Scouting DuPage County boys swimming and diving
Top teams: Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley, Hinsdale Central, Naperville Central.
Top swimmers and divers: Addison Trail/ Willowbrook co-op: Aidan Nichols, sr.; Eric Hoda, sr.; Benet: Nick Tommasone, jr.; Brady Quinlan, jr.; Colin Flynn, sr.; Jack Kobus, jr.; Conner Hwang, jr.; Downers Grove North: Jonah Kopeckey, (diver); Hinsdale Central: Cullen Cochlan, sr.; Nolan Lahmann, jr.; Michael Bennington, sr.; Hinsdale South: Tommy Matulis, sr.; Will Gallagher, so.; Matt Krauz, sr.; Lake Park: Ben Kimmel, sr.; Ernest Berdychowski, jr., Bryan Mendoza, so., Anthony Slade, sr.; Norbert Szczotka, sr.; Metea Valley: Jeddrick Gamilla, jr.; Jaeddan Gamilla, fr.; Austin Martinson, sr.; George Wang, so.; Tyler Leslie, so.; Jimmy Cronin, sr.; Naperville Central: Andrew Dai, sr.; Goncalo Wanzeller, jr.; Owen Codo, jr.; Stephen Noha, sr.; Caleb Yau, so.; Naperville North: Grant Bochenski, jr.; Andrew Li, jr.; Owen Jacobs, sr.; Justin Li, jr.; Neuqua Valley: Jimmy Senese, jr.; Connor Boyle, jr.; Rohan Negori, sr.; Waubonsie Valley: Aayush Deshpande, sr.; Lucas Conrads, jr.; Elmer Weng, jr.; Brian Knothe, jr.; Evan Villanueva, jr.; Arnov Deshpande, so.; West Chicago/Batavia/Geneva co-op: Teegan Cook, jr.; Kyle Wolford, sr.; Gavin McCullough, so.; Brian Culloton, sr.; York: Jay Jensen, sr.; Connor Groya, so.; Owen David, (diver), so.; Matt Billenstein, jr.
Scouting report: Waubonsie Valley coach Chris Hagenbaumer is hoping that his team's third-place finish at state was only a preview of things to come. With most starters back from that squad, including All-American Aayush Deshpande and Conrads, the Warriors have high expectations to take another top-three trophy. With a little luck they may be in the conversation for a state championship. Waubonsie's high expectations start with Aayush Deshpande, who finished second in both the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly. "He not only plans to win both events this year," Hagenbaumer said, "but he hopes to break the state record in both events." Conrads is looking to finish top six in both the 200 and the 500 freestyle. Villanueva is in position as a possible scorer in the two longer freestyle races, while Knothe is capable of putting up points in the breaststroke. Wang could score in both the 200 IM and the breaststroke. Arnov Deshpande is a contender in the butterfly, and the Warriors figure to score all three relays. Hagenbaumer lauded Aayush and Conrads for being the hardest workers he's ever seen. "We challenge them every day in practice," the coach said. "No matter what I give them and no matter what interval we put them on they rise to the occasion. They push each other, and along with Wang, who is working at their level, provide leadership for the rest of the team. "We're definitely shooting for a trophy, and if the cards fall right we can do very well."
Neuqua Valley finished second at state, but the Wildcats lost eight swimmers off that fine state team. Boyle and Senese are the two returning stars around whom coach Chad Allen will build the team this year. Senese was 12th in the 50 free and swam on all three scoring relays. The Wildcats won the two free relays and they have a lot of work to do to find replacements for all the graduated seniors. Boyle was third in the 100 and fourth in the 200 free. "He keeps getting better and better and he's awesome on our relays. Nagori could score in the 100 breaststroke and he should swim the breaststroke on our 200 medley relay." The coach knows he has to develop some of the second-level swimmers to give the Wildcats a shot at this year's relays. Although there are no new superstars on the horizon, Allen believes there are a number of swimmers with potential who can narrow the gap between Neuqua and the top contenders by the end of the year.
Naperville Central coach Mike Adams believes that Dai and Wanzeller are poised to make a statement this year in their individual events and in the relays, with some developing swimmers who look to take on new roles this year. But the coach knows it will take a lot of hard work for the Redhawks to mature into a squad that can duplicate last year's ninth-place finish. "We graduate a lot of guys every year," Adams said. "And we always have a lot of promising young swimmers who've been in the program. This year there's going to be a lot of brutal competition to see who gets those open spots. And that competition will be decided by fractions. We have fewer experienced people, so we have a long way to go to find the hardworking guys who can be counted on in the postseason." Dai is a great all-around swimmer who can go in any event, while Wanzeller is outstanding in the backstroke and Codo will be a factor in the fly. Everyone else is auditioning to see who is going to fill out the lineup around those three.
Metea Valley and Naperville North did not finish among the top teams at state, but both have a lot of promising young swimmers and should be strong at the end of the season. Mustangs coach Mark Jager expects state qualifiers Jaedden Gamilly (IM and breaststroke) and Martinson (fly) to take that next step and score at state this year. Wang and Jed Gamilla have a chance to score, and Jager thinks the Mustangs can send the medley and the 200 free relays to state.
For Naperville North, Bochenski is a lot taller and has worked hard in the off-season and should contend in both the backstroke and the 100 free, while Jacobs looks strong in the 50 free and the breaststroke. "We should have more qualifiers this year," coach Andy McWhirter said. "And that could lead to some scoring. We've had a strong off-season and I'm eager to see how that works into the season."
Hinsdale Central suffered a lot of graduation losses, but coach Bob Barber will have to work hard with his younger kids in order to get back into the top 10. Cochlan, Lahmann and Bennington make up the veteran nucleus going into the season.
Lake Park, which finished 17th at state last year, is led by three-year qualifier Kimmel, who was fifth in the fly and seventh in the backstroke. Coach Dan Witteveen is hoping to send two relays to state.
For the West Chicago/Batavia/Geneva co-op team, Cook is expected to score in both the fly and the backstroke, while Wolford is a contender in the backstroke. Benet is led by returning sprinter Tommasone and a strong medley relay team.
- Neil Shalin