Chasing history can be a lot of pressure, as it was last year for Oswego East’s Chase Maier.
As a junior, Maier came up just short in his quest to become the first state champion in program history, finishing second in both the 200-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle.
But the near-misses didn’t increase the heat on Maier as a senior.
“Once you’ve experienced it one time, it’s less pressure, I think,” Maier said. “Last year I got second in both against two seniors, so this year I was the favorite to win.
“I just went out there, backed my training and did pretty well.”
That’s an understatement. Maier finished his high school career on a strong note, capturing state titles Saturday in the 200 and 500 of the boys swimming state meet at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
The Navy commit beat his previous best time by over a second in the 200, winning in 1:35.91. Maier came back in the 500 with an even better performance, clocking 4:19.36, which was just a half-second off the state record set by former Stanford swimmer Danny Thomson in 2012.
“I was looking to take it down,” Maier said. “But I was maybe a little bit too tired from other events.”
It’s understandable considering the exhaustive extent of Maier’s accomplishments. He will graduate as Oswego East’s most decorated swimmer.
Including relays, Maier won seven state medals, three coming Saturday.
“It means a lot,” Maier said. “Our boys are getting better. We’re the best we’ve ever been, and I have confidence that even after I’m gone after this year, they’re going to continue to be great.”
There is reason to believe Maier will, too. His grandfather was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, but Maier is the first member of his family to attend a service academy.
Already accomplished in the water, the Navy could allow Maier to serve on the water as well.
He must serve five years on active duty upon graduation.
“It’s such a good opportunity and privilege to go to the Naval Academy,” Meier said. “I’m looking to go into engineering, so it’s a little bit of a mix between swimming and my education.
“I’ve always been more of a math guy and I like to build things. It seems like it’s going to be really fun.”
The numbers also added up for St. Charles North’s Thomas McMillan, who won the 100 butterfly in a state-record 46.52. He becomes just the third swimmer in Illinois High School Association history to set a state record as a sophomore.
The other two are Hinsdale Central’s Luke Vatev, who set the 100 backstroke record during Friday’s prelims before winning the event Saturday, and former Lake Forest star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers.
“It was definitely in my mind for me, trying to win,” McMillan said. “I definitely have to set some more goals and reevaluate for the future.”
McMillan said his initial reaction to the record was relief.
“I swam the whole season working toward this, so I was glad I got it done,” McMillan said. “Just competing, trying to be the best, is what drives me.”
McMillan, who was runner-up to Vatek in the 100 backstroke, is continuing a fine tradition in the butterfly. He’s the third North Star to win a state title in the event. Will Myhre took the 2018 title and Aleksej Filipovic won in 2019 and 2020.
“It feels great to keep it going,” McMillan said. “I’ve always been a flyer since I started, so it made sense to keep it going for high school.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.