Riverside Brookfield High School senior Henry Manning enjoyed a great finish in boys swimming.
He won the 50-yard freestyle at the Upstate Eight Conference Meet.
“It was awesome being the only one from the team who brought home a gold (first place),” Manning said. “That was a good feeling and definitely a good way to close off my swim career in high school.”
He hopes his final boys water polo season with the Bulldogs also finishes much better than last season.
Manning missed the latter half of the 2025 season after suffering a broken nose during a game against Maine East at the Buffalo Grove Quad last April 19. He will play this season with NBA-like protective nose gear.
“At very least I’m hoping to show off a little bit to Maine East (this season),” said Manning, who is considering the club swimming team at Arizona State. “I’m pretty sure it was an elbow across the nose. I reached up and I could feel the line where it has broken, so I was like, ‘I’m going to hop out (of the pool).’”
Manning is among three seniors and five returnees for the Bulldogs, who finished 4-16 last season and lost in the sectional quarterfinals 19-8 to state quarterfinalist Brother Rice after beating Solorio 13-5 for their first sectional victory since 2023.
This year’s varsity roster consists of seniors Aidan Diaz, Manning and Zachary Kowalski, juniors Victor DiForti, AJ Douglas, Marcello George and Emerson Lacey and sophomores Vincenzo George and Ryan Meshke. The entire program is at 17 players.
Manning, Lacey, Marcello George and Meshke are returning starters. The Bulldogs opened the season Saturday at the Bradley Bourbonnais Tournament, losing to Lincoln-Way Central 16-3, Hinsdale Central 19-3 and Shepard 12-4.
“(Our goal is to) be competitive in all of the games we’re playing, see us win a game at sectionals and just to improve every game like we did last year,” second-year RBHS head coach Mike Laurich said.
The Bulldogs graduated top scorer Avi Ponnappan and goalie Marty Bieliauskas, who set documented program records for saves in a season and one match.
New goalie Vincenzo George and Douglas already are showing the benefits of playing club water polo last summer.
On Saturday, Douglas and Lacey each had three goals. Manning and Meshke had two apiece.
“Enzo has developed into a pretty good goalie. We put him in last year and he picked it up pretty quickly,” Laurich said.
“(Meshke) as a driver is going to be a key for us (offensively). AJ is probably the most improved. We’re looking for him to do good things.”
Laurich once again will receive a boost from assistant coach Tatum Bruno, also an assistant for Laurich in boys swimming. The former RBHS girls water polo all-stater also played at Wittenberg University.
“She’s really taken control of the program. I help her out,” Laurich said.
LTHS boys water polo
After winning the 2024 state title, the Lions had a relatively inexperienced lineup in 2025 that lost in the sectional final.
The Lions, who did not reach at least the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2014, are determined to return.
“The goal is to get to the state tournament,” LTHS coach Doug Eichstaedt said. “I love our depth and balance. The players gained valuable experience last year, and other players have taken some big strides during the offseason. We also have some talented freshmen that are ready to make the jump.”
Seniors Ben Kozak, Wesley Musgrove and Tommy Stamer and junior goalie Vadran Petrovic are returning starters for the Lions, who finished 16-12 last season and lost 19-14 to state quarterfinalist Brother Rice in the sectional finals.
Other team members are senior Brice Hurley, juniors Joaquin Cooke, Nolan Fey, Leo Obloy, Joaquin Fabara from Brookfield, Finn Hunek and Collin McNeil, sophomores Tucker Offenbacher and goalie Nathan Sinars and freshmen Leo Frank and Tim Kozak.
Ben Kozak, Musgrove and McNeil are team captains. Ben Kozak was third team all-state and first team all-sectional in 2025 after collecting 33 goals, 26 assists and 20 steals. Musgrove was second team all-sectional with 40 goals, 26 assists and 21 steals.
“Our biggest key to success is our commitment to playing together and playing hard every possession,” Eichstaedt said. “Water polo is a demanding sport, and the teams that succeed are the ones that consistently outwork their opponents and stay disciplined in their roles.”
The Lions started 2-1 at the Stevenson Tournament Saturday, beating Whitney Young 11-4 and Fremd 14-10 while losing to the first-place host Patriots 9-7.
Eichstaedt said Obloy is among the emerging newcomers.
“For us, it starts with defense. When we defend well, communicate, and take pride in blocking shots and winning possessions, it naturally creates opportunities for our offense and allows us to play the fast, attacking style we want,” Eichstaedt said. “Another key is our culture. If we stay connected as a group, defend with intensity, and keep improving week by week, we give ourselves a chance to compete with anyone.”