Teams

1. Fenwick: Matt Farmer is the best sophomore in the state and senior Dan Newell is set to become the latest in a long line of impressive Friars goalies. Connor Brown is also expected to shoulder much of the offensive load and Ted Herbstritt, Viken Huening and Domenic Gallo all played important parts in the program's seventh consecutive state title last year.

2. Naperville Central: Perennially the best public school in boys water polo, the Redhawks return senior scorers Kristian Altuve and Kyle Rickert and standout goalie Pat Stablein from last year's state runner-up team. Junior Matt Reasons will also be a factor on offense.

3. Lyons: Senior David Sekula and junior Kovas Zygas are among the state's best in their respective classes. Michael Brown and Zach Schoneman are also expected to be major contributors for the Lions, who lost to Brother Rice in the sectional finals last season.

4. St. Ignatius: Mark Alvarado scored 15 goals in three games at the state tournament last year as the Wolfpack made it past the quarterfinals for the first time to finish third. He returns along with fellow seniors Tom Maloney, Kevin Barth and goalie Mike Fratto.

5. Oak Park: The Huskies handed Fenwick its worst in-state loss in seven years last season before losing to the Friars by a goal in the sectional finals. Senior Armando Lee is a physical force. Luke O'Connell and Troy Williams also return for a team that lost a lot of talent to graduation.

Others: Brother Rice, Curie, Mundelein, Homewood-Flossmoor

Players

Ramiro Almaraz, Curie, Jr.

Kristian Altuve, Naperville Central, Sr.

Mark Alvarado, St. Ignatius, Sr.

David Anderson, Oak Park, Sr.

Shay Banton, H-F, Sr.

Kevin Barth, St. Ignatius, Sr.

Peter Blume, St. Patrick, Sr.

Jacob Bodnar, H-F, Sr.

Andrew Brown, Lyons, Sr.

Connor Brown, Fenwick, Sr.

Eduardo Chavez, Curie, Jr.

Scott Dabrowski, McHenry, Sr.

Will Davidson, Mundelein, Sr.

Luke Dobben, H-F, Sr.

Charlie Dowdle, Loyola, Jr.

Sean Falconer, Mundelein, Sr.

Matt Farmer, Fenwick, So.

Mike Fratto, St. Ignatius, Sr.

Domenic Gallo, Fenwick, Sr.

Igor Gryniv, Glenbrook South, Sr.

Ted Herbstritt, Fenwick, Sr.

Jacob Himmel, Latin, Jr.

Chris Hodges, Stevenson, Jr.

Viken Huening, Fenwick, Jr.

Brendan Hulseman, Loyola, Jr.

Tyler Hunt, Waubonsie Valley, Sr.

Peter Jackovich, L-W Central, Sr.

Nick Joslyn, Brother Rice, Sr.

Jamie Juarez, St. Ignatius, Jr.

Aaron Katz, Naperville North, Jr.

Kevin Kuchta, H-F, So.

Armando Lee, Oak Park, Sr.

Phil Lesniak, McHenry, Sr.

Frank Lukacs, Mundelein, Sr.

Pat May, Naperville Central, Sr.

Mike Mulchrone, Brother Rice, Jr.

Dan Newell, Fenwick, Sr.

Eric Niemeier, Sandburg, Sr.

Luke O'Connell, Oak Park, Sr.

Kyle Pikula, Brother Rice, Sr.

Joe Poletto, Waubonsie Valley, Jr.

Kyle Rickert, Naperville Central, Sr.

David Sekula, Lyons, Sr.

Reilly Shanahan, McHenry, Sr.

Drew Stoffel, Stagg, Sr.

Matt Veldman, Sandburg, Jr.

Konrad Von Moltke, New Trier, Sr.

Eddie Wickes, Latin, Jr.

Troy Williams, Oak Park, Sr.

Kovas Zygas, Lyons, Jr.