The boys varsity swim team held their first and last home meet this past Saturday, Dec. 2. Lake Forest High School and St. Ignatius College Prep both competed against the Wolves. The boys worked hard and did their best at their home pool, earning the 1st place plaque for the early bird invite.

The team excelled in distance events according to head swim coach Dan VanderJeugdt. On top of that sophomore Ethan Chung broke two records at the meet, for the varsity 100-yard fly and 100-yard backstroke.

Last year, the team had five of their swimmers qualify for and place at state. Now the team is looking better than ever according to team captain and senior, Zach Guerrero.

“There was a lot of excitement and anticipation going into this meet, as this season really feels like an extension or a part two of the last one. Last year we were a really good team, and this year we know we can be even better,” Guerrero said.

VanderJeugdt discussed his goals for the season.

“I would like us to contend for the conference championship, my number one goal for every kid in the program is to have their lifetime best time at their last swim of the year and we are usually in the 96th percentile of doing that so that’s the most important thing, but qualifying the most you can to state and performing well,” VanderJeugdt said.

Five of the varsity swimmers are underclassmen, so they are likely to beat records as they grow as last season’s underclassmen did, according to senior and captain Jaden Vo.

“Last year, our underclassmen core broke a bunch of school records, and with more talented underclassmen joining the record, we’re looking forward to more records being broken, both the freshman-sophomore records and the overall varsity records,” Vo said.

The boys have practice every day after school and double practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays: one in the morning before school and another after. All of the boys swim and dive future meets are being held at Niles North due to the Niles West pool renovation. Despite not being able to train at home, the Niles North pool is a good facility for the swimmers to practice in, according to VanderJeugdt.

“[They are] the best group of young men I have ever coached. They are just really hard workers,” VanderJeugdt said of the varsity squad.

Overall, go out and show your support for the Wolves during their next meet at Stevenson High School, on Friday, Dec.8.