There is a new face on the Nebarska swimming scene. Jacob Molacek is ready to enter into the vernacular of swim geeks everywhere. The junior at Creighton Prep in Omaha, by far the state’s dominant team (6-straight State Championships), has been having a whale of a season: unlike any perhaps Nebraska swimming has ever seen.
This is Molacek’s first season of high school swimming, and even then he got a late jump on things. He has been homeschooled for his entire career and had to sit out of racing for 90 school days beginning this year. In mid-January, when Molacek made his high school debut at a travel meet in Seattle, Tom Beck said his energy could be felt by the team.
“He was, to put it mildly, extremely excited to swim in Seattle. His swims gave our team jolts of electricity throughout the meet.”
Molacek is the kind of swimmer that every high school coach dreams of. He has unreal versatility (think Ryan Murphy, giving up some on the backstroke and taking a lot on the breaststroke) that can help assembling relays in a big way.
At that first meet, the Kentridge Invitational, he won the 200 free in 1:39.51 and the 100 fly in 49.92, with only the rest of a travel day counteracted by Friday afternoon spent walking around the city. He also led off the two free relays with flat-starts of 20.58 (en route to a team 1:25.46) and 45.19 (en route to a 3:09.09), respectively. Creighton Prep was already anticipating a really good team this season, with sophomore twins Ryan and Sean Tate already capable of 46′s (or better) in their 100 freestyles.
Then, last week, at the Millard South Invitational, he thought he’d switch things up a little. He swam a 55.92 in the 100 breaststroke, which is unoficially an all-time State best (though in Nebraska, State Records can only be set at the State Meet). He broke the 1998 record set by David Anderson.
Molacek also led off the 200 medley relay in 23 seconds, and split a 20.05 to anchor their 200 free relay, totally unrested. Without even tapering yet, Molacek has gone 5 best times this season and is within striking distance of State Meet Records in all 5 events, depending on which he swims; based upon that medley relay split, he could probably go after the 100 back mark as well.
And with a young team (they return all of their top freestylers), they’re going to put up some really impressive relay times in 2014. With continued development, this could be a 400 free relay next season that approaches the three-minute barrier.
The Nebraska State Championship meet will be Thursday, February 21st through Saturday, February 23rd in Lincoln.
“With continued development, this could be a 400 free relay next season that approaches the three-minute barrier.”
I remember when this was unheard of. Before Bolle’s School completely warped my mind.
Most anticipated race of the season will be when Jacob squares off against Glover in the 100 back. Jacob is the clear favorite.
my guess is they won’t swim against each other at state.
It would be more epic than the Raynor-Glover race was last year though. Definitely going to try to make it down there for State again this year. It’s so much more nerve racking being a spectator than a swimmer.
As a current Millard South parent, I would like nothing better than for Jacob to win the 100 back. There’s been alot of animosity between the two of them and I belove Jacob to have the better character of the two. Really proud of the things Jacob has done this season and Creighton Prep deserves the success they have had over the years. If I could go back, I would send my son there to give him a better chance at a future in and out of the swimming pool.
I have known both of these boys for a long time and have never seen any animosity between them. They are both great competitors striving for best times all the time. They practice together in a small elite group and compete as teammates eight months of the year.
Congratulations to Coach Tom Beck for developing Greater Omaha Aquatics Leopardsharks (GOAL) into a team that can produce national level athletes.
Good Luck to both of these swimmers.
Where have you been all your life hiding in a hole. You are so far from what is really going on.
We know you are not one of our Millard South swim parents. They are the best swim parents anywhere and support all the kids on the team from top to bottom. You are just someone trying to start trouble between two good kids who are teammates who train together 9 months of the year and swim together on a nationally ranked relay at GOAL. So you bash Bob anonymously like all the loser social media freaks do these days. Sad commentary on high school sports that blogs and Twitter seem to mean more than hard work, sportsmanship, and fair play. When Jacob broke the state breaststroke record at the Millard South meet last week Bob Glover congratulated him and gave him a hug. Get a life.
Beat me to it.. No way there is a swim parent like this on Coach Hammond’s team.
Sniveling, spineless troll…
I’m just glad Bob and Jacob are above all this and won’t read anything into your comments beyond the fact that the person behind them is a sorry excuse for a human being.
I agree with COACHERIK, I would love to see Jacob win the 100 back and bob get 7th place
Funny, I didn’t say anything about who I want to win.
Yea I think the race between my Bob and Jacob will be an excellent race, they both push each other to the ultimate max! Without them highschoolswimming would be a lot more less interesting. The best of good luck to you guys at state!
Impostor
Bob isn’t even fast! I could be him! I went a 45.6 in my backyard pool AI it didnt count. Here comes state Bobby
There is no way this note is from anyone at Millard South. There’s no question that Millard South swim parents support the school and team, and I’m a proud part of the Millard South family. While we can be loud with our support, I also understand very well what both Bob and Jacob have accomplished in swimming, and congratulate them both. I look forward to following both boys as Bob competes for Indiana, and Jacob enters his senior year at Prep. There certainly was a devious tone to this note from someone whose comments were unwarranted. Grow up. . .
I have been a teammate with Bob and also a competitor against him, sometimes even reaching the point of arch-rivalry at times. Bob has an intense passion for what he does and approaches all his work with intensity, but I would never call his character into question. He has been been gracious in victory and defeat, and has always been there for his teammates, and his team have, and always will be, there for him. Whoever wrote this comment was seriously misinformed. I hope they both preform well at state, and hope Bob gets that 100 back record, it is too slow and has been up wayyyy to long.
Jacub aint evn fahst. I culd bete him. I whent a 45.76 in my backyard pewl, sew it didnt evn cownt. I chalenge jaycub to a dewl, just I and jaycub swaming evry eyvent in the meat. I wood win.
I hope he goes to the Jenks Sectional: fastest pool north of Austin!
I have known jacob for a long time. He is a kid with great swim potential and even greater character. He works hard and has a desire to be the best, and it looks like he is headed that way. Joining Goal and Prep were two great moves by him, and the way Tom has been able to pull such great ability out of him is a testament to his fantastic coaching. He is also lucky to have some great teammates on his side and great leaders on his team now to show him how to take the torch for Prep next year (not to say that he isnt a leader already). If he makes the right decision on where to swim collegiately he will be a national force to be reckoned with. KEEP IT UP JACOB. FIRE IT UP BLUEJAYS!!!! fsu!
I have witnessed Jacob Molacek and Bob Glover first hand as team mates on their club team and that is exactly what they are, team mates. They practice together, they are friends and I truly believe they wish the best for each other. They are both great guys and great swimmers. They both have an incredible drive to take swimming to the next level. I really have no idea why people would put them as competing against each other when really they push each other to do their best. That is what team mates do….
Bob and Jacob are both fierce competitors but they are ultimately teammates. Because bob’s underwaters are a little more powerful he is probably better in the 50 back but Jacob would win anything over a 50.
Tom Beck has been producing national level swimmers for quite some time. He is one of the best kept secrets in the country.
Tom Beck is an amazing coach. If you look the progressions of his swimmers’ times there is nobody better. His practices are incredibly detailed! Truly one of the best “unknown” coaches!
This article makes it sound like the kid never swam on a team before, and that’s a little misleading. He swims for Greater Omaha Aquatics, and a quick google search produced results for Juniors and Grand Prix meets in Austin and Minnesota.
47% of Americans don’t know Jacob, but the Nebraska state swimming record books can’t get enough of him.
As another Millard South parent, I agree with the anonymous post. It is the most accurate thing anyone could possibly say. I honestly wish I could have sent my son to Prep. As proven over the years Coach Tom’s coaching is simply superior to Coach Hammond’s. Just watch the state meet and you’ll know.
Its funny, considering the Fact that Will Raynor from Creighton Prep beat the 100 back record last year. I believe that it is you that has been misinformed
I am a Millard South student. And I’m sorry but I don’t think Bob’s got what we need this year. The media has seemed to steer away from him, so that’s saying something. Maybe Bob will do better next year, but he is gonna have to put in ALOT more time and effort and party a little bit less if he wants to be good. Maybe he should try out track or something…… PATRIOTS PATRIOTS PATRIOTS!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOO
As humble as i am i wish for Jake to win and beat me. Go jake your the next star. I just wish i was faster but like they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
People. Stop posting as someone else. This post is not from Bob and these phony Millard Swim Parent posts are fake as well. Haters.
As a millard south parent i would love to see glover win but i think hands down jakes going to win since jakes better than him
I nationally ranked in soccer
I think some of these comments are getting a little ridiculous and personal. We are losing sight of what is really important here. Let these two swimmers enjoy the rest of their swim season. They should be able to compete and have fun at state without all this added pressure… and drama. Creighton Prep and Millard South are two great teams and it will be exciting to watch them at state. Coach Beck and Coach Hammond are two dedicated coaches and I think it is unfare to question either’s ability or the teams they have worked so hard to build.
Haha this comment thread is a nice little insight into the Nebraska high school swim scene. Sounds like its quite the show over there!
I’ve got news. The problem isn’t isolated to Nebraska high school swimming. Bickering, whining, and people saying awful things to each other is part of the culture of the sport.
It’s more of an Internet, I can be tough/stupid/mean/inconsiderate at my keyboard because its safe then it is a jealousy within swimming thing.
If you step outside the world of swimming, spend some time away from it, and take a look later from the outside, you’ll see what I’m talking about. I’ve never seen a community with as much bickering, from recreational age group swimming to masters swimming.
Yeah I definitely agree. People need to stop being so jealous of the most talented swimmers and quit the sport.
That’s weird, I don’t remember posting the night of the 9th…
That’s quite possibly true, Bill, but none of this would even come close to happening if people had to log-in and actually post as who they really are. Internet tough.
Just so we’re clear, I’m posting under my real name.
Creighton Prep will dominate the earth!
It is great what Jacob has done but is he really a mystery? He has been on the National Age Group listings since a 10 & Under swimmer and very well may be the fastest 8 & Under swimmer I have ever seen. He placed top 8 at Juniors over the summer, had the Nation leading time in the breaststroke this past summer and went to the National Select Camp a couple of weekends ago. How is that a mystery? I guess that shows you how much respect Nebraska swimming gets from a USA Swimming standpoint. High school swimming is everything in Nebraska, unlike most other swimming states.
Nebaraska swimming gets no respect bc it is unwarranted. As a state, it is weak from a depth perceptive and has been for years. Good for Jacob to rise out of the mediocrity NE has seen for years.