University vs. St. Edward swimming: Ian Sullivan displays trademark versatility on senior night
Feb. 2—As the seniors were introduced with their parents Feb. 2 prior to University's regular-season finale dual against St. Edward, one of the descriptors used for Ian Sullivan was "versatile."
As someone with top-six News-Herald coverage area times in five different individual events, that is a fair depiction.
Jack of all trades, Swiss Army knife — those descriptors are apt as well.
For Sullivan, provided it helps inch toward the promised land at the top of the Division II team heap in Ohio for US again, that's what matters above all.
The Preppers' senior logged an individual double with wins in 200-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Between sickness and the late-January lull timing, US' night had an "off event" tilt to it. But the reigning D-II state team champion Preppers can't help themselves, as they recorded four new qualifying times for News-Herald coverage area leaders anyway.
One of Sullivan's best individual-event options is 100 fly, in which the 2022 News-Herald second-team all-star was a D-II state qualifier a year ago as a junior.
He went 54.18 in this senior-night dual victory, which is a .52 drop overall vs. when he took fifth at the D-II SPIRE Sectional in the event. Of particular note was a 29.48 closing 50, a .44 cut vs. that SPIRE swim alone.
Sullivan had a 53.69 at Ned Reeb prelims in early December to go with a 54.05 in Ned Reeb finals and 54.18 here.
#NHswimming Here's 100 fly from that US dual, won by Ian Sullivan with a 54.18 pic.twitter.com/X18a9Ian0R
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 3, 2023
In turn, he's feeling good about his trajectory heading into the commencement of the road to Canton next weekend.
"I'm feeling pretty confident right now with my fly," Sullivan said. "I think I could still fix some details and get some faster turns going. Get some better walls. Just have a well put-together race. So I'm looking forward for this postseason.
"I definitely have the front-half speed. I'm just trying to get the back half a little bit more. I've been training my fly a little bit more than normal just to try to get that back half to come together."
In addition to fly, Sullivan is also among The News-Herald coverage area's fastest performers in 200 free, 200 IM, 50 free and 100 breast and is an invaluable component on US' dynamic free relays.
Having that multi-faceted danger is something in which Sullivan takes pride.
"I'm a team swimmer," Sullivan said. "I'll do whatever event that will fit the team's needs. Throughout this year, I've stepped into many events, where the team needs me the most. So it's very helpful.
"(US coach Brian Perry) and I, we've sat down multiple times and talked about what events I was going to swim this season. I first started swimming the 50 free and the 100 fly in postseason, and I kind of moved into the 200 free."
Elsewhere in US' 134-32 win in the dual, 200 IM yielded a couple strong "off event" swims, as Miguel Figueroa (2:03.06) fended off teammate Alex Pesek (2:03.17) to the wall for the win. The Preppers now have six of the top-10 times in The News-Herald coverage area in the event this winter with Figueroa and Pesek working their way into the mix.
#NHswimming US' Miguel Figueroa discusses his 200 IM win in a dual vs. Eds
Like a lot of this group, he's a jack of all trades type — I'm sure IM won't be a postseason thing, but showing 2:03 speed to make it SEEM like it could be an option in an off-event swim is laudable pic.twitter.com/jATdGCcClL
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 3, 2023
The other two qualifying times came from Tyler Farkas, as he captured 100 free with a 49.17, and Aiden Owens, who went 4:57.01 to prevail in 500 free.
#NHswimming Here's 100 free from that US dual, won by Tyler Farkas with a 49.17 pic.twitter.com/3SsJNr2OLF
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 3, 2023
Versatile and dangerous, US appears poised for another special February as Branin Natatorium and the D-II state meet nears once more.
"The only thing that we can do is swim our best at the end of the day," Sullivan said. "I think all of us really want to do that and show out this year."
#NHswimming As always after a dual or invite, here's the results tweet
As far as race video BTW, I've got 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 fly & 100 breast .. I'll get there eventually of course pic.twitter.com/JMaZspKrby
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 3, 2023
#NHswimming Here's 200 free from that US dual, won by Ian Sullivan with a 1:48.99 pic.twitter.com/AdUTmOT2Ue
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 3, 2023
#NHswimming Here's 50 free from that US dual, won by Jack Faulkner with a 22.34 pic.twitter.com/D0thzgPEQV
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 3, 2023
#NHswimming Here's 100 breast from that US dual, won by Tyler Farkas with a 1:06.15 pic.twitter.com/HCv1lqj3mw
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 3, 2023
