The Boys Swim and Dive team is optimistic as it heads into championship season. The team has had a great season thus far, winning 5 dual meets while only falling to Lane Tech and Hinsdale Central. After a 28th-place finish last year at the IHSA Boys State Meet, the team’s goal is to earn a top-10 finish this year, head varsity swim coach Erin Rodriguez said. 

“It’s been a few years since we’ve had a top-10 finish,” Rodriguez said. 

She also hopes to qualify as many swimmers as possible for State with a high percentage of lifetime bests. As of January 12th, the boys are projected to finish tenth in the state meet. 

The boys understand that they have to work hard to reach their goals and they are doing just that, Rodriguez said. Especially this year, the boys took advantage of winter break training. During winter break, the boys practiced from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. every day other than Christmas and New Years. 

“This year’s winter break training really stuck out,” Rodriguez said. “There wasn’t ever a workout or a day where I didn’t feel like I got everything out of all of them.” 

On top of their strong work ethic, the boys have a great team culture, Rodriguez said. 

“The boys know the importance of team bonding, so after every invite, the boys will go out to eat together,” Rodriguez said. “The juniors and seniors take the freshmen and sophomores because they know it’s those little things [that make a big difference].”

One of the team’s leaders is captain Lachlan Gantt ‘25. He has both personal and team goals heading into the championship season. 

“This year, my goal is to end with at least one school record and four All-American swims,” Gantt said. 

Gantt has confidence that the team has the ability to do well this year, generating a strong state finish.

“This year is obviously my last year swimming in high school, which is sad, but this is probably the strongest team I’ve seen from LT in a while, and I know we have the opportunity to do very well this year,” Gantt said.

Conference is on Feb. 7 at Downers Grove North High School after which the sectional team will train for two more weeks before heading to Sectionals on Feb. 22 at LT. The IHSA Boys Swim and Dive championships will follow on Feb. 28 and March 1, 2025 at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.  

“I’m excited to see how their hard work pays off,” Rodriguez said. “It’s fun to see them get a tech suit on, no cap, shave– they really just fly, and it’s always exciting having that first conference weekend of swims come together and then the excitement that carries them through the next three weeks.”