New Trier Grads Share Olympic Trials Experience

The North Shore is well represented in Omaha, Neb. as several former and current local high school graduates make their home towns proud as they compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Max Grodecki, 18, of Winnetka has been swimming for the last 10 years with the New Trier Swim Club, and began to think last summer his goal of competing in the trials could actually happen.

“It was about a year ago that I thought getting here was possible,” Grodecki said.

Grodecki competed in the 200-meter freestyle event Tuesday and qualified to swim at the U.S. Open in August.  He had a lifetime best in that performance with a time of 1:53:49.

On Thursday, Grodecki swam the 100-meter freestyle in 50.52 and placed 38th.

He has one more competition to go on Saturday in the 50-meter freestyle event.

Another recent New Trier graduate is 18-year-old Samantha James of Kenilworth, who also is a team member with the New Trier Swim Club.  

So far, she has competed in the 100-meter backstroke.

“It wasn’t a personal best for me, but I’m just very excited to be here,” James said.

She will be competing in the 200-meter backstroke this Saturday.

James has been swimming for the last 12 years, and will be attending University of Virginia in Charlottesville in the fall and will be swimming on the university team.  

Though she hasn’t set any records yet at the trials, she maintains a positive attitude.

“It is somewhat intimidating, but I let the nerves go. I”m here with the mentality that I have nothing to lose and only a great experience to gain,” James said.

“For right now, I take it for what it is and see what I can do, hopefully in four years I will have a chance to go for it again,” James said.  

James and Grodecki are at the Olympic Trials with fellow New Trier Swim Club members Reed Mallone and Riley Hayward, who will be seniors at New Trier High School in the fall.