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
