Courtesy: Blaine Hubbuch Let me tell you about a time I ACCIDENTALLY stole a car! It was December 1995, and I was on a Christmas Training trip with the Northwestern University Men’s Swimming and Diving team. To our delight, this particular year’s destination was the sun-soaked island of Oahu in Hawaii. We had just finished […]
Let me tell you about a time I ACCIDENTALLY stole a car! It was December 1995, and I was on a Christmas Training trip with the Northwestern University Men’s Swimming and Diving team. To our delight, this particular year’s destination was the sun-soaked island of Oahu in Hawaii.
We had just finished practice for the morning and were back at the hotel deciding how we would each spend the day. The coaches had rented several Ford Econoline 15-passenger vans for exploring the island, and I was in charge of the van that would be going to Makapuu Beach, located in the southeast corner of the island, just beyond the better-known snorkeling tourist hotspot, Hanauma Bay. With its uncrowded shores and waves ideally suited for body surfing, Makapuu was a team favorite. However, on this particular morning, the majority of the team opted to attend the annual Pipe Masters surfing contest at the famous Banzai Pipeline, leaving just six of us bound for Makapuu.
As we navigated the winding, coastal highway on the cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean, Makapuu slowly revealed to us its secluded beach down the hill. We found a parking spot in the middle of the lot, grabbed our gear, and headed for the beach. Several hours later, with sand-skinned knees from repeated, failed attempts to tame Mother Nature in her ocean, it was time to head back for practice. We unlocked the doors to the van and jumped in, reluctant to return for what would surely be another grueling workout. As we sat there getting situated for the drive back to town, something seemed off. A sippy cup sat in the cup holder, a Disney-themed beach towel was draped over the back seat, and most concerning of all, a man’s wallet lay on the floo,r containing the ID of someone we didn’t know. THIS WASN’T OUR VAN! We quickly exited and searched the premises. To our dismay, our van wasn’t anywhere in sight. A teammate then made a bold suggestion, “Since our key successfully unlocked the van, maybe it would start the engine too!” It certainly seemed plausible, so I gave it a shot. Viola!! It worked, and the van rumbled to life. We then came to a conclusion that sealed our fate and decided the best course of action was to drive the van back to our hotel and coordinate a swap later. We rationalized that this family must have chosen the wrong van, experienced the same key mix-up that we did, and innocently took our van by mistake. It seemed so obvious!
As we cruised back up the highway toward Waikiki, confidence growing in our solution, someone suddenly shouted, “Turnaround! There’s our van!” Sure enough, there it was sitting in an empty McDonald’s parking lot. Once parked, half our crew ran inside to look for the family so we could make the exchange. The rest of us proudly approached our van, only to have our confidence shattered as we noticed the driver’s door slightly ajar with a jimmied ignition, revealing the bitter truth. Our van hadn’t been mistakenly taken; it had been hotwired and stolen. Panic quickly ensued upon realizing we had unknowingly stolen a vehicle, leaving a family stranded at the beach with no ride home.
Before calling the police, we decided to get an adult involved to help lend some credibility to our story. Since this was before the age of cell phones, we scrounged up a quarter and called our hotel from a pay phone. Luckily, Dan Walter, the diving coach, answered and agreed to meet us. (Fun fact: Dan was the stunt double who filmed the sequence of dives that would become the famous “Triple Lindy” dive for the classic 1986 Rodney Dangerfield movie, Back To School.) As Dan arrived with an eye roll, so did the police, and we struggled to explain our story to the officers. To our surprise, they said this happens often because for some inexplicable reason, rental car companies use universal keys for their vans. They also explained that 15-passenger, Econoline van theft is extremely common since these vans are typically used by tourists and make easy targets for criminals. The officers proceeded to “legally hotwire” our van so we could drive it back to the rental agency, but first, we had to get the van we “borrowed” back to its rightful owners.
In a scene straight out of a comedy, we formed a caravan, led by a siren-blaring, lights-flashing police escort, back to Makapuu Beach. When we arrived, a bewildered family sat on the curb, watching in disbelief as our chaotic parade pulled into the lot. I sheepishly handed the father his key and tried to offer an apology hoping for some sort of sympathy. Instead, he just stared at me and said, “Really? You guys go to Northwestern?” With a nervous laugh and my pride shattered, I turned and walked away.
And that’s how a sunny beach day in paradise turned into an accidental case of grand theft auto, with six embarrassed swimmers, one magical key, and zero chance of ever living it down.
ABOUT BLAINE HUBBUCH
Blaine Hubbuch grew up swimming in Louisville, KY, training with the elite Lakeside Seahawks program, best known as the home of Olympic legend Mary T. Meagher. He once shared a lane with Mary T while she was preparing for the 1988 Summer Games. What started as the thrill of a lifetime ended with him being lapped multiple times and receiving a generous slice of humble pie. Undeterred, he went on to a successful collegiate career competing for Northwestern University under Coach Bob Groseth. In his spare time, he casually writes on the sport of swimming, with his first article appearing in the spring 2025 issue of SwimSwam (“Dennis Pursley: You Don’t Miss Practice”). Blaine lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and two daughters. He still swims laps regularly, not to chase Olympic dreams, but to justify second helpings at dinner.
Jadran returns the crown to Škver through new drama
Photo: PVK Jadran/Vuk Ilić Primorac handed over the crown, and Vladimir Gojković returned the Montenegrin champion title to Škver on his return. The Jadran M:tela water polo players are celebrating the trophy after defeating their Boka Kotorska rival in the third match of the final series – after two victories on five points, everything is […]
Primorac handed over the crown, and Vladimir Gojković returned the Montenegrin champion title to Škver on his return.
The Jadran M:tela water polo players are celebrating the trophy after defeating their Boka Kotorska rival in the third match of the final series – after two victories on five points, everything is now settled in the regular season (11:9).
The team from Novi thus reached their 13th title since Montenegro became independent and ended the season with one trophy, as Primorac won the Cup at the end of 2024.
The third game also brought drama. Primorac opened the derby better and led 5:2 in the second quarter, but then the hosts went on a 6:0 run in a period of almost 11 minutes in which Vjekoslav Pasković’s team failed to score.
Jadran led 8:5, Primorac reduced the lead to 8:7 through Nemanja Vic and the phenomenal Đorđije Stanojević, and then the game was goal for goal.
The new champion could have gone three points clear on several occasions in the last period, Primorac could have evened the score, and Uroš Vučurović put an end to the uncertainty with a goal four seconds before the end.
Vučurović scored after a timeout by Gojković after a foul was called on Dragan Drašković with 23 seconds left. There were huge protests from the Kotor fans about the referee’s decision, and coach Pasković was sent off, but Jadran didn’t look back…
Dmitrij Holod, Aleksandar Ivović and Vuk Milojević were double scorers, Vučurović, Danilo Radović, Đorđe Lazić, Matija Sladović and Danilo Stupar scored once each.
Stanojevic stood out for Primorac with four goals, while Nika Shushiashvili scored twice.
JADRAN M:TEL – PRIMORAC 11:9 (2:4, 4:1, 4:3, 1:1)
Herceg Novi – Swimming pool at Škver. Spectators: 1.000. Judges: Mišković, Ivanovski.
Jadran M:tel: Đurović (six saves), Holod 2, Vučurović 1, Obradović, Vujović, D. Radović 1, Lazić 1, Gojković, Ivović 2, Sladović 1, Milojević 2, V. Radović, Stupar 1, I. Radović.
Primorac: Masaro, Brguljan, S. Cetkovic, Susijasvili 2, Murisic, Draskovic, Matkovic 1, Janovic, Vico 1, Brkic, P. Cetkovic, 1, Stanojevic 4, Vuckovic, D. Cetkovic.
Naperville Central girls water polo holds off Waubonsie Valley to reach sectional final
Three-seed Naperville Central girls water polo and Waubonsie Valley square off for a chance to play against Naperville North in the sectional finals. The Warriors defeated the Redhawks 7-6 in the regular season. This highlight is sponsored by BMO. Kaylee Shiffer records an early hat trick for Naperville Central In the early going, Julia Weber finds […]
Three-seed Naperville Central girls water polo and Waubonsie Valley square off for a chance to play against Naperville North in the sectional finals. The Warriors defeated the Redhawks 7-6 in the regular season. This highlight is sponsored by BMO.
Kaylee Shiffer records an early hat trick for Naperville Central
In the early going, Julia Weber finds Kaylee Shiffer near the net, and she puts the Redhawks on the board. It’s 1-0 after three minutes of play.
Now in the second quarter, the Warriors are looking to answer. Malini Madiman passes to Reece Clavey on the right wing, and she tosses it over the goalie’s outstretched arms. That one ties the game at 1-1 with five minutes left in the half.
Minutes later, Maddie Malinger connects with Kaylee Shiffer near the goal, and she goes up high for another score. Shiffer now has a hat trick, giving the Redhawks a 4-2 lead with three minutes to play in the second quarter.
Waubonsie Valley girls water polo keeps it close in the IHSA Girls Water Polo Sectional Semifinal
With a minute left in the half, Reece Clavey delivers a perfect pass to Calin Ball, and she tosses it into the back of the net. The Warriors close the gap to 4-3 with one minute left in the half.
Now in the second half, Meghan Tueting connects with Molly Moore, who gives a couple of pump fakes before firing it into the back of the net. That one extends the Naperville Central lead to 6-3.
Moments later, Calin Ball passes it ahead to Ruby Meier, and she’s all alone. She goes one-on-one with the goalie and wins the battle. It’s now a 6-4 game with four minutes to play in the third quarter.
Meier and Weber score two more, and Central girls water polo defeats Waubonsie
After a penalty, Ruby Meier has a free shot at the goal against Eleni Nicoloudes. She targets the top corner, but Nicoloudes gets a hand on it and keeps it out of the net. The big save preserves the Redhawk lead at 6-4.
With less than a minute left in the third quarter, Megan Tueting throws it to Julia Weber in front of the net, and she’s able to ward off the Waubonsie defenders and score another goal for Naperville Central. That one gives the Redhawks an 8-4 lead. Waubonsie Valley goes on to score two goals in the fourth, but Naperville Central hangs on to win 8-6, advancing to the sectional finals against Naperville North.
For more prep sports highlights, visit the Naperville Sports Weekly page.
High school volleyball: Southern Section boys’ championship results
SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS SATURDAY’S RESULTS FINALS At Cerritos College DIVISION 3 Tesoro d. Orange Lutheran, 25-16, 25-16, 27-25 DIVISION 5 Kennedy d. Esperanza, 23-25, 27-25, 25-20, 26-24 DIVISION 9 CAMS d. Downey Calvary Chapel, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19 Advertisement DIVISION 6 El Toro d. Quartz Hill, 17-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19 At Santa Barbara DIVISION […]
CAMS d. Downey Calvary Chapel, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19
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DIVISION 6
El Toro d. Quartz Hill, 17-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19
At Santa Barbara
DIVISION 4
Sage Hill d. Santa Barbara, 15-25, 25-13, 18-25, 25-20, 15-8
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
FINALS
At Cerritos College
DIVISION 1
Mira Costa d. Huntington Beach, 25-19, 22-25, 25-19, 29-31, 15-11
At Mater Dei
DIVISION 2
Mater Dei d. Peninsula, 20-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-19
At Crossroads
DIVISION 8
Wildwood d. Katella, 25-22, 25-15, 25-15
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
FINALS
DIVISION 7
San Gabriel Academy d. Brea Olinda, 3-2
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ARCHERS have released a new music video! The new music video, for the track Wide Awake, is taken from the Wisconsin-based metalcore band’s upcoming new EP, Temporary High, which is scheduled to be released in June this year, via SBG Records. Speaking about the upcoming EP, the band shares, “Temporary High is all about finding catharsis. It’s about breaking […]
The new music video, for the track Wide Awake, is taken from the Wisconsin-based metalcore band’s upcoming new EP, Temporary High, which is scheduled to be released in June this year, via SBG Records.
Speaking about the upcoming EP, the band shares, “Temporary High is all about finding catharsis. It’s about breaking free from toxic cycles and finding value in oneself apart from anyone or anything that would try to usurp one’s own identity.”
Watch the official music video for Wide Awake here:
Temporary High is set for release on June 13th via SBG Records. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.
For more information on ARCHERS like their official page on Facebook.
CIF-SS Track & Field Championships 2025 – The562.org
Tyler Hendrickson Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball […]
Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball program. Tyler also co-authored of The History of Long Beach Poly: Scholars & Champions.
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