2026 Clutch Sports Media All-Area Boys Swimming and Diving Team: 35 Central Illinois athletes earn honors 

With the 2025-26 winter sports season in the rearview mirror, Clutch Sports Media is proud to announce its first CSM All-Area Boys Swimming and Diving Teams, composed of over 30 top athletes from around the Peoria and Bloomington/Normal area.

Several of those swimmers and divers advanced to the final heats of the IHSA State Finals, including Wade Pyle of Normal Community, who grabbed two silver medals in freestyle events to cap off a historic career, plus Normal Community’s Sam Grojean, Normal West’s Cooper Franz and Metamora’s Kenan Nowak.

Washington and Normal Community were among Central Illinois’ most successful teams this past season, with Washington winning its third consecutive sectional title and Normal Community finishing right behind them. The Ironmen also finished second in the Big 12 and won the Bloomington/Normal Intercity title.

Clutch Sports Media’s boys swimming and diving All-Area team, which features a total of 35 honorees, is composed of athletes from the 39 schools in the CSM coverage area surrounding Peoria and Bloomington/Normal.

Clutch Sports Media will also have a Coach of the Year and a Swimmer of the Year, which will both be announced shortly. All of the All-Area nominees below are listed in alphabetical order by last names.

Clutch Sports Media All-Area First Team

Aiden Crull, junior, Washington 

Crull was one of the major factors in Washington’s success, helping two Panthers relay teams qualify for state while advancing to state in the 200 freestyle as an individual too. The junior helped lead Washington’ 200 freestyle relay to a sectional championship (1:26.99) while grabbing silver at sectionals in the 400 freestyle relay and 200 freestyle. Crull finished 31st at state in the 200 freestyle (1:45.30) and helped Washington’s 200 freestyle relay (1:27.28) take 21st plus its 400 freestyle relay (3:15.59) in finishing 27th. He finished second at the Mid-Illini Conference Meet in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle. 

Paxton Dickson, freshman, Richwoods 

Dickson made an early impression by becoming a two-event state qualifier. The Knights’ top swimmer won sectional championships in the 50 freestyle (21.33) and 100 backstroke (54.42) while also grabbing a pair of third-place finishes with Richwoods’ 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams. At state, Dickson finished 31st in the 50 freestyle (21.64) and 39th in the 100 backstroke (54.29). 

Cooper Franz, junior, Normal West 

Franz competed all the way to the final day of the season, where he advanced to the final heats of the 100 backstroke at the IHSA State Finals. After finishing 12th in the prelims, Franz improved to take 10th in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall in 50.39. His state experience also included an 18th-place finish in the 100 freestyle (46.02) and helping Normal West’s 200 medley relay team take 24th (1:35.85). Franz won a sectional title in the 100 backstroke, added three second-place finishes at sectionals and four silvers at the Big 12 Conference Meet. 

Sam Grojean, senior, Normal Community 

Grojean excelled in the breaststroke and butterfly as one of the stars in a well-rounded Normal Community team. The senior advanced to the IHSA State finals in the 100 breaststroke and as part of the Ironmen’s 200 medley relay teams, winning sectional championships in both races. Grojean reached the final heat in the 100 breaststroke, placing 14th with a time of 57.40, while his relay team placed 17th. He won Big 12 Conference titles as a key piece of Normal Community’s 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams. Grojean will continue his career at Youngstown State.

Kenan Nowak, junior, Metamora 

Nowak was the clear-cut top diver in Central Illinois as a junior. He finished 11th at state with a 439.75 point total and won a sectional title after racking up 506.85 points. Nowak also took home the Mid-Illini Conference title in diving.

Pierson Odland, junior, Normal West 

Odland specialized in the freestyle and breaststroke for Normal West, finishing first or second in many races leading up to state. The Wildcats’ junior competed in two events as an individual at state, placing 32nd in the 500 freestyle (4:49.05) and 33rd in the 100 breaststroke (59.16). Additionally, he was part of Normal West’s 200 medley relay team that finished 24th at state (1:35.85). Odland was a sectional champion in the 500 freestyle, finished second at sectionals in the 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay and won Big 12 Conference titles in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. 

Nolan Pyle, sophomore, Normal Community

Pyle won a trio of Big 12 Conference titles, a pair of sectional titles and competed in four events at state to highlight a strong sophomore year. He swam on Normal Community’s 200 medley relay team that took 17th at state and won a Big 12 title, as well as its 400 freestyle relay team that slotted in 19th. He also qualified for state in the 100 backstroke (52.23) and 50 freestyle (21.75), finishing tied for 31st and 35th, respectively. Pyle won conference championships in the 50 freestyle and with the Ironmen’s 200 freestyle relay.

Wade Pyle, senior, Normal Community

The elder Pyle leaves Normal Community as one of the program’s most decorated swimmers of all time. He finished second in the state in the 100 freestyle (43.95) and 200 freestyle (1:37.27) after placing third and second, respectively, in the prelim races and became just the third Ironmen swimmer to ever place second or higher at state. Pyle also led Normal Community’s 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays that were on the cusp of advancing to the final heats. He won the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 200 medley relay at the Big 12 Conference Meet and at the Normal West Sectional. In addition, he set several school and pool records during the season. Pyle will continue his career at Oakland University in Michigan.

Drake Shepherdson, junior, Washington

Shepherdson was the engine behind a strong Washington squad and was frequently a multi-race winner. The Panthers’ junior won sectional titles in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly and went on to finish 23rd in the butterfly (51.35) at state and 27th in the IM (1:55.86). Shepherdson also swam on Washington’s 400 freestyle relay that placed second in sectionals and 27th at state (3:15.59). Shepherdson won Mid-Illini Conference titles in the 100 butterfly, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. 

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Second Team

Ethan Arndt, senior, Normal Community

Arndt made his mark as a distance swimmer and key relay piece for Normal Community, swimming a leg on the Ironmen’s 400 freestyle relay team that won the Normal West Sectional title and placed 19th at state. Arndt also aided the Ironmen’s 200 medley relay team in winning the Big 12 title. The senior had four top-5 finishes at sectionals, including taking fourth in the 500 freestyle and fifth in the 200 freestyle. Arndt will continue his career at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Keegan Boerke, sophomore, Washington 

Boerke added to Washington’s impressive depth by excelling in the individual medley, breaststroke and helping multiple Panthers’ relay teams. Boerke aided in Washington finishing third at sectionals in the 200 medley relay (1:37.35) and also taking fourth individually in the 200 IM (2:04.25) and 100 breaststroke (1:00.56). Boerke won the Mid-Illini title in the 100 breaststroke and was part of the Panthers’ 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams that grabbed conference crowns as well. 

Hudson Essig, senior, Washington 

Essig was a key component to many of Washington’s relays — two of which qualified for state — and had a pair of top-5 sectional showings as an individual. The senior was part of the Panthers’ sectional championship-winning 200 freestyle relay team that took 21st at state, as well as Washington’s 400 freestyle relay that placed second at sectionals and 27th at state. Essig also joined in on Washington's 200 medley relay that was third at sectionals and he added a fourth-place sectional finish in the 100 butterfly (53.89) and fifth-place showing in the 50 freestyle (22.20). 

Pablo Fuentes, sophomore, Washington

Fuentes was a two-time Mid-Illini Conference champion and added a pair of top-four finishes at sectionals in a strong sophomore campaign. Fuentes won conference titles in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle and wound up placing third at sectionals in the 500 (4:51.49) and fourth in the 200 (1:48.08).

Ethan Grove, senior, Metamora

Another one of the area’s top distance swimmers, Grove was a fixture near the top of leaderboards and in several relays for Metamora. The Redbirds’ veteran came in second at sectionals in the 500 freestyle (4:51.08) and third in the 200 freestyle (1:47.82). He also swam on a pair of Metamora relays at sectionals, including the Redbirds’ 200 freestyle relay that touched the wall in third. Grove was the Mid-Illini runner-up in the 500 freestyle and finished fourth in the conference in the 200 freestyle. Grove will continue his career at Davenport University.

Jackson Horsthemke, junior, Washington

A Washington sprinter, Horsthemke qualified for state in the 50 freestyle and as part of the Panthers’ 200 freestyle relay team. He finished second at sectionals in the 50 and went on to tie for 31st at state with a time of 21.66. His 200 freestyle relay team won a sectional title and slotted in 21st at state (1:27.28). Horsthemke also competed on the Panthers’ 200 medley relay, which finished third at its sectional. 

Trey Olt, senior, Pekin 

Olt did double-duty for Pekin as a diver and swimmer and accumulated several strong finishes during the season. He was a sectional runner-up in diving with 380 points while also helping the Dragons finish fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:50.79) and 200 freestyle relay (1:34.4) at sectionals. Olt also finished second in the Mid-Illini Conference Meet in diving.

Ethan Stone, junior, Metamora

Stone made an impact for Metamora, especially in freestyle races as he finished 27th at state in the 50 freestyle (21.62). The junior won a sectional title in the 50 freestyle, helped the Redbirds finish third in the 200 freestyle relay and racked up a pair of fourth-place showings in the 100 freestyle and 200 medley relay. Stone won the Mid-Illini title in the 50 freestyle, took second in the 100 freestyle and helped both Redbird relays finish third at the conference meet. 

Joshua Sunkel, senior, Normal West 

Sunkel’s presence was a big facet in Normal West’s success as he swam a variety of events. The Wildcats senior helped lead their 200 medley relay team to a sectional runner-up finish and a 24th-place showing at state (1:35.85). Sunkel also was second at sectionals in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 50 freestyle. He accumulated four podium showings at the Big 12 Conference Meet, including leading Normal West’s second place 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams. 

Clutch Sports Media All-Area Honorable Mention

Rio Braker, freshman, Metamora

Calvin Broders, senior, Dunlap

Baylor Convery, junior, Normal U-High

Owen Dean, senior, Metamora

Logan Goss, senior, Bloomington Central Catholic

Lucas Layman, sophomore, Normal U-High

Caleb Mousty, freshman, Washington

Garrett Nafziger, senior, Bloomington

Elijah Porritt, senior, Pekin

Troy Reckamp, junior, Normal Community

Aaden Richards, junior, Normal U-High

Matthew Shin, sophomore, Dunlap

Alex Strong, senior, Dunlap

Gage Tiezzi, junior, Washington

Trace Tiezzi, freshman, Washington

Jaxon Tomera, senior, Normal West

Alex Wang, freshman, Dunlap

Layne Wills, junior, Normal Community