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Cary-Grove co-op
(with Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge)
Coach: Scott Lattyak (third season)
Last season: Second place in conference, two state qualifiers (2018 graduates Omid Babakhani and Connor Dolezal with Cameron Castro and Kolin Fadden in 200-yard freestyle relay; Noah Siegmeier, Hunter Jackson, Peyton Richardson and Kolin Fadden in 200 medley relay)
Top returners: Cameron Castro (CLS), sr.; Kolin Fadden (CG), sr.; Logan Dahlke (CLC), sr.; Michael Bartczyszyn (CG), jr.; Peyton Richardson (PR), jr.; Cole Seeger (CG), jr.; Noah Siegmeier (PR), jr.; Donovan Phipps (CLS), jr.; Bram Byer (PR), so.; Hunter Jackson (PR), so.
Key newcomers: Ben Castro (CLC), fr.; Kameron Fadden (CG), fr.
Worth noting: The Trojans’ run of 10 straight Fox Valley Conference Invitational titles was snapped last season by Jacobs co-op. C-G co-op was defeated by Jacobs co-op, 327-318. ... Lattyak said this group is among the most talented in program history. ... The Trojans advanced to state in two relays last season but lost half of the 200 free relay to graduation. ... Ben Castro already is being looked at as a top contender by opposing FVC coaches, and Lattyak hopes the freshman leads a big group of state qualifiers. ... Jackson won the 100 breaststroke at the FVC Invite as a freshman. Richardson (200 IM), Seeger (500 free) and Siegmeier (100 backstroke) were runner-up ... “This may be the most talented team the district has ever seen,” Lattyak said. “They are already the most united and determined to reach the ultimate goal: the state meet. The dream, drive and desire is there.”
Huntley
Coach: Jenna Gaudio (first season)
Last season: Third place in conference, no state qualifiers
Top returners: Kacper Cebula, so.; Max Hagberg, jr.
Key newcomers: Dillon Cherwin, sr.; Grant Yonamine, so.; Max Deutschle, fr.; Gavin Heard, fr.
Worth noting: Cherwin is swimming for the first time at the high school level and already set the team record in the 100 backstroke (55.12 seconds) at last weekend’s IMSA Invitational. ... First-year Red Raiders coach Jenna Gaudio thinks Cherwin can be among the top conference swimmers. ... Hagberg placed runner-up in the 100 free and 200 free at last year’s FVC Invite. ... Gaudio predicts breakout seasons for sophomores Yonamine (50 free) and Cebula (100 breaststroke). ... “I’m really excited about this season,” Gaudio said. “After one week of practice, I already see the bonds forming. The boys have worked hard to push each other and the relationships they’ve already made will strengthen our team. I predict several swimmers will break team records.”
Jacobs co-op
(with Dundee-Crown and Hampshire)
Coach: Molly Gomberg (first season)
Last season: First place in conference, no state qualifiers
Top returners: Eric Boysen (Jacobs), sr.; Jacob Carignan (Hampshire), sr.; Alex Le (Jacobs), sr.; Alec Orndahl (DC), jr.; Caden Waddell (Jacobs), jr.; Vince Chiappetta (Jacobs), so.; Nate Herrera (Jacobs), so.
Key newcomers: Martin Nowak (DC), fr.; Zack Taller (Jacobs), fr.
Worth noting: Gomberg, a 2007 Crystal Lake Central graduate who coached the Woodstock girls swimming team in 2012, takes over for Rick Andresen, who led Jacobs co-op the past 12 seasons, winning the FVC championship last year. ... Jacobs co-op won six of 11 events at last year’s FVC Invite, led by 2018 graduate Elijah Stuart and Harold Ogaban, who shared the Most Valuable Swimmer award with Woodstock North co-op’s Quinn Cynor. They both won two races at the FVC Meet. Ogaban did not go out for the team this year, Gomberg said. ... Chiappetta won the 500 free at conference, and Boysen and Le were half of the team’s winning 200 medley relay, along with Stuart and Ogaban. ... Boysen finished runner-up in the 100 butterfly behind Cynor. ... Orndahl is a former FVC Newcomer of the Year. ... “We have a big team this year filled with a lot of talent,” Gomberg said. “I have been very impressed with the work ethic and positive attitudes. Although we lost a few key seniors, we have an exceptional group and several strong newcomers that will be fun to watch.”
McHenry
Coach: Sharon Lesniak (second season)
Last season: Fourth place in conference
Top returners: Riley Hedberg, sr.; Dylan Qualls, sr.; Nathan Murrin, sr.; Bryce Williams, sr.
Worth noting: Hedberg had the best finish of any Warriors swimmer at last year’s FVC Invite, taking third in the 100 free. Hedberg and Qualls also were a part of McHenry’s second-place 200 free relay, along with 2018 graduates Jonah Smith and Tyler Hemphill. Hedberg was fourth in the 50 free and Qualls was fourth in the 100 breaststroke.
Woodstock North co-op
(with Woodstock)
Coach: Ian Shanahan (16th season)
Last season: Fifth place in conference, two state qualifiers (Quinn Cynor in 100 butterfly and 500 free)
Top returners: Logan Lorr (WN), jr.; Ben Thuma (WHS), sr.; Nick Phillips (WN), jr.; Gunner Dunnett (WHS), so.; Quinn Cynor (WHS), so.; Aidan Teuber (WN), jr.; Mason Mathews (WN), jr.; Bojidar Kostov (WHS), so.
Key newcomers: Jack Cunningham (WHS), sr.; Jorge Aragon (WN), so.; Gareth Williams (WN), fr.
Worth noting: Cynor is the defending Northwest Herald Boys Swimmer of the Year after qualifying for state in two events as a freshman. The Woodstock phenom not only earned FVC Newcomer of the Year in his first season, but Cynor also earned Most Valuable Swimmer honors, along with Jacobs co-op’s Elijah Stuart and Harold Ogaban. He didn’t advance to the second day at state, but Cynor broke school records in the 100 butterfly (51.79) and 500 free (4:38.71) during the season. ... Lorr and Thuma were named team captains and lead a strong group of 28 swimmers. ... Shanahan wants to see Cynor place in the top 12 at state in two events, and is hopeful to see his team break multiple school records in relays with Cynor, Phillips, Dunnett, Lorr and Teuber leading the way. ... “We have most of our top varsity scorers returning and hope to get relays close to state times,” Shanahan said. “We have 13 swimmers who are new to the sport and hope will contribute to the team.”