The boys swim team will host GBN, still seeking their first win of the season.
“We haven’t had a lot of trouble against GBN in the past few years,” said senior freestyler Axel Lafont-Mueller. “They’re not a powerhouse like New Trier or GBS, but they’re solid enough to pose a threat.”
The Kits picked up a 118-67 victory against the Spartans in last year’s meet, but the loss of several talented seniors from last year’s team could hurt the Kits in this year’s match-up.
Seniors Richard Alonso and Axel’s twin brother, Adrian, along with Zach Grossman-Torres will be the core four for this year’s team. Their combination of chemistry and exposure to high-level competition at the club level for the McGaw YMCA program makes them an experienced group of players.
The boys have gotten off to a bit of a slower start than they hoped. They lost to powerhouse Naperville Central 119-67 in their first meet of the season on Dec. 4. A week later, they placed fourth in the top division at the Bronco Relays in Barrington last weekend, only three points short of a third place finish.
Divers Harel Anolick, Turner Dobbs and Trevor Nelson all had strong performances at the Bronco Relays, picking up first place in diving with a total score 441.30.
“The divers are a big help,” said coach Kevin Auger. “Let’s face it, if we can go from instead being down 20 or 30 points to being up 20 or 30 points, that helps.”
Anolick has already broken the individual sophomore diving record with a score of 284.55 against Naperville Central.
“We are emphasizing more strength, turn speed, and our underwater swim,” said Auger. “As a result we are trying to go harder. We are lifting more.”
Normally, they would focus on a more aerobic-centered workout, but Auger made a strategic move to focus on the fifth stroke, that is the underwater dolphin kick.
“A lot of our success will have to come from the different training we’ve been doing this winter,” added captain and breaststroker Alonso.
The real competition for the team will come up when they face New Trier and GBS, who have dominated the CSL over the past few years and look very strong this season.
“I think we can scare a team like GBS at a conference or a dual meet situation,” said Auger. Coach Auger believes that their top swimmers are better than our best, but in terms of overall team depth, the Kits have the advantage.