Boys swimming: Scouting Lake County

NORTH SUBURBANLibertyvilleCoach: Amanda Pechauer (first year)

Last season's highlights: Fourth place at Lake County invite, second at NSC meet, sectional champions

Top returning swimmers: Seniors Eric Turner, Billy Becker, Brandon Kolaczewski, Stephen Ianuzzi, Evan Pinsel; juniors Sean Coughlin, Nick Harrington, Austin Stevenson, Billy Bennett, Colin Miller, Carl Michelotti; sophomores Richard Rush, Joe Eads

Notable newcomers: Junior Aaron Chen; sophomores Ted Stevens, Lukas Vla, Thomas Guiard

Season outlook: Pechauer has been involved with swimming at Libertyville for a couple of years but has now moved into the head-coaching position. The hopes are high as the Wildcats look to repeat as sectional champs, especially with the roster almost fully intact from a year ago. Turner is a returning state qualifier in the 50 and 100 freestyle and also competes in two relays. Harrington and Coughlin are also key ingredients in the 200 and 400 free relays, as was Noah Jameson, who will not be returning this year. Eads and Rush are two swimmers to keep an eye on this winter. "Eads' work ethic is nothing short of impressive," Pechauer said. "We're excited to see how he progresses in freestyle and backstroke throughout the season. And Richie (Rush) is a notably talented backstroker who will lead off the medley relay and is excelling in the 200 IM."

MundeleinCoach: Rahul Sethna

Last season's highlights: Fifth place at Lake County invite, fourth at NSC meet, fifth at sectional

Key losses: Mike Ward (water polo at Wagner University), Will Garcia (swimming at Illinois Wesleyan), Duncan Black, Eric Kozokar

Top returning swimmers: Seniors Ryan Magee, Kyle Guzzio, Brandon Kavanaugh (relays), Nick Oleinik (breaststroke), Chris Carlson (sprinter); juniors Eubin Kim (sprinter/breaststroke), Kyle Ehemann, Jake Gonzalez (IM/butterfly), Patrick McInerary (distance); sophomores Hunter Magee (middle distance/butterfly), Ryan Zentz (sprinter).

Notable newcomers: Freshman Parker Geary (backstroke), Chris Hill (distance)

Season outlook: The Mustangs took a hit with four out of five state qualifiers from last season (Ward, Garcia, Black and Kozokar) having graduated. But the roster is still pretty deep, anchored by lone returning state qualifier Ryan Magee, who will swim the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. He will also lead the medley relay. "The seniors that graduated last year left a huge imprint," said Sethna, whose club competed in the Niles West invite to open the season. "But it's good because we're still relatively deep with a lot of sophomores and juniors, and these guys can make their own identity. We just want to try and get as many people through to state. That helps with the building a strong culture. We're close. We just missed (state qualifying) in several events last year." Ehemann is a three-year varsity diver. After battling mono most of last year, backstroker Guzzio returns and will step up in Ward's absence. "We're excited he's healthy," Sethna said.

StevensonCoach: Doug Lillydahl (second year)

Last season's highlights: NSC, Lake County and sectional champs, 18th place at state meet

Top returning swimmers: Seniors Andrew Shashin (captain), Rahul Arun (captain), Daniel Mikrut (captain), diver Matt Krames (captain); juniors Karl Wadowski, Nicholas Baginski, Daniel Ng, Matthew Han, Zach Hede, Collin Kapecki, Varun Ganesh, Michael Lee, John Tan, Patirck Wierzchucki (diving); sophomores Topher Stensby, Phoom Lertsinsongsem, John Roh, Max Ryaguzov, Joseph Song, Nathan Gates, Jacob Rosenkranz, Ethan Ross, Izzac Kahn (diving)

Notable newcomers: Junior Danny Less (diving); sophomore Jacob Minin; freshmen Ethan Batko, Anthony Carollo, Cameron Coffey, Nick Comini, Jake Kim, Ari Zaritsky, Jack Zhang, Mark Lozovnoy (diving)

Season outlook: The keys to success for the Patriots are simple: regain that state-level mindset. It should be attainable as the Patriots look to successfully defend their conference and sectional titles. "Clearly, we'd love to build off our local success and carry that momentum into (the season) and improve on our state finish last year," Lillydahl said. "We feel like we have the talent and leadership to compete with the top teams in the area and even the state. But that won't matter unless we make strides daily in practice." A strong culture can make that possible, and the Patriots have that. "Placing in the top 12 at state is so challenging," said Lillydahl. "Last year, we had four underclassmen compete on relays and place in the consolation finals. So we return a core of guys who not only know it's possible, but can look to move into elite company if they stay hungry and focused." Alex Kapecki graduated but Stensby, Roh and Baginski return for the state-qualifying 200 freestyle relay. The foursome recently earned NISCA All-American honors.

WarrenCoach: Chris Bertana (ninth year)

Last season's highlights: sixth place at sectional, sixth place at NSC meet, eighth at Lake County invite

Key upperclassman: Seniors Noah Adams, Satyajit Arcot, Zackary Bongratz, Michael Harrigan, Nicholas Hoppe, Nathaniel Metz, Arjun Sanzgiri; junior Justin Elkinton

Notable sophomores: Santiago Currea, Austin Edmondson, Leo Forney, Brian Tabourot, Taylor Vander-Jeugdt

Newcomers: Freshmen Joemil Duka, Jack Foster

Season outlook: Last year's theme hasn't changed for the Blue Devils: keep moving forward. Only this winter, the team is looking to perhaps turn some more heads and even take that next step as far as getting some swimmers to the state meet. Diving is getting stronger and stronger for Warren, especially with the returns of Bongratz and Hoppe, who both finished in the top six at the county meet a year ago. Tabourot will also be looked upon for plenty of points in his main events: backstroke and 200 IM. Warren also has extra motivation this season, as it will be competing with heavy hearts. One of the Devils' top swimmers as a sophomore last year, Josh Church, suddenly passed away last month. Church excelled in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly and was also a key part of the 200 medley relay. "The support has been tremendous from the community and student body especially," Bertana said at the girls state meet two weeks ago and only two days after Church's passing. "He would have wanted us to continue competing as hard as we could."

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTHVernon HillsCoach: Adam Lueken (seventh year)

Last season's highlights: Seventh at Lake County invite, fifth at NSC meet, fourth at sectional

Key losses: Brian Rabinowitz

Top returning swimmers: Seniors Jeffrey Zhang, Derek Zhang, Oliver Leung, Gene Palazkou; junior Calvin Yoon

Notable newcomers: Freshman Sebastian Domenech

Season outlook: There's certainly strength in numbers for the Cougars, whose turnout for swimming nearly doubled to 60 from a year ago. "Overall, it's crazy how we've grown," said Lueken. "And coach (Jim Pardun) said our JV group is the most athletic group we've ever had and unlike any team he's ever coached before." The state medley relay, with the exception of the graduated Rabinowitz, returns three swimmers in Jeffrey and Derek Zhang, and Yoon. "Leung will step up for Rabinowitz, and hopefully we can get them back to state and maybe as individuals," Lueken said. Lueken also said the Cougars now have six divers with Palazkou looking to make state. He missed qualifying by 10 points a year ago. Senior Jason Palmer is another one to look out for in the 500 freestyle primarily. "He has dropped crazy time every year at sectionals, and overall our distance crew has gotten super competitive," Lueken said. Vernon Hills could get a nice boost with cross country state-qualifier Shane Williamson coming out for the team for the first time. The Cougars are also involved outside of the pool and are raising money for the Josh Church Memorial Fund. Church was a junior from Warren who suddenly passed away last month. "Very sad. We're selling cookie dough and are trying for $750 to help," said Lueken. "We're doing well - about halfway there."