Glenbrook South’s Jack Wells, seen here during the CSL South Meet, qualified to state in four events on Feb. 18 at the Glenbrook North Sectional. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TING SHEN
Welcome to Somewhereville, Jack Wells.
It’s been awaiting your arrival.
For the most part, the senior has put together a rather quiet career with the swim program at Glenbrook South.
That all changed in a fairly spectacular way at the Glenbrook North Sectional on Feb. 18.
“He might not have come out of nowhere,” said GBS head coach Keith MacDonald. “But pretty close to nowhere.”
After winning the 50-yard freestyle championship and being a member of three winning relays, Wells no longer lives in Nowhere, USA.
Or, in any of its suburbs.
“He was not real good as a freshman or sophomore,” MacDonald said. “And he struggled on varsity last year. Had his ups and downs.
“But this year, he’s been really focused. He’s really matured,” the coach added. “I don’t know, maybe he saw the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”
The 6-foot-3 Wells, who helped the Titans to a first-place team finish (289 points), came up with a significant drop in the 50 free. He churned out a 21.69 clocking after entering the race with a fifth-place seed time of 22.40.
Prior to the sectional, MacDonald red-circled the 50 free.
“Jack is a pure sprinter,” said the GBS coach. “And with the way Jack has looked lately and based on the work that he’s put in all year, the 50 free was a race I was really excited to see today.”
Wells was tapered and ready to do something exciting. He needed a lifetime best time to slip past Deerfield sophomore David Basin (21.71).
“There’s always something you can do better [in a race],” said Wells, “But I’m happy with it right now. Later today, I’m sure I’ll think of some things that I could’ve done to swim faster.”
Wells, a fifth-place finisher in the 50 (22.65) at the CSL South Meet on Feb. 11, went into the race with an underdog mentality. He showed no hint of overconfidence.
“I always like to put some doubt in my mind,” he said. “It’s better to be a little surprised [than disappointed] after a race.”
Wells definitely has earned MacDonald’s confidence.
Who should swim the anchor leg of the 400 free relay? With a deep pool of talented swimmers, the GBS head coach had plenty of options, but he gave the nod to Wells.
It proved to be a good decision to put him in the anchor slot. In a wildly entertaining finish, Wells — teaming up with freshman Elliot Chen, freshman Mike Hadjiivanov and senior Joseph Park — touched the wall (3:12.03) just ahead of Glenbrook North’s Jake Shapiro (3:12.55).
Meanwhile, putting Wells in the other two relays was a no-brainer for MacDonald. Joining forces with senior Sam Iida, sophomore Cameron Schulte and freshman Adam Zuiker, he anchored the 200 medley (1:33.17), which claimed a three-second win over Deerfield.
And, in the 200 free relay, he shared exchanges with Iida, Zuiker and junior Nick Schechtman to record a winning time of 1:25.53.
For Wells to finally emerge in the pool shouldn’t be a surprise.
Swim talent runs deep in the Wells family.
His two sisters, Niki and Katie, had standout careers at GBS. In 2012, they teamed with 2016 Olympian gold medalist Olivia Smoglia and Bailey Moynihan to set the current IHSA state meet record in the 200 free relay (1:32.98). Katie currently swims in the Big Ten for the University of Iowa.
“Junior year is when I realized that I might be able to do something in this sport. That’s when I decided to get serious about swimming,” said a smiling Jack Wells. “I am [now] considering swimming in college.”
Notable: Jack Wells wasn’t the only four-event winner for GBS. Senior Sam Iida not only was a part of two winning relays, but the Titans superstar also claimed titles in the 200 IM (1:48.81) and 500 free (4:36.50). The team’s other winner was freshman Mike Hadjiivanoc in the 100 backstroke (52.25). GBS’s other state qualifiers include senior Joseph Park in the 100 butterfly (2nd, 51.56) and 200 IM (3rd, 1:55.78); freshman Adam Zuiker in the 100 butterfly (3rd, 51.84); freshman Elliott Chen in the 500 free (3rd, 4:45.19); sophomore Cameron Schulte in the 100 breaststroke (4th, 59.61); and senior Brendan Fontillas in diving (6th, 383.60). … The IHSA state meet will be held at New Trier High School this weekend. The finals are set for Saturday at noon.