County Line West Bloomfield diver Jeremy Hertza wins the Oakland County championship and Berkley's Simon Galed beats the clock in the 100 freestyle. STEVE STEIN STAFF WRITER J eremy Hertza has ADD (attention deficit dis- order), he suffers from asthma, and he's al- lergic to antibiotics among other things. Oh, yes, the 17-year-old West Bloomfield High School senior also is the best prep div- er in Oakland County and a prime contender for the Class A state championship. And he's a 4.0 grade-point-average student who is going at a 4.5 clip this year because of advanced-placement classes. Hertza is being heavily recruited by uni- versities like Michigan, Michigan State, Co- lumbia and Northwestern. He plans to dive in college and major in pre-medicine. Hertza dissected the competition at the county boys swimming meet last Saturday at Royal Oak Dondero High School, scoring 448.70 points. His nearest competitor, Casey Guntzuiller of Walled Lake, had 400.05 points. While the county championship meant a lot to the 5-foot-5, 125-pound Hertza, es- pecially after his back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the meet as a sophomore and ju- nior, he says everything he's doing these days is "practice" for the Saturday, March 11, Class A state meet at Michigan State University. His objective this season is to win the state champi- onship. He was 12th last year and 32nd as a sopho- more, and he wants to continue that improvement. Hertza knows quite a bit about the determination and effort it takes to achieve lofty goals. He's already done it in the class- room and on the diving board. This is only his fourth year of div- ing and just the second since he gave up gymnastics after a stellar ca- reer in that sport. "Success is all a matter of self-moti- vation and focus," said Hertza. Jeremy Hertza relaxes before the diving competition at the Oakland "Take acade- County meet. mics, for example ... I know it takes me two or three times longer to memorize stuff than other kids, so I just work at it," Hertza said. The death of his grandfather, Jack Si- mons, three years ago provides Hertza with extra inspiration. "We were very close. I feel he's watching over me," Hertza said. "My grandfather was very influential in my life because he respect- ed how hard I worked and what I was trying to achieve." Hertza's picture is displayed in a hallway Berkley's Simon Galed is a picture of concentration. at West Bloomfield High because of his all-league honors. In the sociation (MSAA) boys diving title before the photograph, he's wearing one of his grand- league disbanded and merged into the new father's flannel shirts. Oakland Activities Association. Previously, Hertza was fifth in the MSAA as a freshman and second as a sophomore. A three-time winner of West Bloomfield's Everything is "practice" for Diver of the Year honor, Hertza is captain of the Lakers' diving contingent this winter. the state meet. This past summer, Hertza captured the 3- meter state championship in United States Swimming competition. He's a member of Also providing constant inspiration for the High Divers team out of Brighton. Hertza are his parents, Ron and Diane, own- In other performances of note at the coun- ers of Pomeroy's Seafood Co. in West Bloom- ty meet: * Berkley's Simon Galed placed third in field, and his 13-year-old brother Jamie, an eighth-grader at Orchard Lake Middle School the 50 freestyle in 22.45 and fourth in the 100 who is a state champion gymnast. freestyle in 49.19. That clocking in the 100 Eric Best, who has been Hertza's diving qualified him for the Class A state meet (the coach at West Bloomfield all four years, says cutoff is 49.59). He already had earned a state he knew midway through Hertza's freshman meet berth in the 50 freestyle. Galed also helped the Beam finish third in season that "he was going to be a heck of a diver, maybe a state champion. the 400 medley relay in 1:43.28, which just "Besides his focus and determination, Je- missed the state cut of 1:43.19. In addition, remy's strength is his consistency. There are Galed was a member of Berkley's 400 stronger divers, but Jeremy can finish his freestyle relay team which placed 10th in dives straight up-and-down all day long," Best 3:28.71. said. * Dave Stegman of West Bloomfield was When the diving competition is held at a third in the 100 butterfly in 53.44 and 16th swim meet, the pool is silent and all eyes are in the 200 individual medley in 2:09.69. * Kevin Schwartz of Bloomfield Hills An- on the participants. Rice believes this helps Hertza. dover was fifth in the 100 butterfly in 55.36 "Jeremy is able to block out distractions, and 10th in the 50 freestyle in 23.37. * Aaron Freilich of Andover was 17th in but with less going on, it makes it easier for the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.46 and 24th in him to concentrate," Best said. Hertza made it to the state meet last year the 200 IM in 2:15.04. * Adam Rosender of West Bloomfield was by winning a regional championship. He also won the final Metro Suburban Activities As- 11th in the 500 freestyle in 5:09.31. ❑