Boys swimming and diving: Stevenson wins Lake County meet, Barrington 2nd
The Lake County boys swimming and diving meet is the last competition until after the new year begins.
So doing well among your peers on a big stage and gaining some momentum and confidence was on everyone's minds Saturday.
That included Stevenson, which swam to 457 points to repeat as Lake County champs.
Barrington was second (363), followed by host Highland Park (330), Mundelein (317), Warren (196), Lake Forest (193), Libertyville (126), Vernon Hills (120), and Zion-Benton (55).
"It's a great honor to win county," said Patriots coach Doug Lillydahl. "There are some great teams here today. But like the guys are doing with their exams this week, we passed our exam here today."
The Pats had a county champion as sophomore Jack White took top honors in 1-meter diving with 427.05 points. Danny Silverstein finished fourth with 354.45.
"They are really coming into their own," noted Lillydahl. "We only have four point-scoring seniors back. Our depth was a big factor today and a lot of guys are stepping up."
The Pats had a plethora of runner-up and third-place efforts as medals were awarded to the top six in each event.
The 200 medley relay of Jack Zhang, Ari Zaritsky, Josh Song and Jake Kim touched second in 1:37.49. Zhang also took second in the 200 IM (1:59.45) while AJ Carollo was second in the 200 freestyle (1:46.49).
Kim was also second in the 50 free (21.99) and third in the 100 freestyle (48.68), while Song took second in the 100 butterfly (50.85).
Later in the meet, Carollo took second (53.36) and Zhang third (53.96) in the 100 backstroke and the 400 free relay of Jonny Farber, Dima Kobets, Zhang, and Carollo also finished second (3:17.76) in the last event of the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Barrington had a terrific meet in finishing second while having a host of county champions.
"The guys swam great," said Broncos coach John Valentine. "This is a good tuneup for after the holidays and we're exactly where we should be right now."
The 200 medley relay of Griffin O'Leary, Jack Hoppe, Shawn Ujiiye, and Daniel Langlois got things started in touching first in 1:36.92.
Hoppe turned right around to win the next event, the 200 freestyle, in 1:45.04.
"The last 50 yards I really turned it up and really wanted to beat AJ (Carollo)," said Hoppe. "And we had a good start in the relay. I'm working on my under-waters and turns so we don't lose a race on those."
Hoppe (59.11) and Langlois (59.88) then finished 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke, while Hoppe also swam on the champion 200 free relay where he paired with O'Leary, Jack Streeter, and Ujiiye to touch in 1:28.
O'Leary was also a county champion in the 100-backstroke (49.72), 200 IM (1:57.00), and 100-butterfly (49.97), while Dan Emary was a county champ in the 500 freestyle (4:55.05). O'Leary's time in the 100 backstroke was a new meet and pool record.
Upstart Mundelein had a solid meet with sophomore Omar Fathallah taking second in the 100 free (48.30) and third in the 50 free (22.06).
"I'm so tired right now but happy with my swims," said Fathallah, a returning state qualifier. "Swimming in the finals is mentally tough but I just want to do the best for my team. Coach was a good motivator today saying just have some fun and if you have a bad swim to just forget about it."
Aaron Anastos was third in the 200 freestyle 1:48.47) while the 200 medley relay of Jack Long, Cale Sethna, Michael Romero, and Parker Geary were also third (1:42.56). Romero also took third in the 200 IM (2:02.28) and the 100 breaststroke 1:01.59) and Anastos second in the 500 freestyle (4:56.01).
The 400 free relay of Anastos, Long, Danny Oleinik, and Fathallah also touched third (3:21.77).
Warren's divers have been up and coming this winter. Actually they've already arrived.
Blake Vander Jeudgt took second in the diving event with 376.50, while Spencer Burton finished fifth (347.55. and Wesley Tunelius 10th (300.55).
"We're excited about having three divers in the Top 10. Our new diving coach (Kyle Ehmann) has done a great job with them," said Warren coach Chris Bertana. "We had a really good meet and the guys are moving forward. We're going to work on our strokes and turns during the break."
Libertyville's Isaac Paul was sixth in diving (331.85), while the 400 freestyle relay of Andrew Yan, Mitchell Madland, Ben Kistler, and Andrew Bacilek touched sixth (3:34.66).
Lake Forest's Colin Kingsley swam anchor when he paired with Luke Lanigan, Sidd Ojha, and Peter Landis to finish fourth in 3:26.38. Kingsley was also fourth in both the 200 freestyle (1:50.41) and 500 freestyle (4:58.45).
Highland Park's Tobe Obochi won county titles in the 50 freestyle (21.00) and 100 freestyle (46.37). Obochi also swam on the winning 400 free relay, where he paired with brother Kevin, Bora Hoplai, and Alex Gordon to touch in 3:15.45.