Former Fenwick High School boys swimming coach Luke McGuire sits on the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame nominating committee.
But, little did he know that when the committee met earlier this month, he would be on this year’s nominee list himself.
“It was awkward. I had to sit through the whole thing and not say a word,” said McGuire. “But I knew immediately because I was there. Being on the committee and knowing the qualifications, it’s nice to have this honor.”
McGuire, who graduated from Fenwick in 1990, is going into the Hall of Fame for his achievements as both an athlete and a coach. As an athlete, he earned All-American status while helping the Friars win a pair of 1990 IHSA state titles – one in swimming and diving and the other in water polo.
“It was fun. I had the greatest teammates, a great coach and tons of support from the parents,” McGuire said. “I’m still good friends with all the guys I swam with and they’re all coming to the induction ceremony. That’s a testament to what we did at state. We all had faith and trust in each other. We held each other accountable and were rewarded for our hard work.”
The 1990 boys swimming team did not lose a dual meet or invitational. He was part of a 400-yard freestyle relay team that still holds both the school and state meet records (3:06.83). He earned both All-State and All-American status in the 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.
For the 1990 water polo team, McGuire tallied 52 goals, 25 assists and 41 steals for the Friars, who finished 25-2 and won the first of four consecutive state championships.
“The Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame is a great honor, and Luke is most deserving,” said Fenwick boys’ water polo coach Kyle Perry.
McGuire comes from a family that has long had success in the pool at Fenwick. His father John graduated in 1957, and his brother Matt graduated in 1982.
In addition, all three of McGuire’s children are Friars’ swimming alumni: Tommy (Class of 2013), Mickey (Class of 2016) and Molly (Class of 2018).
McGuire’s coach when he as a student-athlete was the late Dave Perry, a legend in Illinois high school swimming. Perry, who guided the Friars to three state boys swimming championships and 17 boys water polo titles (eight of them IHSA-sanctioned), encouraged McGuire to get into coaching.
“I was working at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange at the time and my kids had started club swimming at Fenwick,” McGuire said. “I slowly became involved through that, and then Dave said he needed help. I decided I liked that idea, so I went back to school and got my master’s degree and then became a teacher.”
McGuire started his Fenwick coaching career in 2006 as an assistant for boys water polo. Then in 2007, Perry handed the boys’ swimming coaching reins to McGuire. McGuire held that position until 2020, while also continuing to assist boys water polo under Dave Perry and son, Kyle Perry, who took over in 2011 after Dave passed away from cancer.
He later assisted Jack Wagner with the girls water polo team and was Renee Miller’s assistant with girls swimming. McGuire enjoyed working in an atmosphere conducive to Fenwick’s aquatics program’s success.
“When I was there, it was like one big family,” he said. “Some people talked about the aquatics program at Fenwick being like a big cult. It was true, and it was nice to be a part of it.”
McGuire is one of 12 individuals who will be inducted into the CCL Hall of Fame April 28. The ceremony takes place at the Crystal Sky Banquet Hall in McCook at 5:30 p.m.
For more information and tickets, contact Marmion Academy Athletic Director Paul Chabura, who is also one of this year’s inductees, at pchabura@marmion.org.
