Cary-Grove co-op dominates FVC swim meet for 9th straight title

From a non-factor to a Fox Valley Conference boys swimming dynasty.

That would be a good way to describe the Cary-Grove co-op boys swimming team.

The Cary-Grove co-op, which includes Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge, Crystal Lake South and Crystal Lake Central, claimed its ninth straight conference title with a score of 373 points Saturday at Woodstock North. McHenry was second with 305 points.

“We were almost non-existent as a program 10 years ago.” said Cary-Grove coach Rick Schaefer. “This program has come a long ways. I saw a lot of significant improvement from a lot of kids today.”

The Trojans boasted three individual champions and swept top honors in all three relay events.

Cooper Langanis won the 500 freestyle easily in a time of 4:45.53.

“I like swimming without stress,” said Langanis. “I could just worry about my time and getting better.”

Langanis was the runner-up in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:43.81.

Ethan Hare won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:01.04.

“I felt my strokes were smooth,” said Hare. “I have been lifting weights after practice and I felt strong today.”

In conference record time, Nick Jasinski garnered top honors in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.02.

The Trojans, with Hare, Jasinski, Corey Sheehan and Omid Babakhani, started the day by winning the 200 medley relay in 1:40.66.

Sheehan, Babakhani, Scott Eibel and Langanis teamed up to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:29.08.

With its conference title already wrapped up, Hare, Sheehan, Langanis and Eibel ended the meet by taking a first place finish in the 400 relay in a conference record-setting time of 3:15.93.

District 300, which was third with a score 261, received a first place effort from Harold Ogaban in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.32. Ogaban nipped Cary-Grove's Peter Hankins, who was clocked at 1:04.34, at the finish line.

“It was a close race all the way,” said Ogaban. “I had to swim as fast as I could possibly swim to win.”

Max Haubrich, the lone Grayslake swimmer, was second in the 100 backstroke behind Jasinski with a time of 53.66.

“It was my best time of the season,” said Haubrich. “I feel good going into the sectionals.”

Huntley, the only non co-op team, placed fourth with a score of 160 points.

The Red Raiders received seventh place efforts from Aaron Vandy (200 freestyle), Quinn Landoch (100 freestyle) and Dillon Gaynor (100 backstroke).

“We are the only single school that isn't a co-op,” said Huntley coach Brenda Czarnecki. “The kids swam well and had a lot of best times.”