Scouting Fox boys swimming
Top returning athletes: Cary-Grove District 155 co-op - Ben Castro (Jr., fly, backstroke, 100), Danial Sanahurskyj (Soph., fly, 200), Dexter Zielinski (Soph., 500, breaststroke, 200), Kameron Fadden (Jr., 50, 100), Hunter Pearson (Sr., 50, 100), Ben Fejer (Sr., breaststroke), Sam Naatz (Jr., backstroke, 50), Dundee-Crown/Jacobs/Hampshire - Nate Herera (Sr., Jacobs, 50, 100, breaststroke), Martin Nowak (Jr., D-C, fly, IM), Larkin - Francisco Maldonado (Jr., fly, 100), Marmion - Ty Spillane (Sr., breaststroke, relays), Ryan Conner (Sr., backstroke, relays), Ben Robertson (Sr., 100, relays), Aidan Dela Cruz (Sr., 200), Jackson Oostman (Jr., IM, free, breaststroke), Sean Wehner (Soph., 500), Tyler Conner (Soph., 200, 500, breaststroke), St. Charles East - Calvin Windle (Sr., 200, backstroke, 500, relays), Braden Clarke (Sr., 100, relays), Jack Redden (Jr., relays), St. Charles North - Alec Filipovic (Sr., returning state champion in fly, second in state in 50), Kane Kriz (Soph., IM, fly, breaststroke), William Deutmeyer (Fresh., distance), Andy O'Hara (diver), Stephan DeBello, Robbie Kemp, Hunter Freeland, Albert Buvary
Top teams: St. Charles North, St. Charles East, Marmion
Season outlook: The good: Boys high school swimming is back, the season can run until March 13 and relays are now allowed per new Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines, The not-so-good, no state series will occur, meaning conference meets will be the end of the line in March. As far as top teams, St. Charles North won the state title last year and returns University of Texas-bound Filipovic, who won the butterfly state title in 2020 and took second in the state in the 50. "We will focus on preserving the traditions and expectations that have made this program what it is today," North Stars coach Rob Rooney said. "We must find a way to see through COVID and work towards building a great team for today and the future." St. Charles East is no slouch either. The Saints, seventh in the state last year, are led by Missouri-bound Windle and state qualifiers Clarke and Redden. "What I have learned about this team during 'the pause' is it is disciplined towards training and these guys just want to compete," Saints coach Adam Musial said. "We plan on training hard and will try to get as much racing in as we can in a short amount of time. We have a larger senior class (12 swimmers/divers) that will lead our team to continued success within our program and the state." Marmion features Missouri recruit Spillane, who was third in the state in the breaststroke last year, along with Conner, who is headed to Missouri-St. Louis. The Cadets were third in the MCAC a year ago and will swim in eight meets leading up to the league finale. And there is this neat stat from coach Aaron Maschman: Last year nine different Marmion swimmers finished with at least one performance in the program's Top 20 all-time and only two of those nine graduated. "Ultimately, the team experience is one of the biggest parts of Marmion swimming," he said. "Keeping that first and foremost in everyone's mind is likely one of the most important focus items of the season. That is how we can best navigate through crazy times like these - together." The Cary-Grove District 155 co-op team is headlined by returning state qualifier Castro, while the District 300 co-op team will be without two-time state qualifier and Wisconsin-Milwaukee signee Vince Chiappetta, who is swimming club, coach Molly Gomberg noted. Larkin lost four of its top five returning varsity swimmers, but coach Nate Williams is focused on building the program's swim culture after a 15-year absence.