New Trier Aquatics

Sharks Trade Fins for Finery at Ravinia Green

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:51:17 GMT

A Night of Olympic Inspiration, Milestone Achievements, and Community Celebration

On the evening of April 19th, the New Trier Aquatics family gathered at Ravinia Green for our 2025-2026 Spring Banquet. It was a beautiful night to step away from the pool deck and celebrate a season defined by our mission: creating positive pathways to lifelong excellence in and out of the water. #BetterEveryDay #FinsUp

The "In Depth" Connection: Olivia Smoliga

We were excited to host two-time Olympian Olivia Smoliga . This year’s visit was particularly special, as Olivia expressed her heartfelt gratitude to NTA for being the very first club to partner with her newly formed In Depth Swim Academy .

Olivia spoke about how meaningful it was to return to our pool and reconnect with her own former club coach, our very own Steve Iida . Her message to the Sharks transcended stroke technique; she urged our athletes to remain curious, embrace creativity, and lead with confidence and enthusiasm, and thanked them for helping her do the same - a perfect reflection of the Shark culture!

Mastering the Medley: IM Milestones

This year, we celebrated an incredible surge in versatility across the roster. We recognized 39 8&Under swimmers for legally completing all four strokes - a testament to the technical foundation being built in our lessons and developmental programs! proving that our Sharks are becoming true all-around threats in the water.

Furthermore, we recognized 226 swimmers who demonstrated our commitment to versatility by scoring in USA-Swimming's IMReady and IMXtreme programs! .

Honoring Our Volunteers & Leaders

A club is only as strong as its foundation. We honored those who give their time to ensure our program remains the "gold standard."

Official of the Year: Moira Bushell
Volunteers of the Year: Mahdi Maher & Amy Taff
10-Year Loyalty Members: Margaret Lietzau, Violet Schumacher, and Charlie Sears

We also extended a heartfelt thank you to our outgoing board members— Leigh Sears, Brian Cunningham, Greg Baumeyer, Nancy Schumacher, and Carrie Feig —for their tireless dedication to the NTA community.

2025-2026 Award Recipients

Swimmers of the Year

Age Group: Cecily Clifton & Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski
Senior: Sylvia Deliduka & Jordan Ko

Most Improved Swimmers

8 & Under: Olivia Zemon & Henry Logan
9-10: Emily Rozentsveig & Daniel Weis
11-12: Diana Hellebusch & Clint Iversen
13-14: Harper Sharping & Maks Goldberg
15 & Over: Janette Kostamo-Peistrup & Ben McDougal

Special Selection Teams

Duel in the Pool (Team Illinois)

Cecily Clifton, Nick Drcha, Tommy Johnson, Joe Kennedy, Jordan Ko, Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, Matt Logan, Riley McNeal , Eric Moldovan, Daniel Nikonchuk, Everett Pumphrey, Lia Roggi, Jordana Segel, Tyler Zheng.

Project LA (Vancouver) Team Illinois

Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, Riley McNeal, Everett Pumphrey, Lia Roggi, Tyler Zheng.

Additional Honors

Zone Select Camp Invitees: Sam Cast, Jordan Ko, Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski
Illinois Junior Leadership Camp: Ivy Duffy, Matt Logan

Looking Toward the Horizon

As the banquet closed, the excitement for the upcoming long-course season was palpable. With travel meets on the books for Louisville, Hawaii, and Vancouver, the Sharks are ready to take their talents across the globe.

Congratulations to all our swimmers on a season of incredible growth. Let's keep that momentum moving through the summer! #GoSharks

Leave It in the Pool: NTA Honors Legacy at 20th Annual Hour of Power

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:16:05 GMT

Sharks Unite for Sarcoma Research, Philanthropy, and Team Spirit

On April 18th, the New Trier Aquatics family gathered at the NTHS Northfield pool to carry on one of our most meaningful and enduring traditions: the 20th Annual Ted Mullin "Leave it in the Pool" Hour of Power Relay . It was a morning defined by high energy, community spirit, and a deep commitment to #BetterEveryDay —both as athletes and as citizens.

Honoring a Local Hero

The event is held in memory of Ted Mullin , a former Winnetka resident and NTA swimmer who embodied the "all-out" spirit we strive for today. After swimming at New Trier High School and Carleton College, Ted tragically passed away in 2006 from synovial sarcoma , a rare soft-tissue cancer.

We were incredibly honored to have Ted’s parents, Rick and Mary , join us to speak with our athletes. They shared powerful stories about Ted’s legacy, the vital work being done by the Ted Mullin Fund , and the importance of philanthropy and giving back. Their words reminded our Sharks that while we strive for excellence in the pool, creating positive pathways to lifelong excellence outside the pool is just as vital to our mission.

All-Out Effort for a Cause

From our Bronze and Senior groups to our Silver and Gold squads, Sharks of all ages hit the water for sixty minutes of continuous, high-intensity relays.

The Mission: Every lap swum supports research into rare pediatric cancers at the University of Chicago Medicine .
The Impact: Over the years, this global movement has raised over $1,636,000 for sarcoma research, funding genetic studies, new therapies, and the Ted Mullin Fund scholars program.
A Global Movement: What started with just 15 teams has grown to include over 160 teams and 8,000 athletes worldwide. NTA is proud to remain at the core of such a transformative event, setting the gold standard for community aquatic programming.

The Fundraising Sprint: Open Through April 30th!

Our NTA families have once again shown incredible heart, and the opportunity to support this life-changing research is still going strong!

Fundraising remains open through April 30th. We are still competing to see which NTA families can provide the biggest boost to the Ted Mullin Fund. The top three fundraising families will be rewarded with Speedo equipment or apparel:

First Place: $300
Second Place: $200
Third Place: $100

Let’s keep that Shark energy moving! You can contribute to the team total and help us reach our next milestone by visiting the NTA Hour of Power donation page .

#FinsUp #GoSharks #TedMullinFund #BetterEveryDay

Sharks Take a Bite Out of Orlando

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:43:12 GMT

Two team records fall, Top 8 finishes abound, and a 15th place overall team standing mark an unforgettable week for NTA.

25 Sharks headed south last week to compete at the 2026 NCSA Age Group Swimming Championships in Orlando, Florida. Competing against some of the fastest age group swimmers in the entire country, our athletes proved they belong on the big stage!

When the splashes settled, NTA placed 15th overall in the combined team standings with an impressive 197 points !

Here are the highlights from a stellar week of racing:

�� Top 8 Finishers

Racing in Finals at a meet like this is a huge accomplishment, and we had three Sharks absolutely light up the leaderboard with Top 8 finishes!

Joe Kennedy (12): Joe had a massive meet, proving his versatility across the board. He grabbed the bronze with a 3rd place finish in the 50 Free (23.99), took 4th in the 100 IM (59.36), 4th in the 50 Breast (30.13), 6th in the 100 Free (52.45), and 6th in the 100 Breast (1:06.88)!
Tommy Johnson (12): Tommy secured his spot on the podium by taking 3rd place overall in the 200 Breast (2:24.69), while also snagging 7th place in the 100 Breast (1:07.39) and an 8th place finish in the 50 Breast (31.50).
Cecily Clifton (12): Cecily had a fantastic swim to claim her spot in the A-Final, finishing 8th overall in the 100 Fly with a stellar time of 1:01.49!

�� Record Breakers!

You know it's a good meet when the record boards need updating! A massive shoutout to our newly crowned NTA Team Record holders:

Joe Kennedy obliterated the 11-12 Boys 50 Breast team record with a blazing fast time of 30.13!
Tommy Johnson shattered his own 11-12 Boys 200 Breast team record, touching the wall in a phenomenal 2:24.69!

�� Point Scorers

Scoring points at NCSA Age Groups requires making it into the top 16 out of hundreds of elite swimmers. Along with our Top 8 finalists, these athletes battled to add crucial points to NTA's overall score:

Jordana Segel (14): Jordana showed immense endurance and grit, securing an impressive 10th place finish overall in the grueling 400 IM (4:32.19)!
Eric Moldovan (14): Eric displayed his own versatility with a 12th place finish 400 IM (4:18.90)!
Joe Kennedy (12): Continuing his standout meet, Joe added a 9th place finish in the 50 Fly (26.29).
Cecily Clifton (12): In addition to her 100 Fly success, Cecily pushed through the highly challenging 200 Fly to earn a 15th place finish (2:23.94).
Tommy Johnson (12): Showcasing his IM versatility alongside his breaststroke prowess, Tommy snagged 16th place in both the 100 IM (1:03.72) and the 200 IM (2:16.82).

We are incredibly proud of all our athletes who competed. Way to represent the Northshore!

Go Sharks!

#BetterEveryDay #FinsUp #GoSharks

Sharks Swarm the NCSA Junior Championships!

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:11:18 GMT

Record-breaking performances, Winter Junior cuts, and a Top 20 combined team finish highlight an unforgettable week in Orlando.

Our New Trier Aquatics Sharks traveled down to Orlando, Florida last week to battle the nation's fastest at the 2026 NCSA Junior Championships, and they absolutely crushed it!

The men secured 23rd place overall with 99 points, while the women tied for 14th with 233 points. Together, NTA combined for a fantastic 17th-place team finish with 332 points!

We saw some exceptional swims over the course of the week. A massive shout out goes to 14-year-old Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski for breaking the Illinois state and NTA team record in the 13-14 50 Backstroke (22.52)! Lubo didn't stop there, also shattering the team record in the 13-14 100 Backstroke with a 49.35, and dropping his team record in the 50 free to a 21.41. What a phenomenal achievement for this young Shark!

Our relays brought the heat as well, with the Girls 200 and 800 Freestyle Relays both taking down NTA team records. The 800 Free Relay team of Ella Houston, Sylvia Deliduka, Margaret Lietzau, and Ryan Vender set a new standard of 7:26.27, and the 200 Free Relay, the squad of Sylvia Deliduka, Lia Roggi, Ryan Vender, and Margaret Lietzau went 1:33.32, with Sylvia setting the tone by achieving her very first Winter Junior National cut in the 50 Freestyle (23.10) on her lead-off leg!

The major milestones continued under the lights, as Jordan Ko secured his first Winter Junior National cut with an incredible nighttime swim in the 200 Breaststroke (2:01.53). We also want to highlight Ella Houston for kicking off our scoring in 1650 Freestyle with a 15th place finish in 16:57.49!

Achieving these major motivational standards is what NTA is all about—creating positive pathways to lifelong excellence in and out of the pool.

Individual Point Scorers & Finalists At this level of competition, scoring points is a massive accomplishment. A huge shout out goes to our individual point scorers:

Riley McNeal (39pts): 50 Breast (11th), 200 Breast (15th), and 100 Breast (16th)
Sylvia Deliduka (23pts): 200 Free (13th) and 100 Free (20th)
Ella Houston (12pts): 1650 Free (15th)
Tyler Zheng (14pts): 50 Breast (13th)
Lia Roggi (7pts): 100 Free (18th)
Jordan Ko (6pts): 200 Breast (19th)

In addition to scoring points, several Sharks fought their way into the Top 40 to earn hard-fought second swims against the nation's elite:

Lia Roggi: 200 IM, 100 Breast, and 50 Breast
Jordan Ko: 100 Breast, 50 Breast, and 50 Fly
Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski: 100 Free, 100 Back, and 50 Back
Sylvia Deliduka: 50 Back
Tyler Zheng: 100 Breast
Margaret Lietzau: 200 Fly
Nick Drcha: 100 Free

We’re so incredibly proud of all our swimmers who traveled to Florida and raced their hearts out. But the sunshine state fun isn't over yet—we are back in action this week with the NCSA Age Group Championships in Orlando. Let’s keep the momentum going!

#BetterEveryDay #FinsUp #GoSharks

Sharks Devour the Competition at Age Group Championships!

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:14:02 GMT

State records fall as NTA captures 6th place

Our New Trier Aquatics Sharks brought the heat to the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex in Wisconsin last weekend for the 2026 Illinois Swimming Age Group Championships! Racing against the best in the state, the team threw down massive personal bests, crushed first-time milestones, and shattered records left and right.

Powered by stellar individual performances and unbelievable relay chemistry, the NTA Boys captured 2nd place overall (1,288.50 points!), propelling the combined team to a fantastic 6th place finish in the state.

Here are some of the biggest highlights from an unforgettable weekend:

�� High Point Superstars

A special shoutout to our Sharks who dominated the individual standings and placed in the top 5 for High Point awards! Joe Kennedy racked up an incredible 138 points to take 4th place overall for the 11-12 Boys, and Sam Cast powered his way to 4th place for the 13-14 Boys with 149 points!

�� Record-Breaking Swims

Our record boards are getting a major rewrite after this meet! Huge shout-outs to our record-breakers:

Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski: Lubo was absolutely electric, breaking the NTA team record in the 50 Fly (22.24) and 100 Fly (50.19)! To top it off, his blazing 50 Back swim broke the State Record !
Sam Cast: Sam dominated the distance and IM events, breaking the NTA team records in the 200 Free (1:42.04), 500 Free (4:35.01), and 400 IM (4:08.94)!
Tommy Johnson: Tommy was virtually unstoppable in the breaststroke events, setting brand new team records in both the 100 Breast (1:06.23) and 200 Breast (2:25.78)!
13-14 Boys 200 Free Relay: The squad of Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, Sam Cast, Daniel Sheynis, and Matt Logan teamed up to shatter not only the team record but the State Record with a blistering 1:27.98!
13-14 Boys 400 Medley Relay: Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, Avi Bodner, Matt Logan, and Sam Cast kept the momentum rolling, setting a new team record (3:35.33).
11-12 Boys 200 Medley Relay: The quartet of Joe Kennedy, Tommy Johnson, Hunter Wessel, and Lincoln Tang secured their own spot in NTA history, breaking the team record with a spectacular 1:51.62!

�� Top 10 Individual Medalists

Our Sharks proved they belong on the podium! Here’s a rundown of our top 10 medalists in individual events:

Sam Cast : 200 Free (1st), 500 Free (1st), 50 Free (2nd), 100 Free (2nd), 1000 Free (2nd), 400 IM (3rd), 1650 Free (5th)
Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski : 50 Back (1st), 50 Fly (1st), 100 Fly (1st), 100 Breast (10th)
Tommy Johnson : 50 Breast (1st), 100 Breast (1st), 200 Breast (1st)
Joe Kennedy : 50 Fly (2nd), 50 Free (3rd), 100 Free (3rd), 50 Breast (3rd), 100 Breast (3rd), 100 IM (4th), 200 Free (5th)
Cecily Clifton : 100 Fly (2nd), 50 Fly (4th), 100 Free (5th), 100 IM (8th)
Jordana Segel : 400 IM (5th), 200 Fly (6th), 200 IM (8th)
Eric Moldovan : 400 IM (5th), 200 Back (8th), 200 IM (8th)
Lincoln Tang : 50 Breast (5th)
Daniel Nikonchuk : 200 Back (6th), 100 Back (7th), 200 Free (10th)
Matt Logan : 100 Fly (7th)
Daniel Sheynis : 100 Fly (9th)
Ron Livne : 200 Fly (10th)

✈️ Next Up: Orlando!

The championship season isn't over yet! The Sharks are packing their bags and heading to Orlando, Florida, for the NCSA Junior Championships (March 17-21) and the NCSA Age Group Championships (March 25-28).

Let's keep the momentum going! #BetterEveryDay #FinsUp #GoSharks

Sharks Shine at Senior State Championships

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:53:33 GMT

Sharks Secure Top 5 Team Finish as Multiple Swimmers Punch Tickets to Junior Nationals

It was an electric weekend at UIC as 47 New Trier Aquatics Sharks took to the water for the 2026 SC Illinois Senior State Championships . Competing against the best in the state from March 5-8, our Sharks lived up to the NTA vision of setting the gold standard, powering their way to a 5th place overall team finish with 708 points. The Boys squad led the charge with a 4th place finish, while the Girls team secured a strong 6th place in the state rankings.

Swimmer of the Meet: Ryan Vender

If there was a "Swimmer of the Meet" award, it would undoubtedly go to Ryan Vender (17) . Ryan had an absolutely stellar weekend across the board, dropping time and achieving new NCSA Junior National cuts in almost everything she swam. Among her many standout swims, Ryan clocked a 1:52.97 leading off our 800 Free Relay on Friday night. Her consistency and determination all weekend perfectly embodied the #BetterEveryDay mindset!

Championship Podium and High Point Honors

The weekend was also highlighted by dominant performances from Sylvia Deliduka and Everett Pumphrey , who each brought home two individual state titles.

Sylvia Deliduka (16) was a force in the sprint freestyle events, capturing state titles in both the 50 Yard Free (23.39) and the 100 Yard Free (50.98) . Her consistent speed earned her 3rd place in the Overall High Point standings.
Everett Pumphrey (15) displayed his endurance and tactical skill to win both the 1000 Yard Free (9:21.74) and the 1650 Yard Free (15:43.99) . Everett’s performance earned him 5th place in the Distance High Point standings.
Dylan Sears (15) also made his mark in the distance lanes, finishing 8th in the Distance High Point standings following a stellar 500 Yard Free (4:41.42) and a 7th place finish in the 400 Yard IM (4:10.61) .

National Cut Celebrations

The Sharks were on a mission to reach the national stage, with several swimmers achieving prestigious time standards for the very first time:

Everett Pumphrey opened the meet on night one with a massive swim in the 1000 Free , securing his first Winter Junior National cut .
Connor Brosche (17) clocked a 52.83 in the 100 Back to earn his first NCSA Junior National cut.
Ben Diep (16) powered through the 200 Fly in 1:54.65 to grab his first NCSA cut.
Donny Kennedy (16) showcased his versatility in the 200 IM , touching in 1:54.76 to achieve his first NCSA cut.
Claire Keyworth (16) demonstrated elite backstroke form, finishing the 200 Back in 2:05.65 to score her first NCSA cut.
Dylan Sears carried his momentum into the 200 Free , locking in his first NCSA Junior National cut.

Record Breakers and Exceptional Swims

Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski (14) had a historic weekend, shattering three 13-14 Team Records . Lubo rewrote the NTA record books in the 100 Yard Free (45.66) , earning a 5th place finish in the A-Final against much older competition. He also took down the 13-14 record in the 100 Yard Back (49.68) with a blistering lead-off split in the Boys 400 Yard Medley Relay, and the 50 Yard Free (21.42) in prelims !

Other exceptional performances included:

Maeve Atwood (15) : A-Finalist in the 400 IM (4:28.34) and a swift 2:05.49 in the 200 Yard Back .
Charlie Sears (17) : A-Finalist in the 100 Yard Fly (50.81) and a strong 2:07.58 in the 200 Yard Breast .

Congratulations to all our Sharks for another fantastic weekend of racing. We are incredibly proud of your hard work and the supportive environment you continue to build for one another.

#FinsUp #GoSharks #BetterEveryDay

Sharks Make a Splash at the 10U Illinois State Championships!

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:30:32 GMT

our youngest competitors took on the state's best

What an incredible weekend of racing! Fourteen of our New Trier Aquatics Sharks traveled to Glenbrook Swim Club last weekend to compete against almost 500 of the state's best at the 2026 ISI 10 & Under Age Group Championships. Showing true dedication and competitive spirit, our young athletes proved that hard work pays off.

We had some massive time drops, top-tier state rankings, and even a new team record! Here is a look at some of the highlights from our 10 & Under Sharks.

�� Record Alert! ��

A massive shoutout goes to 8-year-old Nikolas Nikonchuk , who absolutely crushed his swim in the 100 Breaststroke. Nikolas stopped the clock at 1:31.23, officially breaking the NTA 8 & Under Team Record! Nikolas also brought home a personal best in the 50 Breaststroke.

Top 25 State High-Point Performers

Two of our 10-year-old Sharks placed in the top 25 in the entire state for Individual High Point scores, proving they are among the most versatile and competitive swimmers in Illinois:

Alyssa Liberman (10) scored 32.5 points to take 23rd overall for the girls!
Ryder Guloy (10) scored 24.5 points, placing 25th overall for the boys!

Top 16 State Finishers

Placing in the top 16 at the State Championships is a huge accomplishment, and our Sharks delivered on the big stage! We want to highlight the following exceptional, points-scoring finishes:

Ryder Guloy (10) reached the podium with a spectacular 3rd place overall finish in the 100 Breaststroke, powered by a massive personal best (1:19.67)! He also grabbed 11th in the 50 Breast (with a best time) and 14th in the 50 Fly.
Alyssa Liberman (10) was a force across the board, logging a trio of 9th-place finishes in the 200 IM (best time), 100 Back (best time), and 50 Fly. She also took 12th in the 100 Fly and 16th in the 50 Back (best time).
Boys 10 & Under 200 Medley Relay: The team of Adam Mallett (10) , Nikolas Nikonchuk (8) , Asher Vdovets (10) , and Ryder Guloy (10) teamed up to take 16th place overall in a highly competitive relay field!

A huge congratulations to all 14 of our State Championship competitors! You continue to foster a positive pathway to lifelong excellence in and out of the pool.

#BetterEveryDay #FinsUp #GoSharks

Sharks Devour the Competition at Winter ISI Regionals

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:04:40 GMT

Massive time drops, perfect meets, and state qualifiers highlight an incredible weekend at Barrington High School.

The New Trier Aquatics Sharks hit the water with a vengeance last weekend at the Illinois Swimming Regional Championships. Hosted at Barrington High School, the meet marked the thrilling first stop in the ISI Championship series, and our athletes did not disappoint.

Our swimmers embodied the NTA mission of setting the gold standard for community aquatic programming. From massive time drops to flawless weekends, here is a look at the highlights from Regionals!

�� Exceptional Swims & Jaw-Dropping Drops

Dropping time in swimming is a battle of fractions of a second, but several of our Sharks decided to skip the fractions and drop minutes. We had several swims this weekend that featured massive, 6%+ time drops in some of the most grueling events in the sport:

Jamie Schlaud (14): Jamie absolutely obliterated his seed time in the 1650 Free, dropping an astounding 2 minutes and 45 seconds to finish at 17:56.74—a mind-boggling 13.3% time drop!
Avi Bodner (14): Avi also conquered the mile in spectacular fashion. He dropped 1 minute and 15 seconds in his 1650 Free, touching the wall at 18:47.93 (a 6.3% drop).
Cecily Clifton (12): Cecily dominated the 1000 Free, smashing her seed time by nearly a full minute (58.46 seconds) to post an incredible 11:44.96.
Ron Livne (12): In the 200 Breaststroke, Ron carved off 37 seconds from his entry time, finishing in 2:59.32 for a phenomenal 17% drop!
Daniel Nikonchuk (14): Daniel put on a clinic in the 200 Breaststroke as well, destroying his seed time by nearly 29 seconds to touch in 2:34.82 (a 15.5% drop).

�� Tackling the Tough Stuff

It takes serious courage to step up for some of the hardest events in the sport. We want to give a massive shoutout to our athletes who successfully completed some of swimming's most notoriously difficult races this weekend:

8 & Unders taking on the gauntlet: Huge props to Nikolas Nikonchuk (8) for battling through the 200 IM, and Molly Bushell (7) for flying her way through the 100 Fly!
9-10s stepping up: Amelia Silverberg (9) and Scarlett Wessel (9) successfully navigated the tricky 200 IM, while JP Fredericks (9), Emma Malalis (10), and Vivien Nowak (9) also shined in their longer events.
11-12s pushing the limits: Yanni Yi (12), Hanna Dold (12), and Cecily Clifton (12) showed immense grit in the grueling 400 IM, while Araad Maher (12), Riley Frankle (12), and Mark Pop (12) soared through the grueling 200 Fly.
13 & Overs going the distance: A huge round of applause to Andrew Alshouse (15) and Bea Schaeffer (15), for winning the 1000 Free!

�� Perfect Meets (100% Best Times)

Swimming a personal best is great. Swimming a personal best in every single event you enter? That is legendary. The following athletes had flawless weekends, notching a personal best in 100% of their completed races:

Sena Gordon, Tommy Johnson, Brandon Ko, Emily Macklis, Nathan Marchevsky, Daniel Nikonchuk, Nikola Radisic, Cal Reese, Lindy Schlaud, Daniel Sheynis, Asher Vdovets

⏱️ Best Time Machines

The hard work is clearly paying off! The following Sharks were absolute best-time machines at Regionals, racking up 4 or more personal bests over the course of the weekend:

Andrew Alshouse, Morgan Crocker, Michael Dukach, Sam Fagin, James Harlin, Lauren Helm, Claire Keyworth, Janette Kostamo-Peistrup, Ian Kwak, Aaron Langdon, Daniel Liberman, Ron Livne, Araad Maher, Benjamin McDougal, Aiden Molinski, Luka Radisic, Jamie Schlaud, Isla Tomlinson

What's Next?

The championship season is just getting started! We’ll be right back in action this coming weekend as our athletes head to the Pro Series at Westmont, Senior State at UIC, and the 10&U State Championships at Glenbrook North.

Keep up the incredible work, Sharks. We are getting #BetterEveryDay!

#FinsUp #GoSharks

Sharks Make Waves at North Shore Conference Championships!

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:00:56 GMT

Massive time drops, flawless meets, and first-time milestones highlight an incredible weekend for New Trier Aquatics.

New Trier Aquatics competed at the North Shore Swimming Conference Championships last weekend at Evanston Township High School, and our swimmers had a fantastic showing! The hard work in practice is paying off, and the results across the board prove that we are getting #BetterEveryDay.

Here are some of the most exciting highlights from the weekend:

Flawless Execution

A special shoutout goes to the incredibly focused swimmers who achieved a 100% best-times. Touching the wall with a personal best every single time you dive in is no easy feat! Congratulations to: Adam Bodner, Avi Bodner, Caroline Barhight, Henry Logan, Lucas Freitas, Savannah Leskinen, and Sophie Che .

The Best Time Machines

We had a massive group of athletes who were absolutely on fire all weekend long, racking up huge counts of personal bests across their event lineups.

Let’s hear it for these Sharks: Andrew Alshouse, Eleanor Augustine, Asher Bodner, Avi Bodner, Hanley Byrne, Michael Dukach, Jacob Feig, Riley Frankle, Joseph Kennedy, Alyssa Liberman, Emma Malalis, Adam Mallett, Rohan Mukherjee, and Daniel Sheynis .

First-Time Fearless

Stepping up to the blocks for a grueling, longer-distance event for the first time takes courage. These swimmers boldly tackled new challenges and laid down their very first baseline times in some of the sport's toughest races:

Charlotte Cook established her first time in the 100 IM.
Zoe DeCristofaro completed her first 100 IM.
Elisa Dold successfully tackled her first 200 IM.
Ryder Guloy took on the 200 IM for the very first time.
Henry Logan completed his first 100 Free.
Linus Barry swam the 100 Free for the first time.
Sena Gordon successfully completed the grueling 400 IM for the first time.

Jaw-Dropping Swims

Sometimes a best time isn't just a best time—it's an absolute demolition of a previous seed. We saw some jaw-dropping time drops in highly demanding races this weekend:

Lucas Freitas dropped over 51 seconds in his 100 IM.
Rohan Mukherjee shaved over 43 seconds off his 200 Breast.
Nora Caskey dropped over 26 seconds in the 200 IM.
Joaquim da Costa Pioner dropped nearly 24 seconds in his 200 Free.

We'll be back in action this weekend with the ISI Regional Championships—the first stop in the Illinois Swimming Championship series—in Barrington. Let's keep the momentum going. #FinsUp #GoSharks

Hearts and Sharks: NTA Athletes Shine at 2nd Annual 8U Championships

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:08:08 GMT

Youngest Sharks show "Love" for the sport with a dominant performance on Valentine's Day at New Trier Northfiel d

New Trier Aquatics celebrated Valentine’s Day with plenty of heart—and a lot of speed—hosting the second annual 8U Championship Meet at the New Trier High School Northfield campus. The energy in the building was electric as our youngest Sharks took to the water, proving that excellence has no age limit as they continue to get #BetterEveryDay.

Perfect Marks and Personal Bests

Accuracy and improvement are the hallmarks of NTA, and several swimmers met the challenge by recording personal best times in every single event they swam . Join us in celebrating these athletes for their consistency and focus:

Sai Arora, Freddie Cunnick, Collins Dawson, Theo Doolin, Connor Dutz, Elaina Fang, Talia Garofalo, Kiran Ghosh, Grayson Guy, Cooper Hanscel, Charlie Jesionowski, Catherine Kinahan, Russell McCaw, Zoe Murphy, Shannon O'Rourke, Magnolia Pjevcevic, Ansel Rice, Brooke SooHoo, Gabriel Urbanski, Henry Venatta, and Mason Wang .

Leading the Pack

In addition to individual improvements, our Sharks were battling for the top of the leaderboard all day. A special shoutout goes to our top three point earners of the meet, who demonstrated incredible versatility across multiple disciplines:

Henry Logan (71 points), Ava Zhang (65 points), and Molly Bushell (60 points).

Conquering the Tough Stuff

The 8U Championships provide a fantastic platform for swimmers to test their endurance and skill in "big kid" events. Charlotta Dudeck showed great grit, successfully completing her first 100 IM with a strong finish of 1:55.67. Lucy Malalis stepped up to the blocks for the 50 Breast for the first time, clocking in at 1:08.93 , while Azalia Urbanski completed her first 25 Freestyle in 35.82

Exceptional Swims

The meet saw some eye-popping time drops that brought the crowd to their feet. Molly Bushell had an absolutely exceptional performance in the 100 IM, shaving over eight seconds off her previous best for a massive 7.5% improvement. We also saw an incredible sprint from Henry Logan in the 25 Backstroke, where he dropped over 11% off his seed time to touch the wall in a blistering 18.94.

Looking Ahead

The Sharks are just getting started! We will be back in action this coming weekend for the North Shore Conference Championships hosted by WSO at Evanston Township High School.

Let's keep that momentum moving forward. #FinsUp #GoSharks #BetterEveryDay

Sharks Rise to the Occasion in Libertyville

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:38:46 GMT

From first-time distance swims to flawless records, New Trier Aquatics athletes showed up ready to race at the Rise A+ Meet.

The New Trier Aquatics Sharks competed at the RISE A+ meet at Libertyville High School this past weekend, delivering a performance defined by grit and speed. With a focus on racing tough and improving technical execution, the team racked up an impressive number of personal bests.

A RECORD BROKEN!

Hat's off to Ella Houston for breaking her own team record in the 500 Freestyle! Ella swam the race in 4:54.15 to break her previous record by over a second and a half!

The Perfect Performance List

It is difficult to swim a perfect meet, but these athletes managed to achieve a Personal Best time in every single event they successfully completed (minimum 2 events):

Eleanor Augustine, Joseph Kennedy, Emily Macklis, Adam Mallett, Melody Youkhana.

Multi-Best Time Achievers

We also want to celebrate the depth of our team. The following swimmers dropped time in four or more of their events , showing impressive versatility across the board:

Elise Abbasi, Maeve Atwood, Caden Cook, Hannah Davis, Michael Dukach, Joseph Kennedy, Brandon Ko, Daniel Liberman, Matthew Logan, Edward Saviski, Beatrice Schaeffer, Violet Schumacher.

Braving the Tough Stuff

Stepping up to swim a "hard" event for the very first time takes courage. We are proud of the following swimmers who successfully completed these challenging races for the first time in their careers:

Nathan Faynshteyn (8&U) conquered the 200 Free for the first time.
Ryder Guloy (9-10) also successfully raced the 200 Free for the first time.
Luka Radisic stepped up to the blocks for the grueling 400 IM and finished strong with a time of 5:20.57.

Exceptional Swims

There were several jaw-dropping performances this weekend where Sharks crushed their previous bests by significant margins:

Ryder Guloy had a breakout performance in the 100 Fly, dropping over 14 seconds (a 14.5% improvement) to finish in 1:21.90.
Daniel Nikonchuk decimated his seed time in the 400 IM, dropping nearly 14 seconds to touch the wall in 4:30.87.
Aiden Molinski showed incredible endurance in the 500 Free, dropping 16 seconds to break the 6-minute barrier with a 5:54.12.

Next Up: 8&U Championships! We’ll be back in action on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, for our 2nd Annual 8&U Championships at the NTHS Northfield Campus. Get your fins up and ready to cheer!

#BetterEveryDay #FinsUp #GoSharks

NTA Sharks Honor a Legend at Rick Peterson Build the Base Invite

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:14:27 GMT

They Were Super and Mighty!

This past weekend, New Trier Aquatics hosted the 2026 Rick Peterson Build the Base Invite . This meet holds a special place in the hearts of the North Shore swimming community, as we honor long-time NTHS, NTSC, and OWC Coach Rick Peterson - a man whose innate ability to engage and inspire set the foundation for swimming in our area. Rick was known for making everyone he spoke to feel interesting and heard, and our Sharks honored his legacy by supporting one another and racing with relentless enthusiasm.

The results were nothing short of Super! From our 8 & Unders tackling longer events for the first time to our senior swimmers refining their race strategies, NTA athletes showed up ready to race.

Perfect Weekend: The 100% Club

Achieving a best time in every single event entered is a difficult feat, requiring focus across multiple sessions and strokes. We are incredibly proud to recognize the following swimmers who achieved 100% Best Times :

Hayley Baumgarten, Mark Blauvelt, Leila Blomeier, Scarlett Cagadas, Brooks Cain, Sophie Che, Caden Cook, Charlotta Dudeck, Joshua Fredericks, Arielle Gorengaut, Clayton Guloy, Diana Hellebusch, Kayla Karpats, David Karpel, Janette Kostamo-Peistrup, Anthony Kowalski, Ian Kwak, Lucy Lahey, Michael LaRocco, Ezra Lee, Daniel Liberman, Nora Lucas, Emma Malalis, Adam Mallett, Elaxi Menezes, Andrei Molea, Jimmy Murray, Elia Narasimha, Tesha Nyamgerel, Aadhya Poddar, Luka Radisic, Bo Radtke, Vivienne Roberts, Robert Rose, Liv Samson, Evan Shahid, Aiden Silverberg, Amelia Taggart, Ellen Thompson, Margaret Thompson, Dashiel Waltz, and Olivia Zemon.

MOVIN' ON UP

Several more Sharks showed substantial improvement in several events throughout the weekend. This consistency shows the depth of development our athletes are experiencing every day:

Zara Bullock, Molly Bushell, Nora Caskey, Owen Cheng, Hannah Davis, Maksim Goldberg, Emma Gornik, Parker Klug, Charlotte Klug, Henry Logan, Rosie Lombardo, Claire Marchevsky, Caroline McCourt, Henriette Morris, Alessandra Mura, Luke Paradise, Jay Patel, Elicia Pek, Rohan Pursnani, Leo Radtke, James Silvia, Deana Soukoulis, Asher Vdovets, Alexander Weber, and Melody Youkhana.

Fearless Firsts & Standout Swims

Part of the NTA mission is fostering a supportive environment where swimmers feel safe to try difficult things. Several of our Sharks stepped up to swim challenging events for the very first time!

Molly Bushell (7) took on the 200 Free (3:32.20) and the 100 Fly (1:47.91) for the first time!
Adam Mallett (10) had an incredible meet, swimming the 200 IM for the first time and not only finishing but winning the event with a 2:55.38!
James Silvia (12) tackled the 200 IM and 100 Fly for the first time, landing 5 best times total.
Caroline McCourt (8) swam both the 100 IM and 50 Fly for the first time.
Asher Vdovets (10) swam a first-time 200 IM in 3:14.30.
Joshua Fredericks (9) completed his first 200 IM in 3:34.58.
Eloise Anderson (9) swam her first 200 IM.
Addison McNeal (13) completed the grueling 200 Fly for the first time.
Nora Lucas (11) , Max SooHoo (11) , Mari Rice (10) , and Ellen Thompson (11) all successfully raced the 200 Free for the first time.

A special shoutout to Evelyn Schumacher (14) for dominating the Butterfly events, taking 1st in both the 100 Fly and 200 Fly, and to Beatrice Schaeffer (15) for her wins in the 200 IM, 100 Free, and 200 Breast.

We are so proud of all our swimmers for setting the gold standard this weekend. We'll be back in action this weekend at the RISE A+ meet at Libertyville High School . This is our last prelim/final meet before championship season, so let's keep the momentum rolling!

#FinsUp #BetterEveryDay #GoSharks

Sharks Attack the Pool: Fast Swims at Patriot Pride and Michigan Shores Dual

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:44:02 GMT

A busy weekend sees NTA athletes crushing records and conquering new distances

It was a jam-packed weekend of racing for New Trier Aquatics, with the Sharks split between hosting a spirited dual meet against Michigan Shores at New Trier High School and competing at the high-level Patriot Pride Invitational at Stevenson High School.

True to the NTA mission of fostering excellence in and out of the pool, the Sharks embodied the #BetterEveryDay spirit, racking up hundreds of best times, achieving new motivational standards, and tackling grueling distance events for the first time.

Patriot Pride Highlights

At the Patriot Pride Invitational (Jan 16-18), the Sharks were in peak form. Congratulations to Riley McNeal for requalifying for Winter Juniors in the 200 Breaststroke with a time of 2:15.68! 12-year-old Cecily Clifton also delivered one of the most impressive performances of the weekend. Clifton dropped a massive 23 seconds in her 500 Freestyle to touch in 5:43.26, earning a 2nd place finish. She didn't stop there, sprinting to victory in both the 50 Butterfly and 100 Butterfly with lifetime bests.

The distance lane also saw some massive milestones. Nine-year-old Elisa Dold fearlessly took on the 500 Freestyle for the first time, finishing in 8:10.54. In the 10&Under age group, Nora Caskey and Reagan Frankle attacked the 200 Freestyle, and Amelia Silverberg successfully tackled the 200 IM.

Dual Meet Dominance

Back at home on Saturday (Jan 17), the Sharks hosted Michigan Shores for a dual meet that featured fast sprinting and great technique. Nora Chukiat , Nathan Faynshteyn , and Caroline McCourt all successfully raced the 100 IM for the first time, a rite of passage for our developing swimmers. Additionally, Tesha Nyamgerel completed the 100 Freestyle for the first time.

The "Perfect Weekend" Club

The following swimmers achieved Best Times in 100% of their individual events:

Eloise Anderson, Caroline Barhight, Ashton Donin, Nathan Faynshteyn, Joshua Fredericks, Eleanor Gaetano, Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido, Riley Groden, Wes Hellmuth, June Iversen, Grace Longo, Emma Malalis, Adam Mallett, Tesha Nyamgerel, Anna Nyhan, Mabel O'Donnell, Lorelei Pope, Leo Radtke, Emily Rozentsveig, Jordana Segel, Elan Sharon, Sophie Sime, Lincoln Tang, Ryan Tolentino, Reagan Waldeck.

Dropping Time in Bunches

Several other swimmers had multiple best times over the weekend:

Nora Caskey, Cecily Clifton, Caden Cook, Eleanor Gaetano, Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido, Ian Hennig, Brandon Ko, Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, Shai Livne, Matthew Logan, Emma Malalis, Adam Mallett, Addison McNeal, Eric Moldovan, Elia Narasimha, Daniel Nikonchuk, Mabel O'Donnell, Mari Rice, Eleanor Rose, Jordana Segel, Lincoln Tang, Ryan Tolentino, Isla Tomlinson, Yanni Yi.

Congratulations to all our Sharks for setting the gold standard this weekend!

We’ll be back in the water immediately, hosting our annual Build the Base Invitational this upcoming weekend in honor of long-time NTA and NTHS swim coach, Rick Peterson.

Ready, Sink Under, and Go!

#FinsUp #GoSharks

Fins Up: Sharks Bring the Speed at Speedo Invitational

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:06:07 GMT

NTA swimmers start 2026 with a splash, posting massive drops and perfect meets against western suburbs' best.

New Trier Aquatics kicked off the new year with fast racing and high energy at the 2026 Speedo Invitational last weekend. Hosted by the Academy Bullets at Marmion Academy, the Sharks faced off against some of the top programs from the western suburbs and proved they were up to the challenge.

True to the NTA mission of pursuing excellence in the pool, our swimmers racked up personal bests, with several athletes achieving a "perfect meet" or tackling daunting distance events for the very first time.

The 100% Club

Achieving a best time in every single event entered is a rare feat, especially at a multi-day invitational. We are incredibly proud of the following Sharks who went #BetterEveryDay by achieving 100% best times:

Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido : A stunning performance, Fabricio went 10-for-10, achieving best times in every single event he swam, from the 200 Free to the 100 Breast.
Benjamin Wagner : Benjamin was perfect on the weekend, going 4-for-4 with best times in the 100 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Back, and 100 IM.
Katelyn Andrus : Katelyn was perfect in her distance events, hitting a best time in the 1650 Free and swimming the 1000 Free for the first time.

Shark Attack

In addition to our perfect performers, the following swimmers had an exceptional meet, dropping massive time in several events:

Bianca Areas (9), Reagan Frankle (7), Araad Maher (6), Ian Hennig (6), Evelyn Schumacher (6), Janette Kostamo-Peistrup (5), Brooks Cain (5), Ron Livne (4), Lincoln Tang (4), Emily Brandel (4).

Testing Limits: First-Time Swims

One of the hardest parts of our sport is stepping onto the block for a grueling event for the very first time. We want to recognize the following Sharks for their bravery and grit:

Reagan Frankle (9) took on the 200 Free for the first time, finishing in 3:12.30.
Leo Chen (13) conquered the grueling 200 Fly, posting a 3:06.86.
Aiden Molinski (13) raced the 400 IM for the first time, touching the wall in 5:28.37.

Exceptional Swims & Big Drops

Several Sharks saw their hard work in practice pay off with massive time drops:

Emily Brandel (12) absolutely crushed her 500 Free, dropping nearly a minute and a half to touch the wall in 7:35.15.
Katelyn Andrus (15) dropped a massive 48 seconds in her 1650 Free, breaking the 19:10 barrier with a 19:09.72.
Reagan Frankle (9) had a monster drop in her 100 Back, slashing over 40 seconds off her seed time to go 1:41.85.
Claire Keyworth (16) put together a great swim in the 1650 Free, dropping almost two minutes from her seed time to finish in 19:37.49.

What's Next?

The Sharks aren't slowing down! We have a busy weekend ahead:

We head to Stevenson High School for the Patriot Pride Prelim/Final meet (Fri-Sun).
We host Michigan Shores for a dual meet at our home pool this Saturday morning for our Bronze 1/2 and Silver 1 groups.

Good luck to all our swimmers! #FinsUp #GoSharks

Austin Powers & Hobart Heroes: Records Fall as Sharks Surge

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:59:33 GMT

From the Lone Star State to the Hoosier State, New Trier Aquatics brought the speed, smashing team records and setting the Gold Standard for winter racing.

It was a massive week for New Trier Aquatics as the Sharks split forces to conquer two different states. While a select group traveled to Austin, Texas for the prestigious USA-Swimming Winter Junior National Championships , the rest of the team descended on Hobart, Indiana for the FOX Holiday Classic .

Despite the distance, the results were the same: fast swimming, big smiles, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

History Makers: Team Record Breakers

Three Sharks didn't just win heats; they rewrote the history books. A huge congratulations to our newest Team Record holders:

Ella Houston: Set new 15-18 AND Open Team Records in the 1000 Free (10:11.43) and 500 Free (4:55.80) .
Tamara Kret: Claimed the 15-18 AND Open Team Record in the 400 IM (4:20.65) .
Tommy Johnson: Smashed the 11-12 Team Record in the 200 Breast (2:33.24) .

The 100% Club

These Sharks achieved a "Perfect Meet," hitting a Best Time in every single event they swam.

Sebastian Ashuev, Sahana Bhattal, Zooey Christensen, Cecily Clifton, Tommy Johnson, Savannah Leskinen, Shai Livne, Emma Malalis, Eric Moldovan, Daniel Nikonchuk, Nikolas Nikonchuk, Luka Radisic, Ozan Samikoglu, Yanni Yi.

The Shark Attack

The following swimmers had an outstanding meet, racking up multiple personal bests.

Eleanor Augustine, Leo Chen, Caroline Cho, Caden Cook, Hannah Davis, Ivy Duffy, Michael Dukach, Jacob Feig, Riley Frankle, Sena Gordon, Emma Gornik, Joseph Kennedy, Brandon Ko, Grace Kolb, Ian Kwak, Aaron Langdon, Alyssa Liberman, Daniel Liberman, Ron Livne, Abigail Logan, Matthew Logan, Araad Maher, Addison McNeal, Eleanor Rose, Edward Saviski, Jordana Segel, Eleni Soukoulis, Lincoln Tang, Hunter Wessel, Scarlett Wessel.

Exceptional Swims

Sena Gordon dropped over 10 seconds in her 100 Fly to go 1:05.17.
Lubo Liu-Tchorbadjiyski dropped nearly 9 seconds in his 500 Free to post a blistering 4:45.94.
Jordana Segel achieved a "AAA" standard time in her 400 IM (4:38.09).
Ivy Duffy crushed her 1650 Free, dropping nearly 40 seconds to go 20:36.00.

#FinsUp #GoSharks

Sharks Bring the Heat to NASA Winter Blast-Off

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:15:19 GMT

A weekend of new events and unstoppable energy!

The New Trier Aquatics Sharks were in full force this weekend at the 2025 NASA Winter Blast-Off! From the first splash to the final relay, our swimmers showcased the #BetterEveryDay spirit with technical improvements, gritty racing, and a flood of best times. Whether it was conquering a "Tough Stuff" event for the first time or shaving seconds off a sprint, the Sharks proved they are setting the gold standard. #FinsUp #GoSharks

Here are the standout performers from the weekend:

The 100% Club

These swimmers achieved a perfect meet, swimming best times in every single one of their events:

Jiho Chang, Andrew Diep, Nathan Faynshteyn, Ryder Guloy, Lucy Lahey, Evan Li, Thomas Newell, Aadhya Poddar, Lorelei Pope, Dilan Rao, Calvin Reese, Yana Weber.

High Performance Highlights

Consistency is key! The following swimmers racked up best time after best time over the course of the meet:

Sebastian Ashuev, Eleanor Augustine, Nora Caskey, Leo Chen, Andrew Diep, Ashton Donin, Maksim Goldberg, Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido, Ryder Guloy, James Harlin, Lea Haugen, Conor Kennedy, Lucy Lahey, Emma Malalis, Addison McNeal, Vivien Nowak, Mark Pop, Lorelei Pope, Beatrice Schaeffer, Jordana Segel, Sophie Sime, Yana Weber.

Tough Stuff

These Sharks stepped up to the blocks to tackle challenging distance and fly events for the very first time:

Emily Brandel (200 Back) , Scarlett Cagadas (100 IM) , Brooks Cain (100 IM) , Elliot Carlton (200 Back) , Caroline Cho (200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly) , Caden Cook (200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly) , Elle Frank (200 Back) , Lucas Freitas (200 Free) , Eleanor Gaetano (200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly) , Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido (200 Back, 200 Fly) , Emma Gornik (200 Fly) , Conor Kennedy (100 IM) , Lucy Lahey (100 IM) , Michael LaRocco (200 Free) , Araad Maher (200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly) , Claire Marchevsky (200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly) , Aadhya Poddar (100 IM) , Mark Pop (200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 Fly) , Calvin Reese (100 IM) , Max SooHoo (200 Back, 200 Breast) , Harper Warye (200 Back) , Yana Weber (200 Free).

Exceptional Swims

We saw some absolutely massive time drops this weekend. A special shoutout to these swimmers for their breakthrough performances:

John Slade dropped a stunning 25% in his 50 Free.
Vrinda Sarangan cut 26% off her 50 Free time.
Furkan Akbas slashed 11% off his 100 Free.
Jiho Chang improved his 50 Back time by 10% .

Great racing, Sharks! Let's carry this momentum into the next block of training.

Records Broken, Relays Won, and Fins Up in Westmont and Northfield

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:58:35 GMT

Sharks Show Depth and Speed Across Two Meets Last Weekend

New Trier Aquatics was in full force last weekend, splitting squads between the high-level competition at the Speedo Grand Challenge in Westmont and a spirited Intrasquad meet at our home pool in Northfield. From new team records and national cuts to our youngest sharks tackling their first 100 IMs, the sharks were swimming fast and having fun!

Grand Challenge Highlights

At the FMC Natatorium, the Sharks brought their speed. A massive shoutout goes to Stefan Tadic , who shattered the team record in the 1000 Free. His performance also qualified him for the prestigious USA-Swimming Winter Junior National Championships next month in Austin, Texas!

Lubomir Liu-Tchorbadjiyski was on a tear, breaking four team records over the weekend. Lubo set new standards in the 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, and 100 Free. Lubo's times in the 100 Back and 100 Free currently rank him as the fastest 13-14 year old in the country!

Teamwork makes the dream work, and our Girls 200 Free Relay team proved it by taking first place overall at the Grand Challenge! Special congratulations to the winning quartet:

Lia Roggi
Sylvia Deliduka
Margaret Lietzau
Ryan Vender

Best Time Leaders

It was a weekend of drops, with the following swimmers racking up best times in a significant number of their events across both meets:

Maeve Atwood, William Baumeyer, Connor Brosche, Michael Chan, Sylvia Deliduka, Nicholas Drcha, Thomas Gardy, Kaira Ghai, Donald Kennedy, Claire Keyworth, Jordan Ko, Margaret Lietzau, Everett Pumphrey, Charlie Roth, Michael Saviski, Charles Sears, Jordana Segel, Tyler Zheng.

100% Best Time Club

The following swimmers achieved a personal best time in every single event they swam (excluding first-time swims where applicable for strict PB lists, but including first attempts that resulted in a time):

Eloise Anderson, Bianca Areas, Samantha Barry, Emily Brandel, Molly Bushell, Scarlett Cagadas, Brooks Cain, Elliot Carlton, Katherine Carlton, Patrick Chan, Leo Chen, Jin Chou, Cecily Clifton, Caden Cook, Daniela DiRico, Ashton Donin, Hope Eck, Olive Eck, Jacob Feig, Camden Foote, Eleanor Gaetano, Nathan Garofalo, Chandler Giang, Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido, Riley Groden, Ryder Guloy, Lida Hao, Hudson James, Lily James, Kayla Karpats, Calvin Knauff, Tamara Kret, Ian Kwak, Brandon Le, Daniel Liberman, Lubomir Liu-Tchorbadjiyski, Matthew Logan, Rosie Lombardo, Araad Maher, Claire Marchevsky, Benjamin McDougal, Patrick McGrath, Madeline Mcshane, Eric Miclea, Julia Miller, Andrei Molea, Jimmy Murray, James Newell, Thomas Newell, Errin O'Brien, Luke Paradise, Brooks Parrelly, Violet Petrovic, Mark Pop, Declan Prommer, Caleb Quigley, Joseph Richter, Robert Rose, Edward Saviski, Daniel Sheynis, Sydney St. Aubin, Kai Stanczyk, Lincoln Tang, Reagan Waldeck, Yana Weber, Daniel Weis, Ben Wilson, Harrison Wisniewski, Emily Worthington, Tai Yu, Chloe Yue, Olivia Zemon.

Conquering "The Hard Stuff"

Back home in Northfield, the energy was electric as teammates raced teammates and many swimmers tackled difficult events for the very first time. We love seeing our sharks step out of their comfort zones! The following swimmers successfully completed a "hard event" benchmark for their age group for the first time, or achieved a significant drop in these grueling races:

8 & Under: Molly Bushell (100 IM), Max Hennig (100 IM, 50 Fly), Evan Li (100 IM), Henry Logan (50 Fly), Vivien Nowak (200 IM), Olivia Zemon (100 IM).
9-10: Eloise Anderson (100 Fly), Brooks Cain (100 IM), Daniela DiRico (500 Free), Olive Eck (200 IM), Nathan Garofalo (100 IM, 50 Fly), Ryder Guloy (200 IM), Hudson James (100 IM), David Karpel (50 Fly), Michael LaRocco (500 Free), Brandon Le (100 IM), Alyssa Liberman (500 Free), Emma Malalis (200 IM), Thomas Newell (100 IM), Tesha Nyamgerel (100 IM), Errin O'Brien (50 Fly), Luke Paradise (50 Fly, 100 IM), Layla Roeder (50 Fly), Kai Stanczyk (100 IM), Margaret Taff (100 IM), Ben Wilson (200 IM, 50 Fly), Melody Youkhana (200 IM), Tai Yu (100 IM), Anastasia Zheng (50 Fly).
11-12: Cecily Clifton (400 IM, 1650 Free), Eleanor Gaetano (400 IM), Joseph Kennedy (1650 Free), Araad Maher (100 Fly), Jimmy Murray (100 Fly), Eleanor Rose (100 Fly), Lincoln Tang (400 IM), Hunter Wessel (1650 Free), Yanni Yi (400 IM, 1650 Free).
13 & Over: Bianca Areas (400 IM), Elle Baker (400 IM), Zara Bullock (400 IM), Daniel Liberman (1650 Free), Sophie Sime (400 IM).

Congratulations to all our swimmers on a fantastic weekend of racing!

#BetterEveryDay #FinsUp #GoSharks

Sharks Race for the Crown at Niles North

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:55:38 GMT

Fast Racing, Big SWIMS, and a Triple Crown Weekend

New Trier Aquatics brought the speed to the Triple Crown meet hosted by Swift Aquatics at Niles North High School this past weekend. Our swimmers demonstrated incredible depth and versatility, racking up personal bests and challenging themselves in new events.

Personal Best Performances!

The pursuit of improvement never stops! A massive congratulations to the 28 swimmers who achieved perfection this weekend, posting 100% personal best times in every single one of their valid swims.

100% Best Times: Thomas Kennedy (7), Daniel Sheynis (7), Amelia Silverberg (7), Cecily Clifton (6), Maksim Goldberg (6), Lea Haugen (6), Ian Hennig (6), Penny Hilton (6), Anders Lane (6), Georgia Weber (6), Daniela DiRico (4), Clint Iversen (4), Michael Saviski (4), Nora Chukiat (3), Andrew Diep (3), Chandler Giang (3), Clayton Guloy (3), Luke Hollyoak (3), Adam Mallett (3), Thomas Owen (3), Vivienne Roberts (3), Ella Sharping (3), Anna Somin (3), Margaret Thompson (3), Benjamin Wagner (3), Emily Worthington (3), Myrta Xenos (3), Chloe Yue (3), William Baumeyer (2), Adriana Davis (2), Jordan Ko (2), Julia Miller (2), Robert Rose (2), Caroline Barhight (1), Everett Pumphrey (1).

We also want to celebrate the many other swimmers who posted a huge number of personal bests this weekend. Tremendous job by: Avi Bodner, Benjamin McDougal, Ryan Nowicki, Adam Bodner, Patrick Chan, Ian Kwak, Eric Miclea, Yanni Yi, Eloise Anderson, Bianca Areas, Eleanor Augustine, Caden Cook, James Harlin, Max Hennig, Lucy Lahey, Aaron Langdon, Daniel Liberman, Ron Livne, Claire Marchevsky, Ari Narasimha, Mark Pop, Scarlett Wessel, Nora Caskey, Charlotte Cook, Maximilian Dudek, Michael Dukach, Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido, Abigail Logan, Araad Maher, Emma Malalis, Aiden Molinski, Luka Radisic, Adam Serbest, Asher Vdovets, Yana Weber.

First-Time Event Successes

Stepping up to new distances and strokes is a major milestone. Congratulations to these swimmers for successfully completing events for the very first time!

First-Time Swims:

Ozan Samikoglu: 1000 Freestyle
Leo Chen & Ari Narasimha: 400 IM
Zara Bullock: 200 Butterfly
Savannah Leskinen: 100 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, and 100 Fly
Hanley Byrne: 100 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Breast
Tai Yu: 100 Freestyle
Caden Cook, Clint Iversen, Mari Rice, Emma Malalis: 200 IM

Exceptional Performances

NTA swimmers were touching the wall first and dropping massive time all weekend. Here are just a few of the standout performances:

Thomas Kennedy (14) : Dropped nearly two seconds in the 100 Breaststroke (1:05.90) , posting a highly competitive time for his age.
Daniel Sheynis (14) : Delivered a fantastic 400 IM (4:35.77) , dropping over 12 seconds to clock a very impressive time.
Vincent Manson (10) : Put up a blazing 2:27.63 in the 200 Freestyle , showing remarkable speed for a 10-year-old.
Cecily Clifton (12) : Continues to fly, hitting a 29.06 in the 50 Butterfly , a time that ranks her highly among her peers.
Jordana Segel (14) : Posted a strong 4:50.17 in the 400 IM , demonstrating elite versatility and endurance.
Eric Miclea (14) : Cracked a fast 50.54 in the 100 Freestyle , a time that signals serious sprinting power.
Scarlett Wessel (8) : Swam a quick 17.91 in the 25 Butterfly , showing she is well ahead of the curve.
Lincoln Tang (12) : Went a swift 34.08 in the 50 Breaststroke , backing it up with strong swims across the board.
Thomas Johnson (12) : Impressed with a 32.95 in the 50 Breaststroke , establishing himself as a breaststroker to watch.
Joseph Kennedy (12) : Showed great aerobic capacity with a 5:27.50 in the 500 Freestyle .
Alyssa Liberman (10) : Dropped time to hit 34.46 in the 50 Butterfly , a time drop that shows excellent progression.
Luka Radisic (13) : Swam a strong 1:04.87 in the 100 Butterfly .

Congratulations to all our swimmers on another fantastic weekend of racing. Keep up the hard work!

Sharks Show Heart! Gold & Silver Teams Pack 230+ Meals

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:42:23 GMT

Teamwork, Speed, and Service. Packing for a Purpose

The Shark spirit was on full display last weekend as our Gold and Silver swimmers and coaches teamed up to pack over 230 meals, supporting the incredible work of the Northfield Food Pantry and the OLPH Sharing Resource Center!

It wouldn't be a Shark event without a little friendly competition. Swimmers raced the clock (and each other) to see who could assemble a bag the fastest, setting a lightning-fast record of just 15 seconds!

A huge thank you to our Silver and Gold Parent Liaisons, Susan Logan and Melissa Wessel, for organizing this fantastic event. We also want to thank all of our swimmers, parents, and coaches who came out to help!

We love being a part of this community and finding opportunities to give back!

NTA Splits for a Weekend of Record-Breaking Swims

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:28:16 GMT

Great Times Were Had by All!

New Trier Aquatics was in two places at once this weekend, and the results were spectacular! A combined 237 NTA swimmers competed at the Patriot Fall Classic at Stevenson High School (Nov 1-2) and the WSO Quadrathlon at Evanston Township (Nov 2). From our newest 8 & Unders to our senior swimmers, the team raced with incredible energy and skill.

Personal Best Performances!

The hard work is paying off! A huge congratulations to the 12 swimmers who had a perfect weekend, achieving 100% personal best times in every event they swam.

100% Best Times: Adam Bodner (7), Eric Moldovan (6), Riley Frankle (6), Brooks Cain (4), Audrey Dieckmann (4), Ryder Guloy (4), Michael LaRocco (4), Savannah Leskinen (4), Caroline McCourt (4), Mari Rice (4), Robert Fenzel (3), Theodore Turitz (3).

We also want to celebrate the many other swimmers who posted a huge number of personal bests this weekend. Tremendous job by: Avi Bodner (6), Lubomir Liu-Tchorbadjiyski (6), Joseph Kennedy (5), Eleanor Rose (5), George Scallan (5), Daniel Liberman (4), Benjamin McDougal (4), Ryan Nowicki (4), Arianna Serbest (4), Shai Livne (4).

First-Time Event Successes

It takes courage to tackle a new and challenging race, and we're proud of all our swimmers who stepped up. A special congratulations to those who took on tough 200-yard events for the first time at the Patriot Classic, including Avi Bodner (200 Fly), Michael Dukach (200 Breast), and Nathan Marchevsky (200 Fly).

The WSO meet was also a fantastic first-time racing experience for many, including Michael LaRocco and Tai Yu , who both won events in their NTA meet debuts!

Exceptional Performances and NEW TEAM RECORDS!

The entire weekend was headlined by Lubomir Liu-Tchorbadjiyski , who put on a historic performance at the Patriot Classic. Lubo broke FOUR 13-14 Boys NTA team records:

50 Freestyle: 21.52
50 Backstroke: 23.56
100 Backstroke: 51.95
200 Backstroke: 1:54.54

In addition to his records, Lubo also won the 100 Fly and 200 Free, going a perfect 6-for-6 on event wins.

The list of dominant performances didn't stop there. At the Patriot Classic , several swimmers were simply unbeatable:

Jordana Segel (14) , Jordan Ko (15) , and Riley Frankle (11) all swept their schedules, winning all six of their individual events.
Cecily Clifton (12) was a force in the freestyle and butterfly, winning four events.
Charles Sears (17) raced to three event victories (200 Fly, 400 IM, 50 Free).
Eric Moldovan (14) not only went 100% best times but also won the 400 IM.

Meanwhile, at the WSO Quadrathlon , our younger swimmers were dominant:

Scarlett Wessel (8) was outstanding, winning all four of her 8 & Under events (25 Fly, 25 Back, 25 Breast, and 25 Free).
Nikolas Nikonchuk (8) also had a huge meet, winning three events (25 Fly, 25 Back, and 25 Breast).
Ryder Guloy (10) put together a fantastic meet, going 100% best times and landing four top-4 finishes.

Congratulations to all swimmers on an incredible weekend of racing. Go Sharks!

NTA Attains Recertification as Safe Sport Recognized Club through 2027

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:19:33 GMT

A Safe and Supportive Environment For All

New Trier Aquatics is proud to announce that we have successfully achieved re-certification as a USA Swimming Safe Sport Recognized club . This important designation is valid through October 2027 and affirms our deep commitment to providing a safe, healthy, and positive environment for all our members.

The Safe Sport Club Recognition Program allows a USA Swimming member club to demonstrate its commitment to creating an abuse-free, safe, healthy, and positive environment for all its members. Achieving this status requires the club's diligent development and implementation of key policies, including the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) and anti-bullying plans, as well as adhering to Safe Sport best practices.

This recognition is a team effort, requiring dedicated training and education for our minor athletes, parents, and coaches. It demonstrates that we have established and enforce crucial reporting mechanisms and screening procedures to protect our swimmers.

This accomplishment shows our team-wide dedication to making swimming a healthy and positive environment, free from abuse, for all our athletes. Thank you so much to our Safe Sport Reps, Brian Cunningham and Mike Kennedy , and all of our coaches, athletes, and parents who helped make this happen!

We encourage all members to visit our NTA Safe Sport page at https://www.newtrieraquatics.org/safe-sport . There, you can review our full policies and find contact information for our club's Safe Sport Coordinator and the resources to report a concern.

Thank you to everyone in our community for their continued commitment to this important mission.

Go Sharks!

Sharks Raise over $18,000 for Breast Cancer Research!

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:22:35 GMT

A Splash of Pink, A Wave of Support

What an incredible day for our New Trier Aquatics family!

This past Saturday, October 25th, we hosted our "Real Swimmers Wear Pink" Breaststroke Clinic, and it was a phenomenal success both in and out of the pool. The event brought our athletes together for a special session dedicated to breaststroke drills and skills, but it was also so much more.

It was inspiring to see swimmers from different groups mingling, collaborating, and learning from one another. Our athletes had the unique opportunity to not only learn from their coaches but also to teach and mentor their teammates, strengthening the bonds that make our Sharks community so special.

Beyond the powerful display of teamwork in the pool, our community showed its incredible heart. This clinic was tied to a fundraiser to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), and the response was truly overwhelming.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that together, our New Trier Aquatics Sharks combined to raise over $18,000 for the cause!

This is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the generosity and commitment of our swimmers, families, and coaches. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to every athlete who participated, every family who donated, and everyone who helped spread the word. Your support will make a meaningful impact in the fight against breast cancer.

An event like this doesn't happen without dedicated volunteers. We want to give a special shoutout to our Parent Liaisons, Susan Logan, Emily Rose, and Melissa Wessel , for helping us put on such a great and seamless event. Thank you for your hard work and leadership!

Thank you once again to everyone involved for proving that our team is a force for good.

For anyone who was unable to participate or wishes to continue supporting this wonderful cause, our team fundraising page will remain open until October 31st. You can join our team and make a donation by clicking here: https://give.bcrf.org/team/776592

Michael Andrew Swim Clinic

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:19:34 GMT

much fun was had by all!

What an incredible experience for our swimmers!

On Monday, October 20th, 2025, we had the honor of hosting a special two-hour clinic at Loyola with three world-class athletes: Michael Andrew , Mikel Schreuders , and Patrick Sammon .

Meet the Pros

Our swimmers got to learn from some of the best in the sport.

Michael Andrew is a U.S. Olympic gold medalist, known for his innovative training methods and incredible versatility in the water, particularly in the sprint events and individual medley.
Mikel Schreuders is a two-time Olympian from Aruba who has competed at the highest levels, including the FINA World Championships, and was a standout collegiate swimmer at the University of Missouri.
Patrick Sammon is a rising star on the U.S. National Team, making a name for himself in freestyle events and representing Team USA in international competitions.

A Day to Remember

The trio spent two fantastic hours with our team, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

They generously shared their Olympic and World Championship medals, giving our athletes a tangible piece of swimming history to hold. The pros led drills, offered technical advice, and patiently answered every question thrown their way, providing invaluable insights into what it takes to succeed.

The afternoon was filled with inspiration and fun, as our guests posed for photos, signed autographs, and even raced against our swimmers.

The Main Event

A major highlight of the day was the friendly showdown between the three pros and our very own coach Michael Deans . Michael held his own in an exciting race against these swimming giants. It was a thrilling moment that showcased not only the incredible speed of the visiting athletes but also the great spirit of our team and our coaches.

What a fun way to cap off an unforgettable clinic!

NTA Honors a Legacy with Fast Swimming at GSC Rick Peterson Memorial

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:25:42 GMT

IT WAS SUPER AND MIGHTY!

This past weekend, New Trier Aquatics proudly competed in the Rick Peterson Memorial meet, hosted by Glenbrook Swim Club at Glenbrook North High School. It was a meaningful weekend for our team, honoring a coach who was a foundational pillar for both NTA and GSC. Our swimmers paid tribute to his memory the best way they know how: by racing with heart and incredible effort.

Personal Best Performances!

The dedication in the pool was on full display, with a remarkable number of swimmers achieving personal bests. A massive congratulations to the 10 swimmers who had a perfect weekend, achieving 100% best times in all their completed races!

100% Best Times: Joseph Kennedy (8), Lincoln Tang (8), Adam Bodner (7), Melody Youkhana (6), Molly Bushell (6), Nikolas Nikonchuk (6), Adam Mallett (4), Elisabeth Anscomb (3), Emily Rozentsveig (3), Chloe Yue (3).

And a huge shout-out to the many others who crushed four or more of their previous bests. Tremendous job by: Leo Chen (6), Elaxi Menezes (5), Clint Iversen (5), Nora Caskey (5), Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido (5), Riley Frankle (5), Eric Moldovan (5), Mari Rice (5), Caroline Cho (5), Andrew Sullivan (5), Kai Stanczyk (5), Araad Maher (5), Ian Kwak (4), Ron Livne (4), Ozan Samikoglu (4), Andrew Diep (4), Hanna Dold (4), Reagan Frankle (4), Conor Kennedy (4), Yana Weber (4), Jacob Gorengaut (4), Jacob Feig (4), James Newell (4), John Slade (4), Hanley Byrne (4).

First-Time Event Successes

It takes courage to tackle a new and challenging race, and we're incredibly proud of our swimmers who did just that this weekend. Special recognition for these fantastic first-time swims:

Cecily Clifton: 200 Butterfly (2:31.21) - Finished 2nd!
Edward Saviski: 200 Butterfly (2:48.71) - Finished 5th!
Grace Kolb: 200 Breaststroke (3:26.27)
Harper Sharping: 200 Breaststroke (3:13.57) & 200 Butterfly (3:02.02)
Olive Eck: 200 Backstroke (3:13.97)
Leo Chen: 500 Freestyle (7:10.84)
Scarlett Wessel: 500 Freestyle (8:38.08) - Won the event!

Exceptional Performances

The weekend was packed with absolutely stellar swims. A few athletes put on truly dominant displays:

Joseph Kennedy (12) was perfect, winning all eight of his events and achieving 100% best times. An absolutely incredible performance.
Jordan Ko (15) was equally unstoppable, winning all eight of his events, with many of his times being exceptionally fast for his age group, including a blistering 52.53 in the 100 IM.
Alyssa Liberman (10) had a phenomenal meet, winning six of her seven events. Her swims in the 100 IM (1:18.42) and 50 Fly (34.46) were standout performances, ranking her among the top 10-year-olds in the country.
Nikolas Nikonchuk (8) had a breakout meet, achieving six personal bests and winning both the 25 Breaststroke (21.89) and 50 Breaststroke (48.63).
Lincoln Tang (12) not only went 8-for-8 on best times but also dropped a jaw-dropping 35 seconds to win the 200 Breaststroke in 2:42.06.
Thomas Johnson (12) swept the breaststroke events for his age group, winning both the 50 (33.15) and 100 (1:12.63), with his 100 breast being a particularly impressive, high-level swim for a 12-year-old.
Vivien Nowak (8) continued to show her strength, winning four events (25 Back, 50 Fly, 50 Free, 25 Fly) and hitting personal bests in five.

Great swimming, everyone! Let's keep this energy rolling into the next competition.

Sharks Swarm St Charles and Northwestern!

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:38:26 GMT

what a weekend!

What a weekend for our Sharks! We had a massive crew of 205 swimmers bring the heat to two different pools. NTA swimmers raced their hearts out at the Fun in the Wild meet at Northwestern University and the SCST Fall Classic over at St. Charles East High School.

Personal Best Performances!

The hard work in practice is clearly paying off! A special congratulations goes out to the swimmers who posted 100% best times this weekend: Anders Lane (6), Andrew Diep (4), Maksim Goldberg (4), June Iversen (4), Savannah Leskinen (4), Reagan Frankle (4), Alexander Fraley (2), Anna Somin (2), Georgia Weber (2), Leo Chen (2), Emily Worthington (2), Emily Brandel (2), Camden Foote (2), Furkan Akbas (1), Nicholas Parenti (1), Edward Dunlop (1), Chandler Giang (1), Mehmet Pinarci (1), and Alyvia Tang (1).

Many other swimmers had outstanding weekends, posting four or more best times. Fantastic job to: Riley Frankle (7), Arianna Serbest (6), Lubomir Liu-Tchorbadjiyski (5), Fabricio Gonzalez Pulido (5), Brandon Ko (5), Mark Pop (5), Liam Page (5), Yanni Yi (5), Nicholas Drcha (5), Caroline Cho (5), Lincoln Tang (5), Rosie Lombardo (5), Nathan Faynshteyn (5), Anna Nyhan (5), Zooey Christensen (5), Aiden Molinski (5), Vivien Nowak (5), Jacob Feig (4), Tamara Kret (4), Eric Moldovan (4), Everett Pumphrey (4), Jordan Ko (4), Charlie Roth (4), Patrick Chan (4), James Harlin (4), Cecily Clifton (4), Eleanor Rose (4), Ian Kwak (4), Ashton Donin (4), Clint Iversen (4), Lucy Malalis (4), Clayton Guloy (4), Mabel O'Donnell (4), Layla Roeder (4), Nora Caskey (4), Sophie Che (4), Ryder Guloy (4), Adam Mallett (4), Sawyer Newell (4), Hanna Dold (4), and Kayla Karpats (4).

First-Time Event Successes

We are incredibly proud of the swimmers who challenged themselves by competing in new, longer events for the very first time. Way to go!

First-Time Swims: Rosie Lombardo (500 Freestyle), James Silvia (100 IM), Layla Roeder (50 Butterfly), Hayley Baumgarten (50 Butterfly), Anthony Kowalski (50 Butterfly), Robert Rose (50 Butterfly), Charlie Venatta (50 Butterfly), Ryan Tolentino (400 IM).

Exceptional Performances and Team Records!

The weekend was filled with standout swims across the board. In addition to our record-breakers, several swimmers had dominant performances. Tamara Kret and Lubomir Liu-Tchorbadjiyski were unstoppable, winning all five of their individual events at the SCST meet. Nicholas Drcha also had a stellar weekend, winning four events (50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Back, and tied for 1st in the 200 Free).

A massive congratulations to Lubomir Liu-Tchorbadjiyski for breaking the NTA 13-14 Boys 100 Backstroke record with a blistering time of 52.43 ! And a huge shout-out to Tamara Kret for setting a new team record in the Open Girls 400 IM with a fantastic swim of 4:22.92 . Incredibly, the record Tamara broke had stood for longer than she has been alive!

We also want to give a special highlight to Vivien Nowak , who showed incredible speed and determination, winning the 8 & Under Girls 25 Freestyle Shootout with a speedy time of 17.05 . She brought home an impressive trophy to celebrate her victory!

Looking Ahead: GSC Rick Peterson Memorial

We're right back at it next weekend at the GSC Rick Peterson Memorial meet at Glenbrook North High School. This meet holds special significance as it honors the late Rick Peterson, a legendary coach and foundational figure in Illinois swimming. A mentor to many of the current coaches on both NTA and GSC, Rick's passion for the sport and dedication to his swimmers left an indelible mark on the North Shore swimming community. As a member of the Illinois Swimming and Diving Association Hall of Fame, his legacy is one of excellence, sportsmanship, and a profound love for the sport that he shared with generations of athletes.

Great job this weekend, everyone! Let's carry this momentum forward. Go Sharks!

Real Swimmers Wear Pink!

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 21:30:03 GMT

A Breaststroke Clinic for Breast Cancer Research

Join us on Saturday, October 25th to learn a bit about breaststroke, work with your teammates from other groups, win some prizes, and raise funds for Breast Cancer Research!

You can join our team and raise funds online by clicking here .

Don't forget to purchase your Real Swimmers Wear Pink shirts here .

Order by October 16th and have them in time for the event! A portion of the proceeds from shirt sales will also be donated to the BCRF.

Swimmers will receive one raffle ticket for every $10 they raise online, and those tickets will be used to win prizes on the day of the event.

Additionally, our top three earners will be able to select up some Speedo merchandise!

Top Earner: $300 worth of Speedo merchandise
2nd Place Earner: $200 worth of Speedo merchandise
3rd Place Earner: $100 worth of Speedo merchandise

The schedule for the event will be as follows:

Bronze and Senior Swimmers : 11a-1230p @ NTHS Northfield
Silver and Gold Swimmers : 12-130p @ NTHS Northfield

We look forward to seeing you there!

New Lessons Classes Offered!

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:13:32 GMT

We're excited to announce that, due to popular demand, we're offering more lessons classes this fall!

Group Lessons

We're adding a class from 2:40-3:10pm on Sundays at NTHS Northfield! If you're currently on the waitlist, we'll be emailing you an invite to this new class! Stay tuned!

Adult Lessons

We just began Adult lessons this past month, and they've been going smashingly! We'll be adding Saturday and Sunday opportunities for this new program.

You can register for any of our lessons by clicking the button below:

Questions?

Email lessons@newtrieraquatics.org for more information.

New Trier Aquatics

Sharks Trade Fins for Finery at Ravinia Green

A Night of Olympic Inspiration, Milestone Achievements, and Community Celebration

The "In Depth" Connection: Olivia Smoliga

Mastering the Medley: IM Milestones

Honoring Our Volunteers & Leaders

2025-2026 Award Recipients

Swimmers of the Year

Most Improved Swimmers

Special Selection Teams

Looking Toward the Horizon

Leave It in the Pool: NTA Honors Legacy at 20th Annual Hour of Power

Sharks Unite for Sarcoma Research, Philanthropy, and Team Spirit

Honoring a Local Hero

All-Out Effort for a Cause

The Fundraising Sprint: Open Through April 30th!

Sharks Take a Bite Out of Orlando

Two team records fall, Top 8 finishes abound, and a 15th place overall team standing mark an unforgettable week for NTA.

�� Top 8 Finishers

�� Record Breakers!

�� Point Scorers

Sharks Swarm the NCSA Junior Championships!

Record-breaking performances, Winter Junior cuts, and a Top 20 combined team finish highlight an unforgettable week in Orlando.

Sharks Devour the Competition at Age Group Championships!

State records fall as NTA captures 6th place

�� High Point Superstars

�� Record-Breaking Swims

�� Top 10 Individual Medalists

✈️ Next Up: Orlando!

Sharks Shine at Senior State Championships

Sharks Secure Top 5 Team Finish as Multiple Swimmers Punch Tickets to Junior Nationals

Swimmer of the Meet: Ryan Vender

Championship Podium and High Point Honors

National Cut Celebrations

Record Breakers and Exceptional Swims

Sharks Make a Splash at the 10U Illinois State Championships!

our youngest competitors took on the state's best

�� Record Alert! ��

Top 25 State High-Point Performers

Top 16 State Finishers

Sharks Devour the Competition at Winter ISI Regionals

Massive time drops, perfect meets, and state qualifiers highlight an incredible weekend at Barrington High School.

�� Exceptional Swims & Jaw-Dropping Drops

�� Tackling the Tough Stuff

�� Perfect Meets (100% Best Times)

⏱️ Best Time Machines

What's Next?

Sharks Make Waves at North Shore Conference Championships!

Massive time drops, flawless meets, and first-time milestones highlight an incredible weekend for New Trier Aquatics.

Flawless Execution

The Best Time Machines

First-Time Fearless

Jaw-Dropping Swims

Hearts and Sharks: NTA Athletes Shine at 2nd Annual 8U Championships

Youngest Sharks show "Love" for the sport with a dominant performance on Valentine's Day at New Trier Northfiel d

Perfect Marks and Personal Bests

Leading the Pack

Conquering the Tough Stuff

Exceptional Swims

Looking Ahead

Sharks Rise to the Occasion in Libertyville

From first-time distance swims to flawless records, New Trier Aquatics athletes showed up ready to race at the Rise A+ Meet.

﻿ A RECORD BROKEN!

The Perfect Performance List

Multi-Best Time Achievers

Braving the Tough Stuff

Exceptional Swims

NTA Sharks Honor a Legend at Rick Peterson Build the Base Invite

They Were Super and Mighty!

Perfect Weekend: The 100% Club

MOVIN' ON UP

Fearless Firsts & Standout Swims

Sharks Attack the Pool: Fast Swims at Patriot Pride and Michigan Shores Dual

A busy weekend sees NTA athletes crushing records and conquering new distances

Patriot Pride Highlights

Dual Meet Dominance

The "Perfect Weekend" Club

Dropping Time in Bunches

Fins Up: Sharks Bring the Speed at Speedo Invitational

NTA swimmers start 2026 with a splash, posting massive drops and perfect meets against western suburbs' best.

A RECORD BROKEN!