Live Oak senior takes eighth in 100-yard breaststroke, 13th in
200-yard individual medley
SANTA CLARA — Standing on a podium at the world-famous Santa Clara International Swim Center, a medal in his right hand, Steven Rick ended his prep swimming career Saturday at the top of his game — and his class.
He was the only member of Live Oak’s boys team to advance through Friday’s preliminaries of the CIF-Central Coast Section Championships. And for someone like Rick, who treasured his team’s camaraderie more than anything during his four years at Live Oak High School, that left something to be desired.
After placing eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of one minute, .9 seconds, Rick recalled his first trip to CCS when, as a freshman, he swam in the 200-yard medley relay.
Rick and his teammates bought matching leggings before the meet, just so they would look sharp.
“The group picture alone was priceless,” Rick said with a laugh. “You couldn’t describe it.
“Now I’m here and they’ve all moved on. I’m the only guy who made it to finals. I don’t want to say it’s the end of a generation because there’s plenty more guys coming off big seasons. It just feels weird being alone.”
Earlier Saturday, Rick finished 13th in the 200-yard individual medley (1:57.52). On Friday, he met his season-long goal of finishing under a minute in the breaststroke (59.83) and clocked a personal-record time of 1:57.45 in the 200 IM. His previous best was 1:59.20.
“That’s a really good drop for him,” said Live Oak coach Lynn Gautschi, a two-time Olympic medalist in the same event. “He’s been working hard. He’s really worked on his turns and has gotten so much better.
“When you do great in a prelim, sometimes it pushes you to do better. Steven did just that. He really pushed himself.”
Gautschi began coaching Rick midway through the 2007-08 school year. Gautschi was impressed by Rick’s talent, but even more so by his drive to get better.
“It was a good thing to watch from his junior year because I knew what I had to do for his senior year,” Gautschi said. “He was willing to change. Steven has always swam with a lot of guts and muscle. But after a certain time, that doesn’t get you where you want to go, so we changed some things. He was easy to coach; a pleasure.”
Rick spent last summer lifting weights and perfecting his turns and strokes.
“I was in tip-top shape coming into today,” he said. “I figured whatever I can do to pull through and do my best, I had to do it. I’m very happy with where I finished today.”
Cody Coleman, Danny Robinson, Jason Vantrood and Rick missed the finals cut for the 200-yard freestyle relay by less than five seconds. After the race, Rick received a hug from each of his younger teammates.
“They all said they were going to miss me,” Rick said. “I told them, ‘don’t worry. I’ll come back a couple times next year to make sure you’re on track.’
“It’s weird leaving, but, at the same time, it’s normal; it’s a part of life. I’ve had some of the best times of my life thus far here at this school, Live Oak. I can’t put a price on it.”
Rick was recently accepted to the University of California, San Diego, where he plans to push himself in the classroom, studying pre-med bio engineering. There is an outside chance he could swim for the school’s high-profile Division II program.
“It all depends on how many recruits they get,” Rick said. “If there’s an opening, hopefully I’ll get a shot.”
Junior Katie Rick, Steven’s sister, also had a big weekend at the CCS Finals meet, which was the fastest in history (records fell in 13 of the 22 events). Katie Rick placed 15th in the 200 IM (2:14).
“I feel accomplished. I feel like it was a good season,” she said. “Next year will be a lot harder with Steven not around. It’ll hit me more when the season starts.”
Katie Rick joined Rachel Cretcher, Michelle Mikaelsson and Sarah D’Angelo in clocking a personal-best 3:45.92 in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
“We’re definitely happy about that,” said Cretcher, a sophomore freestyle specialist. “CCS was a lot faster than last year in every event, so we have to be happy with our time.”
Mikaelsson, a freshman, highlighted her CCS debut by reaching the consolation final heat in the 100 breaststroke. Mikaelsson placed 15th (1:08.99), making a sectional time for U.S. Swimming in the process.
“I did more than I expected to this year,” Mikaelsson said. “It took a lot of training to get here.”
Gautschi sees ample potential in her female finalists. All four will be back next year.
“There’s a feeling of accomplishment when you get this far,” Gautschi said. “But you always have to look ahead. You can’t stay the same and get better.”
