Some swimmers are glued to their computers or mobile devices, fixated on the competitive times posted throughout the season for on swimming websites.
But not at Lake Forest. And coach Cindy Dell likes it that way.
“As far as where we are right now, we’re competitive,” Dell said. “We aren’t looking at the top times of other teams at this point of the season. We want to continue to work hard and be confident in ourselves and be capable of anything if we’re willing to put the work into it.”
The Scouts have done the work, and they’re starting to see the rewards. They dominated the Lake County Invitational two weeks ago, winning eight events and besting host Stevenson by 35 points. Last weekend, they finished second at the 16-team Metro Swim Officials Invitational at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin.
It helps that the Scouts return two of the state’s best divers in juniors John-Michael Diveris and Alexander Streightiff. Diveris and Streightiff finished eighth and 13th at the state meet last year and were first and second at Lake County.
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“I praise the Lord every day for those two,” Dell said with a laugh.
Seniors Daniel Smith, Symen Ooms and Michael LeMay, experienced multi-event swimmers, have dedicated themselves to improving on last year’s 23rd-place finish at the state meet.
Then there’s senior Scott Bennatan, a distance specialist and team captain whom Dell calls the team’s “silent leader.” He leads a group that Dell believes is flying under the radar. The Scouts also are relying on sophomore Australian transplant Dylan Boyd, junior distance specialist Michael Hambleton and sophomore Kevin Joseph Donahue.
Donahue was only recently cleared to swim after being diagnosed with a heart condition. His return has added depth and balance to a team that might contend for a top-five finish in next month’s state meet.
“We’re not just swimming each meet to win. We’re swimming for Feb. 28th,” Dell said, referencing the state final at New Trier. “That’s the Saturday of the state meet, and that’s where we want to be.
“Our motto this season is ‘one team, one dream.’ And we’re working together and pushing each other. I don’t know where we are online in terms of times. All I know is that each and every day these guys push each other. There’s no backing down for these guys.”