Naperville Central in the hunt for a state trophy
There are years when it is difficult to say which team is going to win the state swimming title - and this year's boys finals appear to be up for grabs as points will only be scored for real at Saturday's finals in Evanston.
But what seems certain is that the title will come from a group including Naperville Central, defending champion Hinsdale Central, Lyons Township and pre-meet favorite Peoria Notre Dame.
Certainly Naperville Central did its trophy chances no harm with a strong performance in Friday's prelims.
"We were very solid," Naperville Central coach Mike Adams said. "We got a lot in. You always want to get more and you want to get them in at a higher level. This meet is unbelievable this year."
Importantly, the Redhawks advanced all three relays to the championship final. Individual Naperville Central swimmers who will compete for top-six finishes include Scott Piper in the 200-yard IM and the 100 backstroke as well as Phillip Sagaev in the 100 breaststroke.
Jimmy Fox qualified in the 50 freestyle and Ryan Lehane advanced in the 100 backstroke.
"Maybe we are saving our best for last," Adams said. "Our 400.free relay was seeded 12th and they go into (Saturday) seeded fifth. They had a pretty good swim."
Hinsdale Central has all three of its relays in the championship final. The Red Devils advanced five individual entries as well, including both Donovan. Lahmann and William Bowater in the 200 freestyle, Franco Reyes in the 100 butterfly, Craig Smith in the 100 backstroke and Billy Leader in the 100 breaststroke.
Neuqua Valley is poised for a strong finals finish. While the 200 medley relay swims in the consolation final, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay both swim in the championship final.
Sprint freestyler Joey Dalesandro will finish his senior season with a pair of Saturday swims. He swims in the consolation final in the 50 freestyle and the championship final in the 100 freestyle.
Jacob Cunningham and Mike Peters swim in the consolation final races in the 200 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke, respectively.
Metea Valley has three swims on Saturday: Bebe Wang in the consolation final of the 200 IM, Alex Dillmann in the championship final of the 100 butterfly and a consolation final race for the school's 400 freestyle relay.
"We kind of expected those two guys to be there," Metea Valley coach Mark Jager said. "(Wang) missed the cut and didn't even swim here last year. Dillmann is really not a surprise. But that relay, that is the first time it has been in the top 12."
Waubonsie Valley has five consolation final swims on Saturday: all three relays and the duo of Michael Schwers and Taggart Lohman in the 100 butterfly.
Other area qualifiers for Saturday's finals include Naperville North's Horace Qiao in the 200 IM, Wheaton Academy's Tyler Sesvold in the 100 backstroke and West Chicago-Batavia's Garrett Clasen in the 200 IM.