Lancers develop hope for state

The Lake Park boys swimming team is hoping for a top 10 finish at state this year thanks to the talent that is emerging behind state champion Bryant Honsa.

Honsa, the 2008 state 500 freestyle champion, won his two individual events, the 400 IM and the 1,000 freestyle, at Saturday's Hinsdale South College Events Meet and, while the Lancers finished sixth, they produced other fine swims that kept optimism high for the postseason.

"We have two solid sprint relays that have a good chance of scoring at state," Honsa said. "Then if I score in my events and a couple of other guys can continue to improve, we can sneak in to the top ten."

Lake Park coach Dan Witteveen said that Honsa's example of dedication and hard work has rubbed off on his other top swimmers and they have realistic goals of qualifying and doing well at state.

"Bryant is a true leader," Witteveen said. "The others see him work hard 21/2 hours at practice every day and they're right there with him - in the weight room, in aerobics and in the pool. The star always motivates the next tier of athletes."

That next tier features sprinters Aaron Casper, a junior, and brother Kyle, a sophomore, both of whom swam on Saturday's 200 freestyle relay team that finished third, less than a half-second behind the top two, Naperville Central and Hinsdale South.

Aaron Casper won the 50 freestyle and also anchored the 400 medley relay team that finished fourth.

Nathan Schingoethe, who has improved steadily all year, finished seventh in the 200 backstroke and Marcus Julian was a member of both relays.

"This is the best team we've had here in my 13 years as coach," Witteveen said. "The Casper brothers have a friendly rivalry going, and Schingoethe is a fine backstroker. And, of course there's Bryant, who showed today how great he is, because he's really tired and beat up. We have some decent talent, and if we put everything together we can get into the top 10."

Naperville Central showed its superior depth at the College Events meet by winning the team competition with 289 points to second-place Waubonsie Valley's 188.

Fremd was third with 187 followed by Barrington and Wheaton co-op, both with 159, and then Hinsdale Central with 153 points.

The Redhawks won both the 400 medley and 200 freestyle relays and finished second in the 800 free relay but didn't have a first-place finisher in the individual races.

They did, however, place two swimmers among the top six in most of the events.

"We're all taking responsibility for the team," said Chris Depew, who was a member of two relay teams. "We push each other in practice and a lot of guys are stepping up in meets."

Second-place Waubonsie Valley had Jim Zuponeck winning both the 200 breaststroke and the 100 free, and Jack Poletto won the 200 butterfly.

"Coming in second in this meet showed that we can compete with a lot of teams," Zuponeck said. "Taylor Pattison, Adam Kozak and Gabe Baginski all stepped up today and they will be even stronger at the end of the year."

Collin Hogan of Wheaton co-op was a double winner, taking both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle races.

Hogan, who has battled back from knee surgery, is realizing the potential he's had since being ranked as one of the top 12-year-olds in the state.

"It feels good to know I can come back stronger than I was before," Hogan said. "I'm shooting to place in state. Right now it's in the 100 backstroke and the 100 fly, but after this meet I could go for the distance relays."

Hinsdale South's Jordan Dyson won the diving competition and Fremd's Varun Shivakumar won the 200 backstroke. Fremd also won the 800 freestyle relay.