Boys water polo: Scouting Lake County
LIBERTYVILLE
Coach: Ivan Munoz (fifth season)
Last season: 20-12
Returning players: Alex Kracoski (Sr. driver), Andrew Fink (Jr. goalie), Jordan Mitchell (Sr. driver), Paul Manfredini (Jr. driver), Christian Hobson (Sr. hole defender)
Key newcomers: Carl Michelotti (Fr. driver), Noah Jamieson (Fr. driver)
Season outlook: The Wildcats graduated the offensive talents of Adam King and lefty Pat King (no relation), but coach Ivan Munoz thinks his squad could be a dark horse in the conference. "We definitely have a lot to work on, but this is a group that listens very, very well," Munoz said. "So I definitely foresee a lot of good things happening from this team simply because they want to learn and get better. They have big shoes to fill from last year's senior class, but I think they'll step up." The Wildcats opened their season Wednesday with a 16-11 win over Deerfield.
MUNDELEIN
Coach: Russ Gates (second season)
Last season: 19-14
Returning players: Mike Ward (Jr. 2M), Jeremy Westgate (Sr. 2MD), Matt Schaedel (Jr. utility), James Philbrick (Sr. utility)
Key newcomers: Nick Oleinik (So. utility), Eric Nielsen (Jr. attacker)
Season outlook: After graduating four starters last year, the Mustangs have some inexperienced players on their roster. "Although we're young," coach Russ Gates said, "we have experience and are hungry to improve on last year's season."
STEVENSON
Coach: Sean Wimer (ninth season)
Last season: 26-9, fourth at state
Returning players: Andrew Shashin (So. utility), Alex Kapecki (Jr. attacker), Shaurya Gilani (Sr. goalie), Liam Holzer (Sr. utility), Kurt Holzer (Jr. attacker), Dan Maleski (So. utility), Luke Gable-Preze (Sr. attacker)
Key newcomers: Cristiano Tomassetti (Jr. 2M), Collin Kapecki (Fr. attacker), Rahul Arun (So. attacker)
Season outlook: Gone is star Mitchell Sokosky, who graduated after scoring 120 goals last season. Alex Divanyan (58 goals) and Zach Stephens (45 goals) also graduated. But the returnees includes 6-foot-4 sophomore Andrew Shashin, who tallied 93 goals last season and has the potential to do even greater things this season. Also back are junior Alex Kapecki (77 goals last season), senior goalie Shaurya Gilani, senior Liam Holzer (12 goals), junior Kurt Holzer (25 goals), senior Luke Gable-Preze (14 goals) and sophomore Dan Maleski (7 goals). Freshman Collin Kapecki and junior Cristiano Tomassetti scored 4 and 3 goals, respectively, in the Patriots' season opener. "We're a very young, but very experienced team looking to win the state championship," said coach Sean Wimer, whose Patriots followed up a state runner-up finish in 2013 with a fourth-place finish last spring. "The boys want the big prize. Every one of the returning players has either started or played in the state semifinals, and a couple of them played in the championship game two years ago."
VERNON HILLS
Coach: Adam Lueken (second season)
Last season: 11-11
Returning players: Nikita Mikaylov (Sr. driver), Richard Padovano (Sr. wing), Ki Young Kim (Sr. driver), Patrick Pranica (Sr. hole-D)
Key newcomers: Jackson Murrie (Fr. wing)
Season outlook: The Cougars lost a lot of seniors last year, but through hard work in the off-season, coach Adam Lueken said, they are looking to repeat another great season. Nikita Mikaylov, Ricard Padovano and Ki Young Kim will lead the squad this year with a well thought-out offense. Lueken calls senior Patrick Pranica is one of the toughest hole defenders in the conference. "We have sophomore goalies Jason Palmer and Derek Zhang who we will be looking to step up big this year," Lueken said. "Overall, we are working hard and expecting great things."