Boys swimming: Scouting Lake County

NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Amanda Pechauer (2nd year)

Last season: 3rd in Lake County meet, 2nd in NSC meet, 2nd in Vernon Hills sectional

Key losses: Eric Turner (Marine Corp), Billy Becker, Brandon Kolaczewski, Stephen Ianuzzi, and Evan Pinsel.

Top returning swimmers: seniors Sean Coughlin, Nick Harrington, Austin Stevenson, Billy Bennett, Colin Miller, Carl Michelotti; juniors Joe Eads, Lukas Vla, Thomas Guiard; sophomore Mark Plunkett

Newcomers: seniors Jack Otto, Connor Shinn, Jackson Czajka, Nathan Valley; sophomores Andrew Bacilek, Will Gordon; freshmen Lawrence Wang, Mitch Madland

Outlook: Second-year coach Amanda Pechauer says her Wildcats are looking good again this winter, having returned most of their state qualifiers from a year ago. Billy Bennett is a returning qualifier in the 100 breaststroke. He along with running mates Austin Stevenson and Sean Coughlin return from the state-qualifying medley and 200 relays. "They are crucial members of our relays," said Pechauer. "We also have many fresh faces with lots of potential." Freshman Lawrence Wang is someone to keep an eye on in the butterfly.

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Rahul Sethna

Last season: 7th in Lake County meet, 4th in NSC meet, 5th in Vernon Hills sectional

Key losses: Ryan Magee, Kyle Guzzio, Brandon Kavanaugh (relays), Nick Oleinik (breaststroke), Chris Carlson (sprinter)

Top returning swimmers: seniors Dominic Carstens, Derek Kendall (diving), Shane Stanley, Eubin Kim, Kyle Ehemann, Jake Gonzalez, Patrick McInerney, Ben Staroszczyk; juniors Hunter Magee, Jeff Boudreau, Logan Bradshaw, Jake Garcia, Ryan Zentz; sophomores Parker Geary, Chris Hill

Key newcomers: senior Garret Cohen; juniors Matt Allore, Ben Ford, Jonathan Gustafson; freshmen Jack Long, Timmy McInerney, Danny Oleinik, Cale Sethna

Outlook: The Mustangs are seemingly always in the mix, and that should hold water this winter again, no pun intended. "We have a large group returning as well as a good mix of newcomers," coach Raul Sethna said. "We're looking to move up into the top 3 in the conference as well as continue to compete at a high level in our invites and postseason meets." Eubin Kim, Carstens and Patrick McInerney return as integral pieces of the 200 freestyle relay, which finished fourth at county last year. Kim will also look to join forces with Ryan Zentz and Hunter Magee for the 400 free relay, which was fifth at county last winter. Mundelein opened it season at the Niles West invitational over the weekend. The Glenbrook invite looms for next weekend, followed by the county meet at Stevenson in two weeks time.

STEVENSON

Coach: Doug Lillydahl (3rd year)

Last season: Lake County, NSC and Vernon Hills sectional champions; 4th in state meet

Top returning swimmers: seniors Daniel Ng (captain), Collin Kapecki (captain), Danny Less (captain), Spencer Guercio (captain), Michael Lee, John Tan; juniors Topher Stensby, Phoom Lertsinsongsem, Nick Ebling, John Roh, Max Ryaguzov, Joseph Song, Nathan Gates, Jacob Minin, Ethan Ross, diver Izzac Kahn; sophomores Anthony Carollo, Cameron Coffey, Nick Comini, Jake Kim, Ari Zaritsky, Jack Zhang, diver Mark Lozovnoy.

Notable newcomers: Freshmen Christopher Oei, Dima Kobets, Avi Roytman

Outlook: After leaping from 18th to fourth at the state meet last February, the Patriots are intent on showing yet again that they belong in the upper echelon of swimming in Illinois. "With one consensus building block in place in defending 50 free state champion Topher Stensby, the opportunity for us to get back into the top five is very real," coach Doug Lillydahl said. "But it will take a full team effort to fill the lineup with the kind of quality swims that it takes to contend again at the state meet. I believe that the path from 18th to fourth was probably easier than the path to the top three at state. But we have a close group of guys who are dedicated to having fun, trusting our process, and pushing each other toward success." State qualifiers Daniel Ng (relays, IM), Nathan Gates (500 free) and Joseph Song (medley relay) also return. Stevenson will get a good early-season idea of where it stands when it competes in two invitationals with defending state champ Lyons Township. "We want to see how we can measure up to the best," Lillydahl said.

WARREN

Coach: Chris Bertana (10th year)

Last season: 5th in Lake County meet, 5th in NSC meet, 6th in Vernon Hills sectional

Key losses: Noah Adams, Satyajit Arcot, Zackary Bongratz, Michael Harrigan, Nicholas Hoppe, Nathaniel Metz, Arjun Sanzgiri

Key returning swimmers: senior Justin Elkinton; juniors Santiago Currea, Austin Edmondson, Leo Forney, Brian Tabourot, Taylor Vander Jeugdt; sophomores Joemil Duka, Jack Foster

Newcomers: junior Jeremy Gunter; sophomores Joemil Duka, Jack Foster, Natan Weiner, Diogomaye Bamba, Spencer Burton (diving), Wesley Tunnelius (diving); freshmen Jarrett Lobitz, Nathan Heuberger, Collin Jones, Jonah Park, Nicholas Gaetz, Ethan Harrigan, Justin Jones

Outlook: Brian Tabourot will be looked upon for plenty of points in his main events, the backstroke, 200 IM and possibly relays. Other swimmers to be on the watch for include Leo Forney (sprint freestyle) and Taylor Vander Jeudgt (sprint freestyle, breaststroke). According to coach Chris Bertana, Austin Edmondson will continue to be a utility swimmer and help in any areas needed. "We're a young team that has a lot of potential over the next couple of years," Bertana said. "We are looking to be competitive in dual meets in the NSC and to get a few swimmers back down to the state meet, after missing cuts the past three years." Newcomer Jeremy Gunter will cause some waves being the tallest Blue Devils swimmer at 6 feet 5. "He started swimming a year and a half ago and has really started to become a sprinter," Bertana said. Bertana is also excited about the incoming freshman class, which is the "strongest we've had in a few years," he said.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Adam Lueken (8th year)

Last season: Hoffman Estates Candy Cane invite champs, 8th in Lake County, 7th in Vernon Hills sectional

Key losses: Jeffrey Zhang, Derek Zhang, Gene Palazkou

Key returning swimmers: senior Calvin Yoon; Kevin Diaz, Caleb Thomson, and Jackson Murrie

Newcomers: freshman brothers Alex and David Utsis

Outlook: The Cougars looks to follow in the footsteps of the girls program, which won its first sectional championship before finishing in the 23rd in the state meet last month. Numbers are once again terrific, as coach Adam Lueken boasts 65 on his roster. "We have our largest group out yet," Lueken said. "And we have a really strong and talented freshman class led by the Utsis brothers (Alex and David). That will help grow our depth over the next couple of years." Calvin Yoon, a two-time state qualifier, is looking to have continued success. "He's even hungrier than last year," Lueken said. Caleb Thomson, Jackson Murrie and Kevin Diaz are looking to join Calvin at state in February. Lueken removed morning practices in hopes that the extra rest allows his athletes to get more sleep and to train harder in afternoon practices.