Scouting Cook County area boys swimming teams
Boys swimming sectional preview
Where: Barrington
When: Saturday, 9 a.m. (diving); 1 p.m. (swimming)
Individuals to watch: Turn off your cell phones, grab a snack and find a comfortable seat with a good view. Saturday's matinee should have plenty of wall-to-wall action and dramatic finishes. And with the talent just overflowing at this sectional, there could be a number of best performances from these nominees: Barrington's Justin Yu and Nick Santoro both defended a pair of conference championships last Saturday and will likely be chasing more gold. Teammate Brian Marko won the 100 fly (53.70) and 100 backstroke (54.18) titles, while Sam Barnett took the 500 free (4:55.19) by more than four seconds. Also keep an eye on the Broncos' Ben Redpath after the senior finished second to Santoro in the 50 and 100 free. Fremd's Varun Shivakumar is itching to get back in the pool after his .01 second loss in the 100 backstroke. The junior is also looking to drop time in the 200 IM. Vikings junior Sam Childs has the 100 and 200 free on his mind, while Andrew Heideman goes for state in the 100 breaststroke. Conant's Will Landgren is an eyelash from the 50 free cut, while teammates Mike McGuire, Chris Emery and Jake Jeske could all join the state festivities next weekend. Don't forget the MSL East, as Rolling Meadows junior A.J. Adams has his sights on the 50 and 100 free. Cary-Grove co-op's Michael Kinross is the defending sectional champ in the 100 fly, and he's also within .64 of the 200 IM qualifying mark (2:01.57). Teammate Brent Curtis was a double winner (50 free, 100 breast) at sectionals last year and is back with fast swims in both - 48.52 and 1:02.80. Lake Zurich senior Dan Beshoar looks for another trip to state in the 50 free, while teammate Thomas McAndrew is after the 50 and 100 free marks. Jacobs is paced by juniors Nick Pankau (breaststroke) and Sean Kelly (200 IM, backstroke), who both have state relay experience. Woodstock senior Ryan Ortmann is geared up for the 50 and 100 free after barely missing the state standard in both events last weekend.
Teams to watch: Subtract a gutsy performance from Childs in the 200 freestyle, and Barrington would have gone 12-for-12 at the MSL meet. Instead, the Broncos had to settle for an 80.5-point margin of victory and their third consecutive conference title. Not a bad consolation prize. A sectional sweep is asking way too much, but you can expect Barrington to send a large contingent to Evanston. Fremd finished second to the Broncos in seven events last week, but with a number of swimmers capable of having a great taper, the Vikings could find their way to the first-place podium for quite a few events. Race for third could come down to Cary-Grove co-op and Conant.
What they're saying:
"That's definitely going to help him pick it up a lot because I'm not sure how he feels about that. I'd imagine not good."
-- Fremd junior Sam Childs said of teammate Varun Shivakumar losing the 100 backstroke by .01 seconds last Saturday.
"We had a slow day, but that just means that next week is going to be amazing." -- Shivakumar
"Not only did the 'Big 3' step up, everyone else stepped up. The guys that were in the second heats brought themselves up into the top 12, and that's what it's all about, getting those extra points."
-- Conant coach Brian Drenth on his team rallying around Mike McGuire, Chris Emery and Will Landgren at the MSL meet.
"They like each other and it shows. They get excited for each other doing well. We've got a real good team that way."
-- Barrington coach Jim Bart
Where: Glenbrook North High School
When: Saturday 9 a.m. (diving); swimming (1 p.m.)
Individuals to watch: Defending state 100 backstroke champion Colin Cordes and sophomore Dominik Cuebelic, the top seed in tomorrow's 50 free, are just two of many Glenbrook South Titans to keep a close eye on. Buffalo Grove, fourth at the MSL meet last weekend, has a number of swimmers with a shot at state. Sophomore Brad Lotzer is going for the 100 and 200 marks, while Adrian Sadkowski has the 50 free (2nd seed) and 100 fly on his radar. Mike Hausfeld is at 56.9 in the 100 backstroke, and with a solid swim, you could see the BG school record (55.2) fall. Prospect junior Charlie Mau swam a 56.58 last Saturday at the MSL meet and is after the state cut in the 100 fly. Lining up near Sadkowski and Wheeling's Erik Maczko should help. The Knights' Matt Reiner and Tim O'Grady are also after the state cut in the 50 and 100 free. Along with his run at the 100 fly, Maczko will spend plenty of time in the pool Saturday, also swimming in the 100 backstroke and on the Wildcats' 200 medley and 400 free relays. His third trip to state is definitely for the taking. Also watch for Hersey's Jeff Mitchem. The senior scored 280.85 and finished seventh in diving for the Huskies last weekend. Look for Maine West's Matt O'Hagan in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, Freddy Wittmann in the 50 free and Pat Cullen (200 free, 100 fly). The Warriors' medley relay could also make history with a strong swim. It would be the program's first state-qualifying relay in more than 25 years. Glenbrook North's John Montgomery is looking to make the state cut in the 100 and 200 freestyles, while Tommy Gilbert is tough in the 200 IM and 500 free. Also look for the Spartans' Brett Heniken in the 200 free and 100 backstroke and Jonathan Roby in diving.
Teams to watch: State runner-up last season, Glenbrook South will likely be the front-runner in this sectional, followed by rival Glenbrook North, which finished 11th in state last season. Also expect Maine West, Buffalo Grove and Maine South to make plenty of noise at GBN's pool.
What they're saying:
"This week is all about getting as many through to the next level."
-- Buffalo Grove coach Jamie Klotz
Where: St. Charles North High School
When: Saturday 9 a.m. (diving); swimming (1 p.m.)
Individuals to watch: St. Charles North has a host of swimmers already below the state cut, including Matt Baumann (200 free, 100 backstroke), Jimmy Brooks (100 fly), John Higgins (100 backstroke) and Dan Stanek in the 100 breaststroke. Marmion is loaded, too. Austin Cox will likely advance in the 200 free and 100 backstroke, Luke Martinez is already well under the cut in the 200 and 500 free, Tyler Capen has eclipsed the state qualifying mark in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, and Matt Pircon is more than a half-second below the 50 qualifying time (22.26). Peter Flight is under in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.23), Matt Lifka is below the cut in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.72) and 200 IM (2:00.86), and Thomas Delves is the top-seed in the 100 free (48.96) for the Cadets. Batavia's Albert Roth is the No. 1 seed in the 200 IM (1:56.59) and second-seed in the 100 fly (53.01). Also look for Kaneland's Grant Alef in the 500 free (4:50.9) and 100 backstroke (54.41). St. Charles East, eighth in state last season, is led by senior B.J. Roth (200, 500 free) and junior Adam Carnell. Both swam on last season's 200 (1:23.93) and 400 (3:07.78) free relay squads that took 2nd and 4th at state, respectively. Also watch for solid swims from the Saints' Ken Tiltges (200 IM), sophomore Shane Seuschek, and senior Brian Gross. Schaumburg junior Aaron Johnson is one to keep an eye on in the 100 breaststroke after pushing Barrington junior Justin Yu from wall-to-wall last weekend at conference. Johnson took second at 1:02.71 and could drop even further tomorrow. Bartlett/Streamwood co-op is led by junior Mike Brady, who is right around the state qualifying times in the 50 and 100 free. With an eye to the future, West Chicago has a freshman to watch now. Anthony Nolazco just cracked the minute-barrier (59.78) in the 100 back -- still a few seconds off the state mark -- but watch if he can make a big splash on a much bigger stage. Lake Park looks strong in the relays, as do Nathan Schingothe in the backstroke, Aaron Casper in the 50 free, and Bryan Medema in the 100 free. Bryant Honsa is the top-seed in the 200 and 500 free, and he's looking for state redemption after illness slowed him at last year's meet.
Teams to watch: What a field as two of the top eight teams from last season take to the pool. And that doesn't even count Marmion, a squad that is arguably the strongest of this sectional. St. Charles North still targeting the program's top-3 finish after last season's fifth-place effort at state, but has work to do this weekend as it battles the Cadets for the sectional crown. St. Charles East makes a strong case to cross the finish line in third, as does Lake Park.