Scouting DuPage County boys swimming
Top teams: Naperville Central, Hinsdale Central, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley.
Top swimmers and divers: Benet: JP McAveeney, sr.; Ryan Shanley, jr.; Trevor Pilgrim, sr.; Ryan Flynn, so.; Downers Grove North: Ryan Murphy (diver), sr.; Don Calleja, (diver), sr.; Ben Ellstrom, jr.; Matt Benge, sr.; Jack Costello, jr. Glenbard North/East co-op: Peter Andreev, jr.; Bennet Witteveen, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Billy Leader, jr.; Franco Reyes, sr.; Cole Grosshans, jr.; Donovan Lahmann, so.; William Bowater, sr.; Trystan Lundgren, so.; Frankie Morrissey, so.; Cullen Cochlan, fr.; Hinsdale South: James Kiwiet, (diver) sr.; Tommy Matulis, fr.; Connor Kaplan, so.; Lake Park: Eric Sgarbossa, sr.; Ben Kimmel, fr.; Metea Valley: John Tjards, sr,; Michael Chan, jr.; Janssen Gamilla, jr., sr.; Connor Mitsch, sr.; Naperville Central: Phillip Sajaev, sr.; Michael Stern, sr.; Will McDonald, sr.; Jake Ryor (diver), sr.; Naperville North: Horace Qiao, jr.; Josh Tak, jr.; Noah Ellis, jr.; Brandon Chan, sr.; Nick Zillier, sr.; Ethan Chuang, fr.; Jack Richards (diver), sr; Joey Yuan, so.; Neuqua Valley: Jacob Cunningham, sr. Kyri Chen, jr.; John Ruan, jr.; Robert Nowicki (diver), sr.; Kevin Wu, jr.; Jack Hiss, so.; Sathya Subramanian, so.; Waubonsie Valley: Jared Simpson, jr, Bryan Ellig, jr., Eric Weng, sr; Ethan Morse, jr.; Cole Steffl, jr.; Aayush Deshpande, fr.; Jake Darlinger, so.; Ryan Ruhde so.; West Chicago-Batavia co-op: Keegan Hawkins jr.; Garret Sims, fr.; Wheaton Academy: Tyler Sesvold, sr.; York: Peter Barabolak (diver), Sr.; Flanigan Waldherr, sr.;
Scouting report: The Neuqua Valley sectional is the one to watch Feb. 16-17 as the highly competitive Naperville-area schools compete to qualify their relay teams, individual swimmers and divers for the state meet, which will be held the following week at New Trier High School. This sectional has consistently sent more qualifiers to state than any other in Illinois. Last year, four Naperville schools and perennial power Hinsdale Central represented DuPage County well by finishing in the top 15 in the final team standings at state. Naperville Central led the way as runner-up to state champ Lyons. Hinsdale Central finished third, followed by Neuqua Valley at No. 7. Waubonsie Valley was 12th and Metea Valley was 15th. Of the Naperville-area schools only Naperville North finished out of the top 15 and the Huskies have their best squad in years and look to rejoin the inner circle.
The sectional, which was held last year at Metea Valley, produced more than 50 individual qualifiers and 16 state qualifying relay teams, which is about what happens every year.
The Redhawks, who won the state title in both 2002 and 2010 lost a lot to graduation including Scott Piper, a state scorer for three years, who was fourth in the 200 IM and third in the 100 backstroke. However, the Redhawks have some great returnees, including Sajaev and Stern, and a loaded bullpen of guys who will get the opportunity to contribute to Naperville Central swimming history. Sajaev, who was fifth in the 100 breaststroke and Stern are team leaders who will be mainstays of the rebuilt relay teams. "Our JV and freshmen kids swam lights out at conference last year," said coach Mike Adams. "So there's brutal competition with three or four guys fighting for every spot." Adams said these younger swimmers are unknown but they're good and they buy into the Redhawks program which has produced consistent winners. Some observers are predicting an off-year for the Redhawks. "People have told me how bad we're going to be this year," Adams said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how bad we're going to be."
Neuqua graduated some good freestylers and the breaststroker on its relay team, but Chen, Ruan and Cunningham give coach Chad Allen a nucleus of veteran competitors who could lead the Wildcats back to the top 10. "We think our free relays have a chance to score," Allen said. "And while none of our individual swims scored last year, we're looking for Cunningham and Ruan to put up some points this year, while Chen has a good chance."
Among Waubonsie Valley losses is Michael Schwers, who finished fourth in the 100 butterfly. Simpson is a hard worker who could take a big step forward this year and he's capable of scoring in a variety of events including the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM. Weng is a top-flight sprinter who is looking to swim on Saturday. "Some of our kids are taking their increased roles as an opportunity to thrive," Warriors coach Nick Arens said. "It's too early to make predictions. We think we have a strong team with great potential, but we've got to find out what we have."
Metea Valley is also on the "youngish" side thanks to the graduation of some solid veteran leaders. But Tjards and the others mentioned above can make it into the scoring mix and they give coach Mark Jager a strong nucleus for relays come sectionals. "We're pretty raw," Jager said. "We have a lot of promising kids coming through. But this will be something of a rebuilding year."
Naperville North will be interesting to follow as it strives to make it back to the elite status it held as recently as 2012. Qiao scored in two events last year, the IM and the fly, and he's already swimming faster in both. "I.I. pushes himself all the time," said Huskies coach Andy McWhirter. "And he inspires the whole team to work hard." The coach thinks Qiao, along with Tak and Chan give the Huskies three-quarters of a medley relay team that can make it to the top 12 at state. "We're a stronger team across the board," McWhirter said. "And I.I. is at the center of that."
Hinsdale Central is one of the top teams and is again in contention to win a trophy. The Red Devils return a group of good sprinters which bodes well for the relay teams. Hinsdale Central took the top spot at state in the 200 free relay and Reyes, who competed in the Olympic trials last spring, was the state champion in the 100 butterfly. "We have a lot of depth, which gives us hope that we can finish in the top three," said coach Bob Barber. The coach is eager to see what Lahmann can do this year.
Hinsdale South is led by Kiewet, who is a free sprinter as well as a diver. He also plays water polo and golf. Coach Beth Walker is trying to come up with one more speedster to form a free relay team that can qualify.
For Benet, McAveeney qualified in both the 100 free and the breaststroke last year and he's hoping to make it to the finals in at least one, probably the breaststroke, this year. Shanley, Pilgrim and Flynn are also potential qualifiers. The Redwings are faster and deeper than they've been in recent years. This core four will give coach Ben Gensler reason to hope Benet can send a relay team to state.
Lake Park is led by Sgarbossa, a three-year qualifier who has come close to scoring, but is looking to take that final step in either the breaststroke or the butterfly as a senior. Kimmel is an outstanding freshman who is as advanced as any first-year swimmer the Lancers have ever had.
Hawkins gives West Chicago-Batavia co-op an outstanding all-around swimmer who could qualify in the breaststroke. York's Barabolak should be among the best divers in the state.
Downers Grove North's Murphy was the eighth best diver at state last year and he's looking to crack the top six this time around. The Trojans are hoping to get a medley relay to state.
Wheaton Academy's Sesvold is an interesting story because his school has no swimming team. He competes as a club player until sectionals and then represents the school at sectionals and state. Last year he finished second in the state meet in the 100 backstroke. He was in the Olympic trials after the season and hasn't competed since after injuring his ankle. Sesvold is planning to swim at Alabama next year.
Andreev in the 100 free and Witteveen in the 500 free, worked hard in the offseason and hope to give Glenbard Norh/ East Co-op a presence at state
Key dates: Dec. 10, Wildcat Relays at West Chicago; Dec. 16-17, Neuqua Valley Invite; Dec. 22-23 Naperville North College Events; Dec. 31 Waubonsie Valley Aquapentathlon; Jan. 7 Hinsdale South College Events Invite; Jan. 14 Hinsdale Central Diving Invite; Jan. 20-21 Downers Grove North Trojan Invite; Jan. 27 Metea Valley Mustang Invite; Feb. 3-4, Conference meets; Feb. 18, sectionals; Feb. 24-25, state meet at New Trier.