Solid core of returning swimmers and talented newcomers give Chesterton chance to reclaim sectional title after two-year hiatus

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

Numbers are back up for the Chesterton boys swim and dive team and so is the cause for optimism.
Valparaiso’s loaded Class of 2025 swimmers have graduated, and although the Vikings also have a strong ‘27 class, Chesterton has a chance to compete for the sectional title after a two-year hiatus.
The Trojans finished second last season at the Valpo sectional won by the host and didn’t score any points at the state meet, but the majority of competitors who scored points at the sectional are back, except for graduated Luke Wheele, now swimming for Hope College, and Calan Berrier.
“I think we'll be competitive at sectionals this year,” head coach Jenni Kellstrom said. “It's a great group, and the training that they're doing, I think they're going to continue to surprise people, which I believe they did last year as well.”
Based on their performance in the regular season, the Trojans had a better day at the sectional meet than most anticipated. Plus, Ezra Walsh, who had a solid sophomore year as a distance swimmer and took a medical leave as a junior, is back on the team.
Chesterton scored 378 points in finishing second at the sectional meet and 298 of the points return. The points breakdown, based on assigning a fourth of the points scored by each relay to each swimmer, scored by athletes who are back this season: Greydon Pieroni 43, Aaron Guzzo 40.5, Liam Eschbach 37, Wolfe Lutterman 35, Tyler Scalf 25.5, Vlad Lutterman 22, Nathan Fernandez 20, Andrew Kazmierack 19, Frank Palmisano 18, divers Luke Hawkins 17, Peytin Ellis 11, and Devon Thomas 7, and swimmer Mason Hayes 3.
Walsh’s return isn’t the only bonus for the Trojans. They also have German exchange student Carl Schiller, a sophomore. Schiller played JV football, a sport new to him. In contrast, he’s been swimming since he was 5.
Kellstrom said she had not heard there was an exchange student interested in swimming until strength and conditioning coach Matt Wagner told her about him after the football season. She said she told Wagner, “Bring him down. I’d be happy to meet him. So, we’re excited to have Carl with us this year.”
He has some catching up to do because he wasn’t in the pool at all during football season, but he’ll be an interesting one to track throughout the season.
Seniors Wolfe Lutterman and Scalf, as well as Guzzo from the junior class are team captains.
Guzzo, who swam in two relays at state last season, arrived in high school with very little competitive swimming in his background.
“Aaron walked in his freshman year a 1:09 backstroker and at the end of his sophomore year he went 54,” Kellstrom said. “He’s made huge strides, huge drops, in three seasons with us and we’re looking forward to another great year from him. He put in a lot of work over the summer and he’s been on fire this fall.”
The other two captains also already have left an impression.
“Wolfe and Tyler look phenomenal in the water, training great,” Kellstrom said.
Scalf swam in a relay at state last February.
Eschbach joins Guzzo and Kazmierczak from the junior class.
“Liam does a great job in distance and IM events,” Kellstrom said.
Pieroni leads a sophomore class that also includes Fernandez, Hayes, Vlad Lutterman, Palmisano and Schiller.
At the sectional meet, Pieroni placed fifth in the butterfly and sixth in the backstroke. He swam at state in a relay.
Five freshmen are on the roster: Jesse Arevalo, Aadin Guzzo, Patrick Mulchay, Ryan Seaman and Daniel Vidt. Kellstrom said she anticipates Guzzo, Mulchay and Vidt will “make an immediate impact within our program.”
Junior Luke Hawkins, who finished second at the sectional and fourth at the regional, competed at state last season. Thomas, a junior, Ellis, a sophomore, and freshman Callum McKiddy round out the diving portion of the team.
“We have over a 30% increase in athletes on both the boys and girls sides this year and we’re really excited about the crew that we have,” Kellstrom said.
The boys and girls teams both open the season today at home vs. Merrillville at 5:30 p.m.