Marmion’s Brayden Capen and Dan Ginaitis had it all figured out.
They had been talking all season long about their plan to finish first and second in the 200-yard individual medley at the boys swimming state meet.
Such a goal might be considered a pipe dream for many people, but Capen and Ginaitis made it a reality Saturday at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
“It was great,” Capen said. “I’ve been here two years before — haven’t had that yet. It’s great to be up there.”
Capen, a junior who has committed to Tennessee, captured his first state championship when he won the 200-yard individual medley in 1:45.77. Ginaitis, a West Virginia-bound senior, was second in 1:47.18. Capen also won the state title Saturday in the 500 freestyle.
Standing on the podium next to Ginaitis made it even better. Capen had finished fifth in the event as a freshman and third as a sophomore.
Why the improvement?
“I think the preparation going into it with Dan,” Capen said. “We push each other every time in practice and it just shows in the pool at the end. It’s great to see that.”
Capen and Ginaitis were seeded first and second, respectively, after Friday’s prelims, so their performances Saturday weren’t that much of a surprise. Still, it provided an unanticipated thrill.
“It was probably the greatest feeling ever,” Ginaitis said. “I’m happy that my best friend won the race. This was our plan before the race. It was a lot of pushing each other.
“It’s kind of like a dream come true.”
For Capen, it was the continuation of a family legacy in the sport. His father, Todd, won a relay state title and led Naperville North to the team championship in 1996.
Capen’s uncle, Kyle, also competed for the Huskies. Another uncle, Tyler, swam for Marmion, winning six medals before graduating in 2009.
“I think it’s awesome,” Brayden Capen said. “Drawing on their experiences is obviously a really fundamental part of how I swim.
“I get a lot of advice from them, so it’s important to me. It’s great to have them on my side.”
Ginaitis feels the same way.
“It’s honestly pretty amazing,” Ginaitis said. “I swim on the same club as him, so his dad coaches me as well, and it’s just amazing coaching.
“I would not be here right now if it wasn’t for (Todd Capen) and my high school coach.”
Marmion coach Glenn Brown was thrilled for Capen, who is just the third Cadet to win an individual state title and the first to do it in both the 200 IM and the 500 free. Ginaitis’ runner-up showing was his highest individual finish and his first medal in the 200 IM as well.
“I don’t remember the last time that’s happened,” Brown said of teammates finishing 1-2 in the state. “I think it’s awesome.
“Brayden is a hard worker and deserves everything that’s coming to him.”
The Cadets had a lot of success come their way Saturday. For the second straight season, they finished second in the team standings behind Hinsdale Central, which scored 251 points to capture their fourth straight state championship.
Marmion’s 214 points were the most the Aurora school has scored at the boys swimming state meet and the highest total ever by a second-place finisher.
Capen and Ginaitis each won four medals, giving them 12 and 11, respectively, in their careers. They teamed with junior Patrick O’Connor and senior Braden Nagel to win the 200 medley relay in 1:29.26 and take second in the 400 free relay in 3:00.55.
St. Charles North junior Thomas McMillan successfully defended his state title in the 100 butterfly with a 46.85.
“(The trophy) is great,” Capen said. “We’re really excited about it right now and what we can do even later.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.