By FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour has had boys participating in the swimming postseason since 2003. The Bulldogs have fielded a full team since 2014.
It has only been in the last four years, however, that the program has started to truly flourish.
M-S has produced state-qualifiers four consecutive years. To date, the top state placement was turned in by the 200-yard freestyle in 2024. The foursome placed in a tie for 30th.
Aron Varga was the first Bulldog to qualify for state in two different years, advancing as a junior and again as a senior.
The 50-yard freestyle is the only event where M-S has enjoyed more than one state-qualifier. Owen Kearns qualified in 2024 and Emmett Kearns advanced in 2025.
Also in the past four years, school records have been shattered in 11 of 12 events.
In three events, the record has been lowered five times since 2021: 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard individual medley.
The only event that has stood the test of time is the 200-yard medley relay. That mark (1:43.07) is now 15 years old. And counting.
It still belongs to Nick Ross, Jon Schuh, Dan Schuh and Joel Luedtke.
Without further ado, the Mahomet-Seymour Quarter-Century team for boys’ swimming.
BRIAN DeBOLT, Class of 2003. Top time as a senior in the 200-yard individual medley was 2:16.27 and top time in the 100-yard backstroke was 1:01.90.
DALTON DeMAY, 2019. News-Gazette All-Area second-teamer as a senior when his top diving score was 392.80.
JOSH EKBERG, 2017. All-Area second-teamer as a senior. His school record in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.89) stood for six years. Also as a senior, part of school record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.20) with Eric Giles, William Larson and Andrew Smith. The relay mark stood until 2024. Top time as a senior in the 200-yard individual medley was 2:17.99 and in the 50-yard freestyle was 22.89 seconds.
ERIC GILES, 2017. As a senior, part of school record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.20) with Josh Ekberg, William Larson and Andrew Smith. The relay mark stood until 2024.
GAVIN GROFF, 2019. All-Area second-teamer as a junior. Top time as a senior in 200-yard freestyle was 2:01.02; top time in the 500-yard freestyle was 5:36.94. As a junior, top time in the 200-yard freestyle was 2:01.55.
GEOFF HAHN, 2004. Top time as a senior in the 100-yard backstroke was 58.83 seconds and top time in the 100-yard freestyle was 52.69 seconds. Top time as a junior in the 100-yard freestyle was 54.14 seconds. Top time in the 100-yard backstroke as a junior was 1:00.87.
MAX KATZ, 2022. All-Area first-teamer as a senior. All-Area second-teamer as both a junior and a sophomore. Was the school’s first sectional champion (diving) and first state-qualifier as a senior. Set the school diving record at sectional (401.20).
EMMETT KEARNS, 2026. All-Area first-teamer as a junior qualified for state in 50-yard freestyle and holds the school record (21.42 seconds). Also holds the school record in 100-yard freestyle (48.39 seconds). On school-record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:29.70) as a sophomore with Matthew Kirby, Aron Varga and Owen Kearns. Same four swimmers are on the school-record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay (3:23.70).
OWEN KEARNS, 2024. Two-time All-Area first-teamer holds school record in 100-yard butterfly (54.73 seconds), the 100-yard freestyle (49.41), the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.00), the 100-yard backstroke (57.74 seconds) and also the 500-yard freestyle (4:46.81). State-qualifier as a senior in the 500-yard freestyle and placed 33rd, the school’s best finish in an individual race at state. On school-record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:29.70) as a sophomore with Matthew Kirby, Aron Varga and Emmett Kearns. Same four swimmers are on the school-record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay (3:23.70).
MATTHEW KIRBY, 2026. Two-time All-Area second-teamer. Top time as a junior in the 100-yard backstroke was 58.68 seconds. Top time in the 200-yard individual medley as a junior was 2:10.44. Top time in the 200-yard freestyle was 1:58.81. Top time in the 500-yard freestyle was 5:33.85. On school-record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:29.70) as a sophomore with Aron Varga, Emmett Kearns and Owen Kearns. Same four swimmers are on the school-record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay (3:23.70).
WILLIAM LARSON, 2020. Top time in 50-yard freestyle as a junior was 24.77 seconds. As a sophomore, top time in the 200-yard individual medley was 2:19.56. As a freshman, part of school record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.20) with Eric Giles, Josh Ekberg and Andrew Smith. The relay mark stood until 2024.
JOEL LUEDTKE, 2011. His school record in the 200-yard freestyle as a junior (1:57.34) stood for 13 years. Top time in the 100-yard freestyle as a senior was 50.74 seconds. As a junior, his top 100-yard freestyle time was 52.64 seconds. Part of the oldest standing current M-S school record in the 200-yard medley relay (1:43.07), set in 2010, with Nick Ross, Jon Schuh and Dan Schuh.
NICK ROSS, 2012. Top time in the 100-yard backstroke as a senior was 1:01.77. As a junior, his top 100-yard backstroke time was 1:01.32. As a junior, joined Jon Schuh, Alex Williams and Dan Schuh for a school record in the 400-yard freestyle (3:35.11), a mark that stood for 13 years. Part of the oldest standing current school record in the 200-yard medley relay (1:43.07), set in 2010, with Jon Schuh, Dan Schuh and Joel Luedtke.
DAN SCHUH, 2011. His school record in 100-yard butterfly (54.38 seconds) as a sophomore lasted 15 years. Top time in the 100-yard butterfly as a senior was 56.37 seconds. Top time in the 200-yard individual medley as a junior was 2:11.48. Top time in the 100-yard backstroke as a junior was 1:01.36 and top time in the 100-yard butterfly was 55.49 seconds. As a sophomore, top time in the 200-yard individual medley was 2:06.22. As a junior, joined Nick Ross, Jon Schuh and Alex Williams for a school record in the 400-yard freestyle (3:35.11), a mark that stood for 13 years. Part of the oldest current standing school record in the 200-yard medley relay (1:43.07), set in 2010, with Nick Ross, Jon Schuh and Joel Luedtke.
JON SCHUH, 2012. His top time in the 100-yard breaststroke as a senior was 1:04.59. As a sophomore, his top 100-yard breaststroke time was 1:05.87. As a junior, joined Nick Ross, Alex Williams and Dan Schuh for a school record in the 400-yard freestyle (3:35.11), a mark that stood for 13 years. Part of the oldest current standing school record in the 200-yard medley relay (1:43.07), set in 2010, with Nick Ross, Dan Schuh and Joel Luedtke.
AARON SMITH, 2023. Teamed up with Owen Kearns, Emmett Kearns and Aron Varga for a school record in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:28.14), breaking a mark that had stood for 13 years.
ANDREW SMITH, 2017. All-Area first-teamer as a senior when he set a school-record in the 50-yard freestyle (22.83), which stood for seven years. His top time in the 100-yard freestyle was 50.27 seconds. Top time in the 100-yard backstroke was 1:02.54. As a senior, part of school record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.20) with Eric Giles, Josh Ekberg and William Larson. The relay mark stood until 2024.
ADAM VARGA, 2028. All-Area second-teamer as a freshman had his top time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.57). His top time in the 200-yard individual medley was 2:15.98. He was also a member of three relays when they posted season-best times.
ARON VARGA, 2024. Three-time All-Area first-teamer holds the school record in 100-yard breaststroke (59.76 seconds) and also the 200-yard individual medley (1:56.70). Was All-Area second team as a sophomore. Was school’s first state-qualifier as a junior in a swimming event, the 100-yard breaststroke. Made state as a senior in the 200-yard individual medley. On school-record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay (1:29.70) as a senior with Matthew Kirby, Emmett Kearns and Owen Kearns. Same four swimmers are on the school-record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay (3:23.70).
DANTE WATERS, 2018. All-Area first-teamer as a senior when his top times were 53.42 seconds in 100-yard freestyle and 1:02.01 in the 100-yard backstroke. As a junior, his top time in the 500-yard freestyle was 5:44.74.
ALEX WILLIAMS, 2010. Teamed up with Nick Ross, Jon Schuh and Dan Schuh for a school record in the 400-yard freestyle (3:35.11), a mark that stood for 13 years.
