Nova Southeastern swimming coach Ben Hewitt thought Belle Vernon alum Robert Spekis showed promise but was stunned when Spekis recently won at the Sunshine State Conference championship meet.
Spekis, a freshman, took first place in the men’s 100-yard breaststroke in a Division II B-standard 54.13 seconds.
“I was definitely surprised at how rapidly he came into his own,” Hewitt said. “Over the last month of the season, working directly with Robby, I could see the potential for him to perform was there.
“Winning the 100 BR the way he did was a shock. We are delighted to have him on our national team.”
Spekis, a two-time WPIAL Class AA champion in the boys 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke and the 2019 PIAA champion in the 100 breaststroke, said he hoped just to make the A final.
“Coming into the meet, my goal was to get a best time and score as many points as possible,” he said. “My event already had a few national qualifiers.
“I was very surprised when I saw I touched the wall first.”
Spekis (54.49) also made a B cut in the preliminaries, in which he was second.
He was the only freshman in the A final.
In addition, he placed ninth in the 200 breaststroke (2:03.14) and 10th in the 200 medley relay (1:30.77).
His efforts helped the Sharks, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., place second to Tampa. They were three-time reigning champions.
Seven teams scored.
Spekis, who plans to study marine biology, looks forward to the NCAA championship March 11-14 in Geneva, Ohio.
“Our team wants to move up in the rankings,” he said. “I hope to contribute to our point total by improving my times and finishing (the highest) I can. I hope to gain valuable experience. Having my upperclassman teammates there showing me how it’s done will be fun.”
The Sharks took 12th last season. They ranked sixth in the latest College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Division II poll Feb. 6.
Hewitt said Spekis is level-headed.
“He takes great care of himself, he learns (quickly) and he’s a great teammate,” Hewitt said. “He has a bright future.”
