The Riverside Brookfield High School boys swimming and diving team’s season opener at Homewood-Flossmoor, Dec. 8, initially ended in a tie.
Upon further review, some of the Bulldogs’ results were not included.
“We had a little mix-up, but we ended up winning [comfortably],” senior Henry Manning said.
The Bulldogs are hoping for continued success behind a solid core of seniors Jake Kocourek, Manning, Aidan Diaz and Michael Kallas – all four-year program members – and a primarily young roster with eight freshmen.
“I would call ourselves family,” Kocourek said. “We’re very well connected. We can joke with each other. Everyone gets along with each other. It really helps us when we’re doing our sets in the pool when we’re with people who we can connect with easily.”
Other contributors include juniors Marcello George and Emerson Lacey, sophomores Ryan Meschke and Frank Savaglio and freshmen Cameron Cimino and T.J. Wood. Junior Zachary Willie, a second-year swimmer, is also in diving.
The Bulldogs had just three seniors in last year’s sectional lineup but they were strong ones – diver Nate Kissel and Aiden Pankros, both individual state qualifiers, and Avi Ponnappan.
“We’re young. A lot of question marks, lots of opportunities for people to claim spots and hopefully they’ll step up to the challenge,” RBHS swim coach Mike Laurich said. “Jake and Henry, if things roll right, have a shot [at state].”
Kallas, one of the team’s top sprinters, remains sidelined after injuring his knee during football. Kallas returns to pool workouts soon but competing is uncertain.
“That’s a huge loss,” Laurich said.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Ryan Meshke competes in the 200 Yard Medley Relay against St. Charles East Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Riverside. (Steve Johnston) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Victor DiForti competes in the 200 Yard Medley Relay against St. Charles East Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Riverside. (Steve Johnston) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Aidan Diaz makes the turn during the 200 Yard Individual Medley against St. Charles East Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Riverside. (Steve Johnston) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Jake Kocourek competes in the 200 Yard Individual Medley against St. Charles East Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Riverside. (Steve Johnston)
At last season’s sectional, Kocourek (500-yard free in 5:05.53) and the 200 free relay with Manning and Kallas (1:30.80) were fourth. The 200 medley relay with Kocourek and Kallas (1:44.11) was fifth. Kocourek may have challenged the 500 cut of 4:46.28 if not for wisdom teeth surgery that sidelined him for a week. This time, the 200 free or 100 butterfly could be his best state opportunities.
“State would be awesome, but I just want to know that I improved myself in the pool from my practices,” Kocourek said. “I think this team, if we all put in the effort in practice, that 100 percent every day, we are going to do great things.”
A freestyler, Manning hopes to contend especially in the 50 free.
“I spent a lot of time in the gym this offseason, trying to get those sprints down a little faster,” Manning said. “Just getting power off the walls and block really helps me.”
Last season, the Bulldogs finished second at their first Upstate Eight Conference Meet to West Chicago. The 200 free and medley relays finished second.
LTHS boys swimming and diving
The Lions had a great state meet last season, finishing 11th (81 points), just two points from 10th, after tying for 27th in 2024. They still wanted more.
A strong senior class led by returning senior all-staters Matthew Ferguson and Jack Hannon intends to do that.
“We wanted to get top 10. The boys were upset, as was I, but they really committed themselves this last offseson,” Rodriguez said. “We have a very senior-heavy sectional and state team so they know this is kind of their last chance to do something special.”
Last season, Ferguson went 4 for 4 as an all-stater. Individually, he was fifth in the 200 free (lifetime-best 1:39.35) and eighth in the 500 free (4:37.82) after a then-best 4:34.60 in prelims. In relays, Ferguson and Hannon were sixth in the 400 free relay (3:05.49) and seventh in the 200 free relay (1:24.57) with graduated Lachlan Gantt and Jake Thorell.
Juniors Jovan Mijailovic and diver Owen Kachmarik and senior Andy Deditz also were state qualifiers, and senior CJ Bass was a 2024 qualifier. Senior Patrick Rhatigan, a transfer from Fenwick, was honorable mention all-state last season in the 200 and 500 free.
Hannon will swim at Eastern Illinois. Earlier this month, Ferguson cut his 500 free best to 4:31 at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships West Section in Austin, Texas, where Mijailovic also had personal bests.
“I think [Ferguson will] have a phenomenal state again this year,” Rodriguez said.
At 2025 state, the 200 medley relay with Mijailovic and Deditz was 20th (1:35.86), Mijailovic was 39th in the 100 back (53.81) and had a false start in the 200 free and Kachmarik was 46th (171.55 points for 5 dives).
In 2024, Hannon and Ferguson were part of the honorable mention all-state 200 free relay (10th in 1:24.57). Bass qualified for state in the 200 individual medley (35th, 1:57.35).
At Fenwick, Rhatigan was 15th at state last season in the 200 free (1:42.71) and 500 free (4:42.62) after five more honorable mention all-state honors his previous two seasons with the 500 free and four relays.
“He should make a quick impact,” Rodriguez said.