Fox Valley Conference

Cary-Grove co-op

(with Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South and Prairie Ridge)

Coach: Scott Lattyak (fifth season)

Last season: First at FVC Invite, four state qualifiers (Ben Castro in 100 butterfly and 200 medley relay, along with 2020 graduates Cole Seeger, Peyton Richardson and Michael Bartczyszyn; Richardson in 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly)

Top returners: Ben Castro (CLC), jr., Danial Sanahurskyj (CLS), so.; Dexter Zielinski (CLC), so.; Kameron Fadden (C-G), jr.; Hunter Pearson (PR), sr.; Ben Fejer (C-G), sr.; Sam Naatz (C-G), jr.

Key newcomers: Drew Watson (CLS), fr.; Robert Morton (CLC), fr.; Brendan Baser (PR), fr.; Simon Rupniewski (C-G), fr.; Andrew Marks (C-G) fr.; Connor Chan (CLC), fr.

Worth noting: The Trojans won the FVC title for the 12th time in 13 years, beating Huntley by 22 points. … Sanahurskyj was named FVC Newcomer of the Year, capturing the 200-yard freestyle title and taking second in the 500 free at the FVC Invitational. … Castro is the Trojans’ only returning state qualifier after placing 10th in the 100 butterfly as a sophomore. His 100 butterfly time of 50.40 seconds tied 2013 grad Michael Hamann for the program record. Castro has been to state in five events (three individual events, two relays) in his first two high school seasons. He’s also the only returner from the 200 medley relay state qualifier for C-G co-op, which has advanced that relay to state for three consecutive seasons. … Lattyak said that Watson has been pushing Castro in sets and has a bright future. … “I have been very impressed with our swimmers who have stayed committed to the sport and have found ways to keep fit,” Lattyak said. “We have a very strong freshman class, which is very promising for the future years of the team.”

Huntley

Coach: Jenna Gaudio (third season)

Last season: Second at FVC Invite, one state qualifier (Ben Rocks in 100 freestyle)

Top returners: Ben Rocks, so.; Kacper Cebula, sr.; Michael Boelens, so.; Max Deutschle, jr.; Luke Vandy, sr.

Worth noting: The Red Raiders gave C-G co-op a real run for the FVC Invite title and improved their conference finish for the third straight year. … Rocks earned a state-qualifying bid as a freshman, taking 35th in the 100 free. At the FVC Invite, he finished runner-up in the 100 free and was part of Huntley’s 200 free and 400 free winning relays, along with Vandy. … Cebula took first in the 100 breaststroke at conference and led off Huntley’s 400 medley relay winning performance. … Deutschle swam on Huntley’s winning 200 free relay at conference. ... Gaudio said Boelens has put in a lot of hard work. ... “We have a smaller team this year, and that has allowed the boys to become very close,” Gaudio said. “Having a smaller team has allowed us to focus on individual and team goals and really individualize practices to meet those goals. We are working on stroke refinement and perfecting technique while incorporating speed training.”

Jacobs co-op

(with Dundee-Crown and Hampshire)

Coach: Molly Gomberg (third season)

Last season: Fourth at FVC Invite, three state qualifiers (graduate Alec Orndahl in 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly; Vince Chiappetta in 500 freestyle)

Top returners: Nate Herrera (Jac), sr.; Martin Nowak (D-C), jr.

Key newcomers: Charlie Mason (Jac). fr.; Josh Brezenski (Hamp), so.

Worth noting: Both of the Golden Eagles’ state qualifiers from last season (Orndahl and Chiappetta) no longer are on the team. Orndahl graduated, and Chiappetta is focusing on his club team before going to Division I Milwaukee-Wisconsin next year. Chiappetta took 29th at state in the 500 free after entering the race with the sixth-fastest seed time. Orndahl finished 37th in the 100 butterfly and 37th in the 200 IM. … Herrera had two second-place medals at conference, taking runner-up in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke. … “One thing that has stood out to me in our first few practices is how eager all our swimmers are to improve and compete.,” Gomberg said. “Although our team is smaller than in previous years, we have a very fun and dedicated group. My main goal is for the entire team to stay healthy and for my swimmers to improve and grow as athletes, as well as young men.”

McHenry

Coach: Sharon Lesniak (fourth season)

Last season: Fifth at FVC Invite, no state qualifiers

Top returners: Kenneth FitzPatrick, jr.; Gaven Hedberg jr.; Christopher Petty, sr., Ryan Kostelnik, sr.; Dominic Nambo, so.

Key newcomers: Ryan Story, fr.; Carter Nieman, fr.

Worth noting: The Warriors were fifth at the FVC Invite for the second season in a row. … Lesniak said the team, which added four new swimmers this season, is excited for the team relays, after girls swimmers were not allowed to compete in relays in the fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic and protocols. … “Our goal is to help the boys get motivated again after being out for so long,” Lesniak said. “It’s hard physically and emotionally to get your head back into [swimming] when you have been out for so long and with very little contact with friends when you are not in school. It has been a hard transition for the boys since they have not been in the water since last February.”

Woodstock North co-op

(with Woodstock)

Coach: Ian Shanahan (18th season)

Last season: Third at FVC Invite, three state qualifiers (Quinn Cynor in 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke; Cynor and Dunnett in 200 medley relay, along with graduates’ Nick Phillips and Aidan Teuber)

Top returners: Quinn Cynor (WHS), sr.; Quentin Crown (WHS), sr.; Gunner Dunnett (WHS), sr.; Bojidar Kostov (WHS), sr.; Marcos Fernandez (WHS), jr.; Dan Ortiz (WN), so.; Aidan Schleutermann (WHS), sr.; Nathan Speciale (WN), jr.; Seth Turnball (WN), so.; Connor Wietermann (WHS), jr.; Robert Zawadzki (WHS), jr.

Key newcomers: Keaton Parrish (WHS) fr.; Trevor Hyrkas (WN), fr.

Worth noting: Cynor, a three-time Northwest Herald Boys Swimmer of the Year, returns for his final season after recording his two best state performances as a junior, placing third in the 200 free and fifth in the 100 backstroke. He won sectional titles in both events and earned Most Valuable Swimmer at conference with teammate Nick Phillips, who graduated. Cynor has gone to state all three years and committed to swim at Cincinnati in November. … North co-op qualified for state in the 200 medley relay, which included Cynor and Dunnett, going just under the state-qualifying time by three one-hundredths of a second. Shanahan said that was the program’s first relay to go to state in “about 15 years.” … North co-op had a nice showing at the FVC Invite, winning five events: two individual wins apiece from Cynor and Nick Phillips, and the 200 medley relay. … “We’re excited that our senior class will be getting to have a final season,” Shanahan said. “We have a very accomplished senior group and would like to see them finish out their [high school careers] on a high note.”