Scouting boys swimming and diving, Lake County

Posted December 14, 2015 12:00 am

By Joe Aguilar

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Michael Cunningham (2nd season)

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

Returning swimmers: Sean Coughlin (So.), Andrew Fink (Sr.), Nick Harrington (So.), Stephen Iannuzzi (Jr.), Noah Jamieson (So.), Brandon Kolaczewski (Jr.), Jeffrey Lee (Sr.), Carl Michelotti (So.), Colin Miller (So.), Jordan Mitchell (Sr.), Evan Pinsel (Jr.), Eric Turner (Jr.), Jacob Reichert (Jr., diving), Robert Fisher (Sr., diving)

Newcomers: Joe Eads (Fr.), Richard Rush (Fr.), Jakob Lex (Sr.), Austin Stevenson (So.), Billy Bennit (So.)

Outlook: The Wildcats graduated stars Matt Harrington (Princeton) and Justin Fu but return Noah Jamieson and Eric Turner, both of whom swam at state last season as members of the Wildcats' 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Jacob Reichert and Robert Fisher both qualified for state in diving. "Looking very strong with a young team," coach Michael Cunningham said. "Excited about the possibilities."

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Rahul Sethna (8th season)

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

Returning swimmers: Duncan Black (Sr.), Ryan Fairweather (Sr.), Will Garcia (Sr.), Eric Kozokar (Sr.), Jeremiah Lam (Sr.), Eric Nielsen (Sr.), Matt Schaedel (Sr.), Mike Ward (Sr.), Chris Carlson (Jr.), Aman Cerny (Jr.), Joe Duffy (Jr.), Kyle Guzzio (Jr.), Brandon Kavanaugh (Jr.), Ryan Magee (Jr.), Nick Oleinik (Jr.), Kyle Ehemann (So. diver), Jake Gonzalez (So.), Eubin Kim (So.), Patrick McInerney (So.)

Newcomers: Ben Staroszczyk (So.), Jeff Boudreau (Fr.), Logan Bradshaw (Fr.), Hunter Magee (Fr.), Ryan Zentz (Fr.)

Outlook: The Mustangs qualified only swimmer for state last season. The good news is, Mike Ward (100 backstroke) returns for his senior year. "We have a deep and experienced team where we should be competitive in all of our dual meet and invites," coach Rahul Sethna said. "But like every year, we want to be swimming and diving our best in February."

STEVENSON

Coach: Doug Lillydahl (1st season)

Last season: 1st in NSC meet, 1st in Barrington sectional

Returning swimmers: Nicholas Baginski (So.), Matthew Bauwens, Alan Fang (Sr.), Varun Ganesh (Jr.), Matthew Han (So.), Zachary Hede (Jr.), Kurt Holzer (Sr.), Wenyou Jiang (Jr.), Alexander Kapecki (Sr.), Collin Kapecki (So.), Matthew Krames (Jr.), Michael Lee (So.), Andrew Lefebvre (Sr.), Daniel Mikrut (Jr.), Daniel Ng (So.), Andrew Shashin (Jr.), John Tan (So.), Patryk Wierzchucki (Jr.)

Newcomers: Karl Wadowski (So.), Christopher Stensby (Fr.), Joseph Song (Fr.), Maxim Ryaguzov (Fr.), Ethan Ross (Fr.), John Roh (Fr.), Dan Lertsinsongse (Fr.), Jacob Rosenkranz (Fr.), Beno Maya (Fr.), Nathan Gates (Fr.)

Outlook: Doug Lillydahl is back for the Patriots. He coached them to second-place finishes at state in 2003 and 2004 and was at the helm of the program eight seasons. He inherits a team that returns no individual state qualifiers (swimming events) and only two relay members, senior Alex Kapecki and sophomore Nicholas Baginski, from last year's 27th-place finish team. "So this is a rebuilding year for us," Lillydahl said. "We are integrating many young swimmers into our lineups and aiming to finish this year strong. We are challenging the athletes on our traditionally deep team to distinguish themselves as a standout we can ultimately build state and sectional success around." Juniors Matthew Krames and Patryk Wierzchucki both competed in diving at state last season.

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Adam Lueken (6th season)

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

Returning swimmers: Brian Rabinowitz (Sr.), Gene Palazkou (Jr.), Jeffrey Zhang (Jr.), Calvin Yoon (So.), Derek Zhang (Jr.), Oliver Leung (Jr.), Jason Palmer (Jr)

Newcomers: Kevin Davis, Tim Lee, Alex Russells, Matt Huse, Jack Mulcrone

Outlook: Coach Adam Lueken says he has young team with lots of potential. He's excited about junior diver Gene Palazkou. "Gene's diving is looking in great form already," Lueken said. Brian Rabinowitz, Jeffrey Zhang, Oliver Leung, Calvin Yoon and Jason Palmer are forming the Cougars' top relays. "They have state on their minds," Lueken said. Rabinowitz qualified for state last season in the 100 backstroke. The Cougars' only other state qualifier, Conrad Kocoj (50 freestyle), graduated. This season has already provided a highlight, as Lueken said the team raised $1,300 for prostate and breast cancer research.

WARREN

Coach: Chris Bertana

Last season: 6th in NSC meet, 3rd in Vernon Hills sectional

Returning swimmers: Josh Church (So.), Satya Arcot (Jr.), Mitchell Ihrig (Sr.), Harry Quirke (Sr.), Zack Bongratz (Jr., diving)

Newcomers: Nathan Metz, Austin Edmondson, Brian Tabourot

Outlook: After sending several swimmers to state two seasons ago, the Blue Devils were shut out last winter. They'll be led this season by sophomore Josh Church, who won the 50 freestyle (24.10) and finished third in the 100 butterfly in a 104-82 loss to Libertyville last week. "We're reinventing ourselves, and it's going to take a little time," coach Chris Bertana said. "We're going to be doing a lot of mixing and matching as we go through the season."

Stevenson's Andrew Lefebvre wins the 200-yard freestyle last season during a dual meet againt Warren; Lefebvre is a senior for the Patriots this season. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com

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