By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
A host of area boys swimmers qualified for the IHSA state meet, which begins Friday at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
At the Hinsdale Central Sectional, Lyons finished second with 253 points, 99 behind the champion Red Devils. Lions senior Quinn Collins is heading to state in four events — two as an individual and as a member of two relays.
Hinsdale Central took first in every event, but Collins qualified in the 200 IM (1:53.22 seconds) and 100 backstroke (50.63). Lyons senior Marko Trajanovski qualified in the 50 free (21.74).
Junior diver Matt Adler (449.75 points) and senior Will DiSessa (381.30) will be considered for state once the IHSA receives all diving scores.
Lyons’ 200 medley relay team of Collins, Trajanovski, junior Jack Dillon and junior Peter Smith (1:35.92) and the 400 free relay team of Collins, Trajanovski, Smith and senior Garrett Walls (3:12.04) also qualified.
Also heading to state are Reavis senior Joey Countryman in the 200 free (1:41.6) and 100 free (45.60), and Riverside-Brookfield junior Drew Rosa in the 100 fly (50.59) and 100 breaststroke (58.80).
In diving, Nazareth sophomore Cooper Kosanovich (472.25 points), Oak Lawn sophomore Cohen Laylo (393.35), Riverside-Brookfield sophomore Nate Kissel (380.50) and Riverside-Brookfield freshman (361.70) will be considered for state.
At the Lockport Sectional, Sandburg finished second with 265 points, just 3.5 points behind champion Lockport.
Eagles sectional champs were senior Ethan Pautsch in the 200 free (1:47.70) and the 200 medley relay team of Pautsch, junior Alex Borchard, sophomore Johnny Howaniec and senior Filip Swiecicki (1:42.43).
In diving, Stagg sophomores Ronald Latwis (399.20) and Aaron Rimawi (335.30) and Sandburg freshman Kyler Mrozek (367.40) will be considered for state.
At the St. Ignatius Sectional, Goode STEM Academy junior Larry Rattler won the 100 breaststroke (58.27) and also qualified in the 50 free (21.74).
Super softball
Evergreen Park announced a softball Southside Showcase will be played on its new field April 21-22.
The first night of action will feature Mother McAuley vs. Evergreen Park, St. Ignatius vs. Tinley Park and Marist vs. Oak Forest.
The second day features St. Laurence vs. Riverside-Brookfield, Mother McAuley vs. Riverside-Brookfield, St. Laurence vs. Oak Forest, Marist vs. Tinley Park and St. Ignatius vs. Evergreen Park.
Still dancing
Lyons’ dance team won the lyrical and poms state championships in the Illinois Drill Team Association meet held Feb. 11 in Springfield. The Lions also won the overall state Grand Champion award.
Lions name softball coach
Megan Pyles has been named the new Lyons softball coach. Pyles played high school softball at Evergreen Park and was named to the Mustangs’ all-decade team. She also played shortstop at Moraine Valley
Stars scrimmage
The Chicago Red Stars lost a 3-2 scrimmage to Racing Louisville Sunday in Westfield, Indiana.
Newly acquired Jenna Bike and rookie Penelope Hocking scored goals for the Red Stars. Tierna Davidson and Casey Krueger, who had not played since 2021, saw some action.
One less Trinity
The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, which features area schools Trinity Christian College and Saint Xavier, is losing a team.
Trinity International University men’s basketball coach Greg Miller tweeted that the school, located in Deerfield, is dropping athletics next year.