New Trier Senior Swimmers Sign Letters of Intent

For two New Trier swimmers, years of training and swimming laps were finally rewarded with the touch of a pen.

In a small ceremony on New Trier's pool balcony Wednesday afternoon, seniors C.J. Smith and Konrad Von Moltke signed their collegiate letters of intent on national signing day, the first official day for many high school athletes to commit to a Division I college. Smith signed on with the University of Minnesota while Von Moltke will attend Dartmouth.

"I really wanted to find a place that was right for me academically, athletically and socially," Von Moltke said. "Dartmouth is the perfect combination of all those options."

"When I found Minnesota, they have a great group of guys and I thought academically it's exactly what I was looking for," said Smith, who considered many Big 10 schools, including Indiana and Northwestern. "I really like [Minnesota's] international business school and their biology school as well. They have a really strong science department."

Both have been key members of New Trier's swimming team over the last three seasons and they go into their senior seasons as co-captains.

"C.J. was a guy who started on varsity but had to peck his way through there to get to where he was one of the guys. Last year he was just tremendous at the state meet," coach Mark Onstott said. "Konrad is one of the premiere breast strokers in the state. Certainly last year, and he will be again this year."

Smith, whose specialty is the longer distances, placed second in the 500-yard freestyle at the state meet in 4:31.17, a school record. He says Minnesota will likely place him in long-distance races, but he's willing to swim in whatever events the team needs.

At last year's state meet, Von Moltke took third place in the 100-yard breaststroke (58.02), and was part of New Trier's runner-up 200-yard medley relay. At Dartmouth, Von Moltke says he will continue to swim the breaststroke and individual medley events.

With college decisions firmly behind them, both Smith and Von Moltke said they will focus more on schoolwork and the upcoming season. Last season New Trier finished third at the state meet, and both feel optimistic about 2010-11.

"I know that last year was a little disappointing, but we've been working really hard over the summer and I'm looking forward to having a great season, going fast and winning state," Von Moltke said.

Onstott, who has coached Von Moltke and Smith since they came to New Trier, expects them to continue the great swimming tradition the Trevians have built over the last 20 years.

 "They are great guys, great leaders," Onstott said. "They are obviously a couple of our captains and they just do a great job for us all around."