With a large influx of newcomers, most of whom had little to no varsity experience, this season has been one of transition for the Oak Park and River Forest High School boys swimming and diving team. But as the Huskies approach the conference and sectional meets, veteran head coach Clyde Lundgren likes the progress that has been made.
“The season has exceeded my expectations. Not because of any single result, but because of the way this group has fully embraced the process from day one,” Lundgren said. “There has been no need to convince them of the methodology or the direction. They’re all in.
“I greatly admire their commitment level, their daily approach to the work, and the genuine care they show for one another as teammates. It’s truly humbling to be around such a fine group of young men and to watch them grow through the season.”
Among this season’s team highlights has been winning the Mustang Invitational at Downers Grove South last month, along with a second-place finish at the Riverside-Brookfield Invitational, Jan. 17.
“[The Mustang Invitational] was a great statement meet for our program,” Lundgren said. “[At RB] we competed well against a strong field.”
OPRF’s 262 points at the RB Invite were 42 points behind champion Oswego Co-Op. The Huskies won the 200-meter freestyle relay with a time of 1:31.11. Juniors Alfonso Cides, Connor Harmon, and Cameron Kuenster, along with senior Francesco Canzona, made up the unit.
OPRF’s 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays each took second place. The 200 unit of junior Sam Morgan, senior Charlie Beyer, Canzona, and Kuenster had a time of 1:43.52, while the 400 unit of Kuenster, senior Jeremy Lane, junior Justin Dairyko, and Cides clocked in at 3:22.83.
Although there were no individual event winners, the Huskies received top-six finishes in multiple events. Cides was second in the 200 freestyle (1:50.73) and third in the 100 freestyle (49.50). Kuenster took third in the 50 freestyle (23.07), and junior Nathan Kessler got third in the 500 freestyle (5:27.85).
Fourth-place finishes were provided by Beyer in the 100 butterfly (56.73), Canzona in the 200 individual medley (2:09.37), Dairyko in the 200 freestyle (1:52.35), and senior Max Vannopas in diving (288 points).
Fifth-place showings came from Beyer in the 500 freestyle (5:21.39), junior Ben Chalmers in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.34), Dairyko in the 100 backstroke (58.22), senior Dominic Kramer in the 100 butterfly (season-best 57.89), and junior Ben Mellman in the 200 IM (personal-best 2:10.24). Morgan finished sixth in the 100 backstroke (59.09).
With a large junior class, next year has the potential to be a very good one for OPRF. But the Huskies are focused on finishing this season as strong as possible.
“Our goal for the remainder of the season is to finish what we’ve started and continue building on the momentum we have created,” Lundgren said. “The boys are swimming with a great deal of confidence right now, and we want to steward that while continuing to sharpen our racing as we move into championship season.
“We want to go as deep as we possibly can in the postseason, tally as many personal bests along the way, and put ourselves in position to advance. If we do that the right way, earning a trip to the state meet would be a very satisfying way to complete the season.”
OPRF will take part in the Lyons Township Invite on the school’s South Campus in Western Springs, Jan. 31, beginning at 8 a.m.