Maine South swimmer Dominic Mazurek is a big guy, and he attends a big football school.
So people assume he plays football.
He doesn’t, and he never has.
“My parents would not let that happen,” Mazurek said.
That hasn’t stopped Maine South football coach David Inserra, who has won four state championships at the Park Ridge school, from recruiting the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Mazurek.
“He has tried to,” Mazurek said. “We had team pictures one year, and he started talking about how I should play football. I was like, ‘I don’t know.’”
That’s because, in addition to his parents’ opposition, Mazurek already was busy with swimming. But you can forgive Inserra for envisioning Mazurek as a tight end or an edge rusher.
“Every year, I see him in the halls, and he still talks to me about football,” Mazurek said. “He’s a great guy, and I like him. Sometimes he gives me a dirty stare here and there, but I can’t blame him.”
Maine South swimming coach Don Kura is grateful Mazurek has stuck with his sport.
“He’s a big dude, so everybody wanted him,” Kura said. “The basketball coaches are like, ‘Does he ever play basketball?’ Volleyball coaches too.
“We’re fortunate that swimming is the thing that he loves, and he’s very good at it.”
That might be an understatement. Mazurek staked his claim as the fastest swimmer in the state by capturing the 50-yard freestyle during the state meet at FMC Natatorium in Westmont on Feb. 24.
Mazurek, a senior who has committed to Purdue, finished in 20.21 seconds to win an incredibly close race. The top four touched the wall within 0.13 of each other. Carbondale senior Willem Huggins was second in 20.25, followed by St. Ignatius senior Stephen Grud in 20.28 and Fenwick senior Carter Fask in 20.34.
Hinsdale Central won the team title with a 337.50 score, well ahead of New Trier, which was second with 210.50. Hinsdale Central junior Joshua Bey won the 200 individual medley with a state meet record of 1:44.89, won the 100 breaststroke with a state meet record of 52.98 and was part of the 200 free relay team that won in 1:21.96. The Red Devils also won the 400 free relay in 2:59.87. Highland Park senior Noam Kulbak won the diving title with a 531.30 score.
Mazurek is just the second individual state champion in program history. He was asked whether he knew when the first title was won.
“1950s?” was his replay.
That’s close. The first champion was Frank McCullough, who won the 100 backstroke in 1967.
“It’s something that for years we’ve kind of been building to,” Kura said. “Going back four or five years, we’ve had a number of guys that have made championship heats, Dominic included.
“This is the first time in the boys program that we’ve been able to break through and have a champion since 1967. At that point the school had only been open four years, so it’s a great accomplishment for him.”
It came in a relatively new event for Mazurek, at least as far as postseason competition goes. He finished third in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 free last season, but he swapped the 50 for the IM this season.
“There were so many new guys, fast guys in the 200 IM,” he said. “My 200 IM and my 50 are pretty similar, but I thought my 50 free was the right choice. It ended up working.”
It wasn’t easy, though. Mazurek struggled on the first leg of the 50 and was near the back of the eight-man field.
“The race plan was to take it out the first 25 fast,” he said. “Didn’t really work out. I was one of the last people at the 25, but I made it up in the last 25. I had a good turn, good breakout and just gave it my all.
“The two guys right next to me, I was at their hips. I was kind of stressing, but I made it happen at the end. I wanted to make it exciting.”
Mission accomplished, as Mazurek barely beat Huggins to the wall, setting personal and school records and touching off a great celebration.
“It was a blast,” Mazurek said. “I was right next to him, so I didn’t know if I was going to get first or second. But when I saw first, it was a good moment.”
Mazurek was seeded third after timing 20.28 in the preliminary round behind Grud and Fask, who had clocked 20.21 and 20.24, respectively. But Mazurek always considered himself the favorite.
“I thought I was going to win by a little more,” he said. “There’s a lot of fast guys, but I always believe in myself to win, so I don’t believe it was an upset.
“It feels amazing. I’ve been working for it all season, and I’m just glad it finally happened.”
So is Kura.
“The biggest thing is he’s such a great kid,” Kura said. “He does so much without having to ask him to do it.
“Obviously, when you get into this setting, there’s so many great swimmers here. You can have the race of your life and end up finishing second or fourth or whatever it is. I wanted him to get one because I felt like he really deserved it for the person that he is and for how much commitment and effort he’s put in over the last four years.”
Mazurek later set another personal record by finishing second in the 100 free in 43.95 and helped Maine South’s 200 free relay capture third place. That capped a stellar career in which Mazurek won seven state medals to become the most decorated swimmer in program history.
Just as important for Mazurek was raising swimming’s profile at the school. He credits Kura for being a great coach.
“Yeah, it’s a football school, but I think we’re also a swimming school,” Mazurek said. “I don’t think we have as much kids as maybe other schools do. We don’t have a lot of swim clubs next to us, but I believe coach Kura is one of the best coaches in the state.”
Mazurek, who intends to major in engineering at Purdue, is confident the Hawks will remain strong after he graduates.
“I love getting attention to my teammates,” he said. “So (people) will know who Maine South is next year and the year after that.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
