2026 Illinois High School Association Boys Swimming and Diving Championships
- Feb. 27-28, 2026
- Westmont, IL
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
It was an electric finish to the Illinois High School Association Boys Swimming and Diving Championships thanks to brothers and Hillsdale Central teammates Luke and Matt Vatev. The duo helped break state records in each of the meet’s final four events, leading Hillsdale Central to its fourth straight state championship.
The streak of records started in the 200 free relay, when Hinsdale Central’s team of L.Vatev (19.70), M.Vatev (19.93), Teddy Chase (20.87), and Brandon Suliga (19.73) won in a time of 1:20.23, breaking the record of 1:21.26 set last year by Hinsdale Central.
L. Vatev, a junior who has committed to Stanford, then broke the state record in the 100 back, clocking a time of 46.17 to break his own record of 46.52 set last year.
Earlier in the meet, he repeated as champion in the 200 free with a time of 1:34.89. He swam a personal best of 1:34.79 in prelims.
A senior who has committed to Penn, M. Vatev followed his brother’s performance in the 100 back up by clocking a time of 52.83 in the prelims of the 100 breast, besting the previous record of 52.98 set in 2024 by Joshua Ray. Vatev ended up winning the finals with a time of 53.47.
In the 400 free relay, Hinsdale Central’s team of L.Vatev (43.44), Suliga (44.79), Chase (45.09), and M. Vatev (45.09) won in a time of 2:58.41, breaking the state record of 2:59.38 set last year by Hinsdale Central.
“We talked about it and planned for it throughout the season,” Matt Vatev said, according to The Hinsdalean on the records being broken. “We knew it could be done with the speed we have on this team. We’re really talented and a team that had some depth and some top-end speed.”
Two more individual standouts are Marmion Academy junior Brayden Capen and Vernon Hills junior Yuri Plaksin.
Committed to Tennessee, Capen won the 200 IM (1:45.77) and the 500 free (4:26.33) in personal best times.
Plaksin, who has committed to Harvard, claimed the sprint freestyle events., He swam a personal best time of 20.09 in the 50 free and a time of 43.54 in the 100 free.
Other individual winners were:
- Marmion Academy’s team of Patrick O’Connor (22.65), Tanner Spillane (25.12), Dan Ginaitis (21.51) and Braden Nagel (19.98) won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:29.26.
- Glenbrook South junior Taylor Isaac won the 1-meter diving event with 531.40 points.
- St. Charles North junior Thomas McMillan claimed the 100 fly with a time of 46.85.
Team Standings — Top 5
- Hinsdale Central, 251
- Marmion Academy, 214
- Glenbrook South, 203
- New Trier, 189
- Lyons Township, 149
That’s 5 state records. Luke broke Ryan Held’s 19.76 record leading off the relay