Celebrity doesn’t interest Vernon Hills junior Yury Plaksin.
Swimming does, however.
“He’s the most humble kid you’ll ever meet,” Vernon Hills coach Jim Pardun said. “He loves swimming, and he loves competing, but he’s not one for limelight. He doesn’t crave the attention.
“The kid just likes to swim, and he likes to swim hard, and he likes to swim fast.”
How fast? Well, Plaksin can be considered the fastest swimmer in Illinois after winning the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races at the state meet at FMC Natatorium in Westmont on Saturday.
“Now I think he’s going to get some attention, whether he likes it or not,” Pardun said.
That’s what happens when you become the first state champion in program history. Plaksin accomplished that feat when he won the 50 in a personal-best 20.09 seconds, edging Schlarman senior Charles Medlin by 0.10.
“It was a big relief because it was such a close race,” Plaksin said. “Every millisecond counts, so it was definitely a big relief. I was really excited because I made history today.”
Plaksin, a Harvard commit, added another page to the Vernon Hills history book by winning the 100 in 43.54. Normal senior Wade Pyle was second in 43.95.
Plaksin’s success in the 100 was not unexpected. He finished 12th in the event as a freshman and second as a sophomore, when he also placed third in the 200 free.
But the 50 was a new event for Plaksin.
“We decided early in the season that we were going to go for the 50 and 100 this year,” Pardun said. “So we had to change the training around a little bit, but he responded really well.”
Plaksin was looking for a different experience.
“I just wanted to feel what it feels like,” he said. “I hadn’t swum the 50 in a long time.”
Plaksin hadn’t competed for a school team until he emigrated from Belarus with his parents and younger brother during the summer before his freshman year.
“I used to swim all my life in Belarus,” he said. “There was no high school swimming. There was only club swimming.
“We trained in meters, so it was a little bit different when I moved here. I had to adjust a little bit, but I’m doing good right now.”
That wasn’t the only adjustment Plaksin had to make. He had to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture.
“In Belarus, we have a class for English, but it was mainly like British English, so it’s a little bit different,” he said. “I learned most of it here.
“(Moving to America) was definitely a big adjustment. The way people live here is a little bit different.”
But Plaksin has embraced his new home.
“I like it a lot here,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Plaksin has fun racing, but he really enjoys the simple act of swimming as fast as he can. That has paid dividends for him and the Cougars.
With nine state medals, Plaksin already is the most decorated swimmer in program history. He won a third medal on Saturday when he teamed with seniors Maruthi Kavuri and Edgar Chan and junior Will Blackmer to place 11th in the 200 free relay.
That helped the Cougars finish 12th in the team standings with 66 points.
“What I’ve told the guys all year, the success that we’re having this year is built on the shoulders of teams that have come before us and coaches that have come before us,” Pardun said. “So these guys are just responding to programs that we’ve had in the past.
“Yury certainly helps, and he brings everybody’s work ethic up, and rising tides raises all ships. That’s just what he does single-handedly. He’s just a great kid.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
