Scouting Fox area boys swimming
The city of St. Charles has plenty of swimming talent.
With St. Charles North capturing the state title in 2019 and St. Charles East placing sixth, both teams are primed for another successful campaign.
St. Charles North coach Rob Rooney must replace standout William Myhre (Iowa) who was crowned state champ last season in the 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly.
Rooney returns 9 state qualifiers from the defending state champs including seniors Nathan Baxter, Rick Williams, Siba Filipovic, Jared McIntosh and Ben Watanapongse along with juniors Albert Buvary, Dan Kowaleski and Andy O' Hare and sophomore Alek Filipovic.
St. Charles East, with three state finishers returning, should fight the North Stars for city supremacy.
The Saints, second in the DuKane Conference and sectional behind the North Stars, return senior Joey Sciemca (fourth, 1-meter dive), junior Calvin Windle (fifth, 100 butterfly) and senior Sean Yetter (12th, 100 breaststroke).
Other state qualifiers back include seniors Connor Drury and Owen Mruk along with sophomore Jack Redden.
"We have a team heavy of juniors and seniors," said St. Charles East coach Adam Musial. "We are hoping for a top 10 finish in the state for a fourth straight year."
West-Chicago co-op which includes swimmers from Geneva and Batavia is vying for a second straight Upstate Eight Conference championship.
Senior Kyle Wolford (15th 100 backstroke) and junior Teagan Cook (17h, 100 butterfly) return for the Wildcats.
"We have a junior- and senior-laden team," said coach Troy Murray. "We want to defend our conference title, compete for a sectional championship and qualify multiple individuals for the state meet."
South Elgin, second in the UEC a year ago, is led by senior Alexander Schlueter (17th 100 freestyle).
Seniors Andrew Estep, Sam Miller and Amadeusz Augustynski also return for the Storm.
"We want everybody to be swimming their fastest by February," said Storm coach Bret Anderson. "We want to win conference, finish in the top five in the sectionals and qualify multiple individuals for the state meet."
West Aurora was third in the UEC a year ago and now moves to the Southwestern Prairie Conference.
The Blackhawks, are led by senior Cael McLaren, who was eighth in the state in the 100 breaststroke. Junior state qualifier Vincent Smith and sophomore Jay Jenkins also return.
Jacobs co-op, which includes Hampshire and Dundee-Crown, placed second in the Fox Valley Conference a year ago.
The Golden Eagles' top returning swimmer is junior Vince Chiapetta, a 2-time FVC champion and 2-time state qualifier in the 500 freestyle.
Other returnees are senior Alec Orndahl and sophomore Martin Nowak.
"We are missing a strong senior class and we need everybody on the team to fill their shoes," said Jacobs coach Molly Gomberg. "This team has a lot of potential and is making huge strides in the pool."
Huntley, third in the FVC a year, returns senior Max Hagberg, junior Kacper Cebula and sophomore Max Duetschle.
"We are excited for the season," said Huntley coach Jenna Gaudio. "We are doing a lot of cross training and stretching in practice. We hope to have a lot of personal bests by the end of the season."
Top teams: Jacobs co-op, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, West Chicago co-op
Top swimmers: Vince Chiapetta, jr., Jacobs; Jay Dong, sr., IMSA; Xander Hall, sr., IMSA; Cael McLaren, sr., West Aurora; Connor Drury, sr., St. Charles East; Owen Mruk, sr., St. Charles East; Jack Redden, so., St. Charles East; Joey Sciemca, sr., St. Charles East; Calvin Windle, jr., St. Charles East; Sean Yetter, sr., St. Charles East; Collin Klein, jr., Elgin; Zander Meyers, jr., Elgin; Jason Cano, jr., Elgin; Ian Style, jr., Larkin; Cam Marsh, so., Larkin; Josh Marsh, so., Larkin; Kyle Wolford, sr., West Chicago; Teegan Cook, jr., West Chicago; Max Hagberg, sr., Huntley; Kacper Cebula, jr., Huntley; Max Deutschle, so., Huntley; Nathan Baxter, sr., St. Charles North; Rick Williams, sr., St. Charles North; Siba Filopovic, sr., St. Charles North; Jared McIntosh, sr., St. Charles North; Ben Watanapongse, sr., St. Charles North; Albert Buvary, jr., St. Charles North; Dan Kowaleski, jr., St. Charles North; Andy O' Hare, jr., St. Charles North; Alex Filipovic, so., St. Charles North; Alexander Schlueter, sr., South Elgin; Andrew Estep, sr., South Elgin; Sam Miller, sr., South Elgin; Amadeusz Augustynski, sr., South Elgin
Season skinny: St. Charles North, the defending state champion, will be challenged by crosstown rival St. Charles East. The Saints return 3 swimmers who placed at last year's state meet including senior diver Joey Sciemca who was fourth in the 1-meter dive. Junior Calvin Windle was fifth in the 100 butterfly and senior Sean Yetter finished 12th in the 100 breaststroke. The defending state champs must replace William Myhre, a freshman at Iowa, who won the 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly. West Chicago co-op which includes swimmers from Geneva and Batavia is seeking to repeat as Upstate Eight Conference champions. The Wildcats return state finishers senior Kyle Wolford (15th, 100 backstroke) and junior Teegan Clark (17th 100 butterfly).