Scouting boys swimming in Lake County
NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE
LIBERTYVILLE
Coach: Amanda Pechauer (third year)
Last season's highlights: third in county invite, second in NSC meet, first in Lake Forest sectional
Key losses: Billy Bennett (Valparaiso), Austin Stevenson (UM-St. Louis), Nathan Valley, Sean Coughlin
Returning swimmers: Seniors Richie Rush, Joe Eads, Lukas Vla, Thomas Guiard; juniors Mark Plunkett, Andrew Bacilek, Will Gordon; sophomores Lawrence Wang, Mitchell Madland
Newcomers: Juniors Jack Bermingham, Ben Kistler, Jonah Armenta; sophomores Thomas Evans, Jake Humbert, Colin McKibben, Sam Otto; freshmen Yaseen Tolba,Peter Fink
Outlook: There will be some growing pains to work through with the Wildcats boasting plenty of new faces. The lone state qualifier from last February returns in Lawrence Wang. "Someone to keep an eye out for in the butterfly," Amanda Pechauer, who was awarded sectional coach of the year last season, siod of Wang. Richie Rush returns after taking a year off. He was a state qualifier in relays two years ago. "We are lucky to have Richie back this year," Pechauer said. "This team has a lot of potential this season."
MUNDELEIN
Coach: Rahul Sethna
Last season's highlights: fifth in county meet, fourth in NSC meet, third in Lake Forest sectional
Key losses: Kyle Ehemann (diving), Derek Kendall (diving), Eubin Kim, Jake Gonzalez, Patrick McInerney, Shane Stanley, Dominic Carstens, Ben Staroszczyk
Returning swimmers: Seniors Matt Allore, Jeff Boudreau, Logan Bradshaw, Ben Ford, Jake Garcia, Jonathan Gustafson, Hunter Magee, Ryan Zentz; juniors Parker Geary, Chris Hill; sophomores Jack Long, Timmy McInerney, Danny Oleinik, Cale Sethna.
Newcomers: Freshman Aaron Anastos, Omar Fathallah, Dominic Fidanze, Cameron Gilbert, Michael Romero
Outlook: The Mustangs feature a good blend of experience to go along with a talented bunch of underclassmen. "We have had pretty good depth in the past that has helped us in dual meets," said Rahul Sethna, the sectional coach of the year last season. "But this year we added a lot of top-end speed to the mix, which should help us challenge in championship type invites. Either way, we want to be at our best in February."
STEVENSON
Coach: Doug Lillydahl (fourth year)
Last season's highlights: first in county meet, firsst in NSC meet, first in Stevenson sectional, fifth in state meet
Returning swimmers: Seniors Topher Stensby, Richard Lee, Beno Maya, Phoom Lertsinsongsem, Alex Guo, Nick Ebling, John Roh, Max Ryaguzov, Joseph Song, Nathan Gates, Jacob Minin, Ethan Ross; juniors Anthony Carollo, Cameron Coffey, Nick Comini, Jake Kim, Ari Zaritsky, Jack Zhang, Mark Lozovnoy (diving); sophomores Dima Kobets, Chris Oei, Gordon Xu, Evan Engel, Sami Maya, Andrew Thalos
Newcomers: sophomore Foster Swanson; freshman Joshua Song
Outlook: After placing in the top five at the state meet the last two years, the Patriots are intent on finishing even higher this winter. After all, they boast Topher Stensby, who won a pair of state titles last winter and then in March gave a verbal commitment to Notre Dame. "With a keystone in place in defending 50 free and 100 freestyle state champion Topher Stensby, there is the opportunity for us to bring home our first top-3 state trophy since 2004," coach Doug Lillydahl said. "It is a goal that is staring us in the face." Leading that effort also includes returning state qualifiers Nathan Gates, Ethan Ross, Max Ryaguzov, Jack Zhang, Nick Comini, Alex Guo, Phoom Lertsinsongserm, Beno Maya, AJ Carollo and Joseph Song. "It will take a full team effort to fill the lineup with the quality swims that it takes to contend at the state meet," Lillydahl said. "We have a close group of guys who are dedicated to seeing what our upside is." Lillydahl also said the guys swam well during fall preparations and now they need to put in the effort and concentration that contenders give.
WARREN
Coach: Brian Bertana (11th year)
Last season's highlights: fourth in county meet, fifth in NSC meet, fifth in Lake Forest sectional
Key losses: Justin Elkington.
Returning swimmers: seniors Santiago Currea, Austin Edmondson, Leo Forney, Brian Tabourot, Taylor Vander-Jeugdt; juniors Joemil Duka, Jeremy Gunter, Jack Foster, Nathan Weiner, Spencer Burton (diving), Wesley Tunnelius (diving), Diogomaye Bamba; sophomores Jarrett Lobitz, Nathan Heuberger, Collin Jones, Jonah Park, Nicholas Gaetz, Ethan Harrigan, Justin Jones
Newcomers: sophomores Dante Rinaldi, Jarrett Lobitz; freshmen Evan Berndt, Robert Carlson
Outlook: Senior Brian Tabourot will be looked upon for plenty of points in his main events: the backstroke, 200 IM and possibly relays. The Blue Devils are loaded with experience as numbers have increased to 60 guys out for the squad. Santiago Currea, Austin Edmondson, Leo Forney and Taylor Vander-Jeugdt lead the senior contingent. The 6-foot-6 Jeremy Gunter should be a factor in the sprint events. Forney is excellent in the sprints, while Vander-Jeugdt excels in sprints and the breaststroke. Warren's JV team finished third in the Stevenson relays on Saturday.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
VERNON HILLS
Coach: Adam Lueken (ninth yr.)
Last season's highlights: Hoffman Estates invite champs, eighth in county meet, sixth in Lake Forest sectional
Key losses: Calvin Yoon, Kevin Diaz, Jackson Murrie
Returning swimmers: Antoni Okinczyc, Caleb Smith, Caleb Thomson, Alex Utsis, David Utsis.
Newcomers: freshmen Ethan Phua, Ben Ravenscraft, Arjuna Vimalarajah, Erik Giezycki.
Outlook: Numbers keep increasing for the Cougars. "We have a super strong incoming freshman class, led by Ethan Phua," coach Adam Lueken said. "Our goals are to make it to state in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay along with multiple individual events." The Cougars have increased their lifting while also incorporating cross fit. "Our fast freshmen are already stepping up," Lueken said.