Boys swimming and diving / State meet scouting, Northwest
Scouting state swimming and diving
Where: New Trier High School, Winnetka
When: Diving prelims 9 a.m. Friday, swimming prelims 3:30 p.m. Friday, swimming and diving finals noon Saturday
Big pictureIt will be great fun to watch defending champ Lyons Township slug it out with the likes of New Trier, Hinsdale Central, St. Charles East, Stevenson and Glenbrook South. Hinsdale Central had a tremendous qualifying effort last weekend, sending in the top medley and 200 freestyle relays and the No. 3 400 free relay. But it's easy to read too much into sectional performances, as most of the top teams were able to reserve some of their swimmers for peak efforts this weekend.
Defending champs in their events include Franco Reyes of Hinsdale Central (100 fly), Colton Paulson of Peoria Notre Dame (500 free) and Charlie Scheinfeld of New Trier (100 breast). Glenbrook South senior Sam Iida was runner-up in two events last year and won the 500 free in his sophomore year.
Top individual seeds200 free: Colton Paulson (Jr., Peoria Notre Dame) 1:39.85
200 IM: Sam Iida (Sr., Glenbrook South) 1:49.81
50 free: Mateo Chavez (Sr., Whitney Young) 20.80
Diving: Maxim Royzen (Niles North) 620.60
100 fly: Tyler Sesvold (Sr., Wheaton Academy) 48.92
100 free: Colton Stogner (Jr., Normal University) 45.46
500 free: Colton Paulson (Jr., Peoria Notre Dame) 4:32.36
100 back: Tyler Sesvold (Sr., Wheaton Academy) 49.27
100 breast: Charlie Scheinfeld (Jr., New Trier) 55.56
Local focusMustang pride: Rolling Meadows is eager for the chance to bring its team-record setting relays to the state's biggest stage. The foursome of juniors Josh Dellorto, Nate Pardini, Jake Pors and senior Filip Pancerz had thrilling sectional efforts to make the state cut, and Dellorto will compete individually, in the 100 freestyle, in his third straight state appearance. Both relays would need to drop some time in order to earn second-day swims, but coach Monika Chiappetta isn't ruling anything out. For one thing, three of the four relay competitors won't have the fatigue that would come with competing in individual events. "Our boys are looking forward to the opportunity to race," she said. "They have shown a great focus level and are excited to compete at such a high level."
Three in a row: This will mark St. Viator junior Michael Balcerak's third straight state meet. The first one went well, as he scored points in both the 100 and 200 freestyle. Last year is safely in the past, where it belong after an illness kept Balcerak from matching his sectional efforts. But he's in a much different bracket this year - count him among the best of the best in both the 100 free and the 200 free. Balcerak is second seed in the 100 free by one one-hundredth of a second, and he's also second seed in the 200 free.
Petro power: Hersey's junior standout Michael Petro will have a middle lane in both of his events, the 100 fly and the 200 IM, in Friday's prelims. After a lifetime best in the fly in his qualifying meet, it's anybody guess to how fast he can go this weekend. As he is seeded No. 2 in both races, a pair of Saturday appearances seem highly likely. The Huskies will also be represented by sophomore Nick Nocita, who advanced in diving.
Single focus for Bartosik: Palatine senior Alex Bartosik will have the final races of a decorated career in his top event, the 200 IM. In his fourth straight state meet, he's positioned in the middle of the pack in that event after winning his qualifying effort at the Barrington sectional. But he hopes that reserving full taper for this occasion for the first time can get him into Saturday's action. Joining him at state is senior Joseph Zhao, a first-time qualifier in diving.
Conant club: Senior diver Cole Aykroid has the top qualifying effort from a bumper crop of talented Mid-Suburban League entrants with the eighth-best overall score - a program-record 509.25 he achieved at the Barrington sectional. The Cougars had another breakthrough effort at Barrington from sophomore Justin Lim, who qualified in the 100 fly.
Prospect repeaters: Senior diver Anthony Liva is back for a third state meet effort, and better positioned than ever before, in 14th. Also back at state is junior Jacob Kosinski in the 100 breast, for a second straight year.
Special K: Wheeling's Nick Konstantos took a huge time drop to earn his first appearance at state. He'll race in the 100 breastroke after breaking one minute for the first time (59.29) at Glenbrook North.
Divine, Devin: Maine West senior Devin Peters earned a first state appearance by going for 393.00 at Glenbrook North.
MSL's best: Fremd and Barrington both have many chances to dent the scoreboard with senior-led squads. Fremd has all three relays in action plus individual chances in Nick Seroni (fly, 200 free), Alex Schillinger (IM, breast), Nick Nevin (50 free), Zach Mega (diving) and Arnas Maciunas (200 free). Barrington has the medley and 400 free relays plus two events apiece for seniors Mitch Gavars (200, 500 free), John Lagoni (100, 200 free) and Colin O'Leary (fly, back); they'll be joined by junior diver Steven Latimer.
- Aaron Gabriel