MSL East stars continue their ascent
Barrington's boys swimming program has been exceptionally strong in recent years, consistently producing both top-end standouts such as Kyle Ujiiye, Jack Strauss and Sebastian Piekarski along with depth and lineup completeness few in the Mid-Suburban League have been able to match.
And traditionally, the MSL West has clearly been the stronger of the conference's two divisions.
This year, though, beware the Beasts of the East.
Arguably the top returning swimmers in the league hail from Elk Grove, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.
Jake Noel helped lead Wheeling to a runner-up finish in the conference last season, winning both the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke and taking key relay legs for the Wildcats. He qualified easily to the state meet as a sophomore, and only an illness kept him from being in top form there.
Rolling Meadows senior Jake Barson has benefitted from year-round training and is taking aim at both program and various pool records after an 11th-place finish at last year's state meet, along with a victory at the MSL meet.
Then there's Elk Grove senior Colin Williams, whose top event is the 100 fly. He placed 11th at the state meet, too, and is among the conference's and state's elite competitors.
Participation numbers still generally favor the MSL West, but that traditional edge seems to be evening out, too.
MSL East teams had four of the league's top-six finishes in last year's conference meet.
"I know my boys are very hungry," said Rolling Meadows coach Monika Chiappetta. "The way things ended for Wheeling, finishing so high at the conference meet, I think that was encouraging for everybody in the East."
Hersey coach Dick Mortensen has another big group out for the team, and among the promising faces is freshman all-around standout Michael Petro - a likely East Beast in the making.
The divisional crossover duals will be especially interesting this year as teams test each other's lineups.
"Every dual meet we swim is going to be a top-notch battle," Mortensen said. "The East may finally be able to hold its ground against the West."
Time will tell, and that time is here. For Friday's season openers, every divisional crossover has an interesting storyline.
Conant's improvement vs. Elk Grove's top-end skill.
Hersey's promising new profile vs. Schaumburg's work-in-progress.
Hoffman Estates' committed core vs. Wheeling's proven performers.
Prospect's dominant dual strength vs. traditional West power Fremd.
Rolling Meadows' energized group at defending champ Barrington.
And the new-coach summit as Buffalo Grove visits Palatine.
Shameless motivational ploy: None of the Mid-Suburban League's teams have cracked the preseason top 20 rankings as determined by Wildkit Aquatics.
Hinsdale Central finished third at state last year and has the No. 1 spot. The Red Devils return sophomore Franciso Reyes, who finished in the top six in two individual events along and had legs on two championship heat relays at the state meet.
Metea Valley is No. 2 and will feature standout seniors Jordan O'Brien and Matt Salerno, and Glenbrook South is No. 3 and has standout senior sprinter Jon Salomon leading the way.
Well worth watching:
Dec. 12 - Hersey vs. Prospect (at Wheeling)
Dec. 19 - Barrington at Fremd
Jan. 16 - Hersey at Wheeling
Jan. 23 - Rolling Meadows vs. Prospect (at Wheeling), Fremd at Palatine
Jan. 30 - Prospect at Wheeling, Hersey at Rolling Meadows, Palatine at Barrington