Publications & Sites 
Wagner wraps up Hinsdale South family’s final appearance
Western Springs, IL - Saturday, February 16, 2013: Hinsdale South's Gunnar Wagner competes in the 100 yard freestyle during the Sectional Swim Meet at Lyons Township. Wagner qualified for State in the 50 yard freestyle. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media
This Week
Hinsdale South
BOYS BASKETBALL
Friday
At Class 4A Oswego East Regional, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
At Bolingbrook Sectional, 7:30 p.m.
BOYS TRACK
Saturday
At Buffalo Grove Invite, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TRACK
Saturday
At Plainfield North 9 a.m.
Wednesday
Hosts Invite w/West Chicago, Mt. Assisi, Stagg, 5:30 p.m.
BOYS WATER POLO
Tuesday
Hosts H-Flossmoor, 6 p.m.
Thursday (3/7)
At Lyons Twp., 6 p.m.
Updated: March 5, 2013 3:41PM
After watching his older brothers at the state swimming and diving meet, Gunnar Wagner made his own trip Friday.
The Hinsdale South senior from Darien appeared in two relay races in the preliminaries and qualified in one individual event. He finished 27th in the 50-yard freestyle Friday at New Trier in Winnetka.
The meet marked the final time retiring coach Frank Kuchta led the Hornets to state.
“When we came back (from prelims) Friday night, the four of us (swimmers) all went out to dinner together (with coach). It was a nice way to close out the final year,” Wagner said.
Hinsdale South’s 200 free relay nearly qualified for Saturday’s finals by coming in 14th (1:27.29). The finals include the top 12 preliminary finishers.
Sophomore Jason Yang and seniors Austin Hultmark, Ryan O’Toole and Wagner nearly became the school’s first 200 free relay to win a state medal since taking seventh in 2007. The relay was seeded 23rd going into the state meet based on sectional times.
“What we thought all along was that was the one relay that could get us in the finals,” Wagner said.
The Hornets 400 free relay placed 28th using the same lineup. Yang touched 37th in the 100 back.
Wagner is the last of three brothers to compete at state. His oldest brother Kyle medaled three times in the 200 free and 400 relay between 2006-07. He was on that 200 free relay that took seventh at state.
Another brother, Hutton, graduated in 2010, but never advanced to Saturday’s finals.
After making his first state appearance, Wagner is preparing for the boys water polo season. He planned on traveling Wednesday to Division II University of Tampa on a swimming recruiting trip.
