The New Trier News Sports Friday, March 6, 2020 7 Boys swimming and diving seals 1st at sectionals said. “My goal for the sectionals NT takes first with tournament was to get as many kids 273 points, Loyola through as we can, and get as many kids in the top 10 as we can at state, falls with 272 points and that’s what I think our swimmers can pull off.” by Graham Ambrose Despite the more cautious mindset that Runkle has, the On Feb. 22, New Trier’s Boys swimmers themselves are more than Swimming and Diving Team won confident they can win even bigger by an amazing upset at the Niles than top 10 state tournament on North IHSA Sectionals with a ton of Saturday at Evanston. highlights. A prime example is Matt Pearce Bailey bested the Gibson, a sophomore swimmer and qualifying time by .38 seconds and one of the biggest winners at the took 2nd place in 50-meter freestyle. IHSA sectionals, who knows that Matt Gibson placed 1st in 100-yard sectionals was just the beginning of butterfly as well as the 100-yard the end. He believes that the progress backstroke, and with Saturday’s the swim team has made since last IHSA State fast approaching, New Boys swimming and diving celebrate 1st place win at Niles North IHSA Sectionals on Feb. 22 Runkle year is going to serve them well Trier ended up taking 1st place and that they’re going to triumph at overall. “I’m pretty confident that we who placed 3rd in the 1-meter dive, While the team’s top swimmers Evanston. The team edged rivals can win big at state, but there’s a lot got into swimming and diving at a are confident about getting the top “I think we are a really solid Loyola 273 to 272. The swimmers to look out for, like Loyola,” Dienstag young age thanks to his time taking spot on the podium at the IHSA State group this year and we’ve come a had times that allowed them to said. “They’ve got some of the best lessons with current diving coach, tournament, some on the team are a long way from last year,” Gibson qualify for state in 13 separate events. swimmers I’ve ever competed with, Bruce Kimball. Almost a decade lot more dialed back with their goals. said. “I think we will really surprise And with the season coming to a but they’re also really sociable and later, he’s taking inspiration from his Josh Runkle has been the head everyone at state because we have climactic end soon, some of the top I’ve had fun with them despite the fellow diving team members. coach of boys swimming and diving solid swimmers all around and great varsity swimmers were riding their rivalry.” “My favorite memory of this at New Trier for 23 years, and his coaches. It’ll be very fun to see how confidence into the state finals. Since Saturday’s state season was probably when our only feelings pertaining to state are much it turns out.” Senior Sam Dienstag fell in love tournament marks the end of the senior on the team, Simone Okun, more cautious. Even against tough rivals with aquatics at the age of 7, and swimming and diving season for set a new personal best for himself,” “I don’t really think we’ll end like GBS or Loyola, New Trier’s that passion allowed him to rack up both the boys and girls team, a lot of Ervin recounted. “He’s been on the up coming home with the biggest Swimming and Diving team has some big wins, like placing 4th in the swimmers had landmark moments team for 3 years, and he’s got such trophies, because our swimmers clearly shown that they have what 200-yard freestyle and qualifying for for the 2019-2020 season. a positive spirit that seeing him aren’t as strong as those from schools it takes to succeed where it matters IHSA State 3 times. Sophomore diver John Ervin, succeed was great for all of us.” like Glenbrook South,” Runkle most. NT baseball condemn Astros’ Girls bowling miss state sign stealing scandal in 2017 but reflect on season Seniors have high sophomores with seniors Sarah NT baseball coach with the firing of management. The , guessing the sign and being Hughes and Samantha Palomino Astros also lost their 2020 and 2021 incorrect can be disastrous because if hopes for future leading the charge. Senior captain and players say sign first and second round draft picks and you’re wrong you’ll be left swinging Hughes is excited about the future for seasons and recount stealing betrays the were fined $5 million, the highest and missing. the team. ever fine in baseball’s 151 year Junior Sam Harvey, a varsity team improvements “It’s a really young team and game of baseball history. and , agreed they are already really, really good. I Napoleon acknowledged that $5 with Napoleon. know the next few years are going to by Brooks Herb million fine is a lot, but he believes “It’s not real baseball if you by Frank Zawrazky be amazing.” that losing the draft picks is the more know what’s coming.” This season, the Trevs have been As the catcher subtly reveals his pivotal punishment. For that very reason, Harvey On Feb. 15 the girls bowling successful making it to sectionals for sign to the , a camera stationed He noted that the billion-dollar doesn’t want to know the sign in team traveled to Waukegan to bowl in the first time since 2016, going 12-1. in center field picks up the signal, a organization can stand to lose a few advance. He sees sign stealing in the IHSA Sectionals at Sunset Lanes Palomino, who has been on the team video monitor displayed outside the bucks, but draft picks are the future, games when a base runner at second and just missed going to the state since 2018, reflected on the team’s shows this footage, a player and they lost theirs. base sees the sign given by the tournament. evolution. bangs the trash can twice with a bat. Knowing what type of pitch catcher. The girls finished 10th with This is the process of sign stealing by is coming (based on the sign) may There are many ways that 4994 pins, just ahead of Evanston the . not seem like a big deal. Whether can get around having their with 4940 pins and behind Niles While stealing signs is a practice it is a or coming, sign stolen. Junior Alex Calarco, North with 4995 pins. almost as old as the sport of baseball some may not see the advantage also a varsity catcher, uses different The winners of the team and ‘I know I can always be itself, the case of the Astros illegally of knowing. Napoleon recalled an techniques and strategies to ensure individual events will go downstate there for my team even stealing signs in 2017, is something interview he heard from Los Angeles the sign he gives the pitcher isn’t to Rockford to compete for the Trevs. the sport has never seen before. Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood. intercepted. Coach David Hjelmgren couldn’t be if I’m not bowling. It’s Most teams have traditionally “I would rather face a player “I put my glove on my left knee prouder of the team’s success this always for them, it’s stolen signs by interpreting the sign that was taking steroids than face a to block the third base coach’s view season. the catcher gives to the pitcher, and player that knew every pitch that was and I mix in different decoy signs “It was a team effort. I thought always for the team.’ relaying it to the batter so he knows coming,” Wood said. when there’s a man on second base so they were phenomenal. They rose which type of pitch is coming. he can’t pick up the signs I’m giving above all expectations and are a The 2017 Astros went above the pitcher.” great unit. They work hard, they and beyond this practice by using a ‘It’s not real baseball By doing this, Calarco isn’t are all good people and I’m excited “Last year it was a bit rocky but camera to record the signs and then only keeping the sign away from the at what they’ve accomplished this this year we were so strong. Everyone pass the information on to the coach. if you know what’s runner at second, but also from the year. I can’t wait to work with them, was on top of their game, constantly Coincidentally enough, the Astros base coaches. especially our sophomores, again getting their new high game.” won the World that year. coming.’ While high school level sign next year. They always bowl with a The core group will remain the The Commissioner of the MLB stealing is less abstract than the purpose and practice with a purpose.” same minus the two seniors, and they Robert Manfred didn’t take this criminal acts of the Astros, it brings The day got off to a dramatic look to advance to state for the first The concept of the hitter being lightly. Astros A.J. Hinch up the question of whether technology start when sophomore Maya time next year. forced to adapt to whatever type was suspended for a year by the MLB and baseball should mix at all. From Palomino slammed her finger in the Maya Morales, a current of pitch is thrown their way is part and then immediately fired by the creating the parameters of the strike door coming into the bowling alley. sophomore with the team, is of the game, and by compromising team. General manager John Luhnow zone, to reviewing whether a runner After a trip to the hospital to confirm ambitious for next season. that, baseball loses its character and was also given the same punishment. is or out, the blend of technology her finger was not broken, she did not “I’m going to bowl in the integrity. Both were punished for being aware and baseball is becoming more bowl. offseason to help our team move Stealing signs isn’t something of, yet doing nothing to stop the prevalent. “I know I can always be there forward. I want to be the best I can be that only happens in the big leagues, cheating. Napoleon himself wants the for my team even if I’m not bowling. to help the team advance.” it is an advantage that is occasionally While many dispute whether the to vary per umpires and It’s always for them, it’s always for While not the finish the Trevs used at the high school and collegiate punishment fit the crime or whether the game to stay true to its original the team.” would have envisioned, they have level, too. the repercussions were too severe, inconsistencies. The girls got off to a strong made their mark on the community However, Napoleon added, varsity baseball coach Michael “I like when different umpires start knocking 933 pins over in the and will no doubt continue to do so “Some hitters don’t want to know, Napoleon has a strong stance against have different strike zones,” said first game, through the team cooled with the strong group of girls they because if you’re wrong it makes the Astros. Napoleon. “It’s part of the game, off in the next two games. The have with them. you look foolish. So I would say “When you use technology [to just play it the way we’ve played for girls rebounded in the fourth game it happens in not even a quarter of steal signs], it’s voodoo. Yes, I do centuries.” knocking down 876 pins then 821 games.” think the punishments are justified,” pins in the fifth and 712 in the sixth Since the strength and time at said Napoleon. game. which you swing varies per type of The punishments didn’t stop The team is almost all