Hats off to Deerfield’s swim team

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Barbra Brottman of Deerfield readies herself prior to the 200-yard freestyle relay during Friday's prelims at the state meet. | Joel Lerner~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: December 25, 2011 8:22AM

Why in the world, at last weekend’s girls state swimming and diving meet at New Trier, was a green York T-shirt sticking out of a back pocket of Deerfield High School’s head coach?

Because John Sullivan had to wear two hats.

Two figurative hats.

Sullivan coaches Deerfield’s Warriors.

Sullivan is also York junior Shannon Sullivan’s father.

Shannon swam in three events at State; John’s Warriors swam in nine.

“The York girls,” John Sullivan said, “wanted me to wear a green headband during the 400-yard freestyle relay (in Friday’s prelims).

“I did, but I put it around my left arm instead.”

That arm, along with his right one, got a good workout on Saturday. A proud Sullivan applauded the efforts of four Deerfield entrants.

Their results added up to a 12th-place showing (29 points).

Senior Erin Purdy (405.95 points) captured the diving title; junior Barbra Brottman touched eighth in the 200 free (1:52.3); the Warriors’ 200 medley relay (freshman Ruby Powell and seniors Hayley Levin, Alexis Melchiorre and Alexa Scanlan) placed 10th (1:48.67); and Powell finished 11th in the 100 backstroke (57.99).

“I told our swimmers (on Saturday), ‘Have fun, enjoy this,’ ” Sullivan said. “Friday, at State (in prelims), is about getting a time; Saturday is about where you place.”

One of Brottman’s favorite places, in a natatorium, is right behind a starting block before a race.

That’s where she gives herself a brief pep talk.

“I’d been working, all season, on growing mentally, on relaxing and being more positive,” she said. “What I say to myself is pretty simple. I usually say, ‘I’m Barbra Brottman; I can do this.’ ”

Then she likes to get a little possessive.

“I’ll add, ‘This is my race!’ ” she said.

A scoreboard malfunction, at the end of one race Saturday, created temporary chaos.

Deerfield’s Powell was one of six racers in the consolation heat of the 100 backstroke.

After all had touched a timing pad, the scoreboard indicated all had won — in “59:59.59.”

Some 10 minutes later, order was restored.

Powell later bowed for her 11th-place medal.

“Ruby has handled her first state meet, and this intense atmosphere, really well,” Sullivan said before the start of Saturday’s finals session.

“Her next goal,” he added, “is to make junior national cuts.”

Deerfield’s 400 free relay made serious program history this fall, breaking a school mark that was born when “Back to the Future” hit theaters (1985). Brottman, Powell, Levin and Melchiorre combined for a 3:34.09 (18th place) at Friday’s prelim session.

The quartet of Melchiorre, Scanlan, Brottman and Levin clocked a 16th-place 1:38.17 in the 200 free relay.

Other Deerfield results Friday: Melchiorre (15th, 50 free, 24.44); Brottman (17th, 500 free, 5:04.85); Levin (33rd, 200 free, 1:55.73); and Scanlan (34th, 100 backstroke, 59.58).

One for two: Sullivan’s wife, Carole, also cheered for York’s and Deerfield’s crews at State last weekend.

Quote-worthy I: “She’s like a pit bull; she doesn’t get intimated by anybody. Many of the girls she races against are a head taller than she is. But that doesn’t stop her from getting in the water and battling. She wants to swim at the college level, and she will.” — Sullivan, on 5-foot-3 Brottman.

Quote-worthy II: “I thanked them.” — Sullivan, on what he told his seniors before Saturday’s finals session at State.