Center Grove and Floyd Central, 37; 20. Fishers, 30; 21. Franklin Community, 26; 22. SB St. Joseph’s, 24; 23. (tie) Batesville and Bloomington North, 21; 25. West Lafayette Harrison and Hamilton Heights, 20; 27. Franklin Central, 19; 28. Anderson and FW Carroll, 16; 30. Indianapolis Cathedral, 15; 1. (tie) Lafayette Central Catholic and Warsaw, 14; 33. Terre Haute South, 13; 34. Highland, 12; 35. (tie) Lafayette Jefferson, Columbus North and Greenfield-Central, 10; 38. (tie) Jennings County and International, 9; 40. Rensselaer Central, 8; (tie) Noblesville, SB Adams, McCutcheon and Muncie Central, 7; 45. Greencastle, 6; 46. (tie) Lake Central, Bedford North Lawrence, Penn, Evansville Reitz, 5; 50. FW Northrop, 4; 51. (tie) Avon, Perry Meridian, West Lafayette, 3; 54. (tie) Plainfield, Warren Central and LaPorte, 1.

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Munster, 1:33.79; 2. Northridge, 1:34.24; 3. Indianapolis North Central, 1:34.59; 4. Hamilton Southeastern, 1:34.60; 5. Bloomington South, 1:35.90; 6. Chesterton (Nick Brahos, Jack Wallar, Aaron Whitaker, Tyler Fozkos), 1:35.57; 7. Homestead, 1:36.06.

200 Free -- 1. Matt Gerth (Car), 1:39.08; 2. Blake Pieroni ©, 1:40.23; 3. Nathan Hopkins (West), 1:40.71; 4. Jon Astashinsky (Car), 1:41.11; 5. Zachary Blankenbeker (Jeff), 1:41.61; 6. Alex Grissom (Fra), 1:41.64; 7. Peter Koss (West), 1:42.13; 8. Nick Torrance (Zion), 1:47.41.

200 IM -- 1. Andrew Cato (FlCen), 1:50.46; 2. Keanu Stevenson (Cast), 1:50.54; 3. Cameron Miller (MC), 1:51.14; 4. Dillon Thompson (Mun), 1:51.87; 5. Jacob Cook (Home), 1:52.19; 6. John Stuy (Car), 1:54.11; 7. Brennen Berger (Nor), 1:54.52; 8. Evan Oleson (West), 1:57.50.

50 Free -- 1. Harrison Wagner (IB), 20.25 (STATE RECORD); 2. Tyler Fozkos ©, 20.87; 3. Hunter Hoffman (York), 20.90; 4. Aaron Stevenson (FC), 21.39; 5. Michael Esposito (LCC) 21.41; 6.Timothy Martin (Jeff), 21.44; 7. Brendan Michaelsen (BlSo), 21.75.

1-Meter Diving -- 1. Layne Rogers (WL), 547.95; 2. Danton Rogers (BlSo), 496.65; 3. Dathan Schmidt (BlSo), 477.50; 4. Andrew Cramer (IC), 471.30; 5. Michael Boyle (War), 459.00; 6. Matt Denkers (Fish), 443.50; 7. Tyler Croell (CP), 438.50; 8. Brian Kress (BlSo), 431.40; 15. Alex Olson ©, 413.45.

100 Fly -- 1. Blake Johnson (Home), 49.80; 2. (tie) Aaron Whitaker © and Kevin Behrens (Mun), 49.83; 4. (tie) Austin Flager (Nor) and Peter Lyon (Zion), 50.10; 6. Max Irwin (BlSo), 50.46; 7. Adam Voss (York), 51.57; 8. Nick Wonder (BlSo), 51.79.

100 Free -- 1. Harrison Wagner (IB), 44.76; 2. Matt Gerth (Car), 45.81; 3. Tyler Fozkos ©, 46.10; 4. Justin Rossillo (HSE), 46.28; 5. Bryce Timonera (Bate), 46.65; 6. Jon Astashinsky (Car), 46.77; 7. Peter Koss (West), 46.92; 8. Alex Grissom (Fra), 46.97.

500 Free -- 1. Nathan Hopkins (West), 4:32.98; 2. Evan Oleson (West), 4:34.99; 3. Zachary Blankenbeker (Jeff), 4:35.13; 4. Blake Pieroni ©, 4:35.35; 5. Frank Rapin (Mun), 4:37.80; 6. Ian Boggs (Zion), 4:38.46; 7. Chris Cutter (Fish), 4:39.83; 8. Nick Torrance (Zion), 4:48.74.

200 Free Relay -- 1. Bloomington South, 1:24.85; 2. Carmel, 1:25.61; 3. Indianapolis Brebeuf, 1:26.06; 4. Westfield, 1:26.52; 5. Jeffersonville, 1:27.01; 6. Hamilton Southeastern, 1:27.24; 10. Chesterton (Aaron Whitaker, Nick Brahos, Jack Wallar, Blake Pieroni), 1:27.42.

100 Back -- 1. Justin Rossillo (HSE), 50.04; 2. Kevin Behrens (Mun), 50.24; 3. Andrew Cato (FlCen), 50.76; 4. Austin Flager (Nor), 50.78; 5. Dillon Thompson (Mun), 51.52; 6. Blake Johnson (Home), 51.90; 7. Jacob Robinson (HSE), 51.95; 8. Max McKay (Car), 52.03.

100 Breast -- 1. Keanu Stevenson (Cas), 54.92; 2. Cameron Miller ©, 50.24; 3. Grant Schwarz (CG), 57.00; 4. John Stuy (Car), 57.68; 5. Ian Boggs (Zion), 57.71; 6. Addison Bray (THS), 58.20; 7. Sebastian Garcia (HSE), 58.49; 8. Jake Wood (HH), 58.61.

400 Free Relay -- 1. Carmel, 3:06.90; 2. Bloomington South, 3:07.33; 3. Northridge, 3:07.89; 4. Homestead, 3:07.97; 5. Westfield, 3:09.67; 6. Crown Point, 3:10.44; 7. Zionsville, 3:11.17; 8. Concord, 3:11.99; 9. Chesterton (Blake Pieroni, Aaron Whitaker, Nick Borzych, Tyler Fozkos), 3:09.47.

Posted 2/28/2011