Winning a state championship once is difficult. Winning three in a row requires something more than talent alone. For the Hinsdale Central boys swim team, consistent success has come from relentless training, extreme internal competition, and a team-first culture that pushes every swimmer to improve.

Those methods have been on display throughout the 2025-2026 season. Despite an early loss to New Trier while missing key swimmers, the Red Devils rebounded at the Dual Meet Championship on December 30, 2025.

Key senior captains discuss this recent win and that depth is a defining feature of Hinsdale Central’s program.

“At this meet, everyone’s swim was weighted equally,” said Teddy Chase, senior captain. “It didn’t matter if you were the worst person we brought or the best. It showed that we’re a team and that we have depth.”

Part of using this depth is the preparation needed when on the path to compete at the state competition. 

“For most schools, all you need is a state cut to make it to the state team,” Feiro said. “If you have that state qualifying time, you’re going to be on the state team guaranteed. But it’s different for Central. Last year, we had 17 people on varsity, and all 17 of them had state cuts, but we were only able to bring 11, due to the number of entries that you can bring. On this team, having a state cut does not guarantee your spot.”

Rather than discouraging swimmers, that selectiveness raises the standard, according to many of the swimmers on the team. 

“That is part of how competitive this team has become,” said Johnathan Feiro, senior. “We all understand that, and we use it to help us. We’re not scared by the competitiveness. Swimming next to them helps me swim faster, and that’s important.”

That competitive environment is reinforced by demanding practices. Other swimmers describe workouts that leave little room for complacency.

“It’s really hard,” said Brandon Suliga, senior. “We’ll hit like anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 yards, depending on what group you’re in or what the day is looking like, and that’s just in one practice. Then mornings will have weights, and Wednesday is recovery. Nothing less than your best isn’t acceptable.”

Training also becomes more detailed as state approaches. The team places heavy emphasis on relay exchanges, which can decide championships by fractions of a second.

“We practice our relay starts religiously,” Chase said. “We get them down to pure instincts. If your reaction time is even 0.1 second early, you’re going to lose out on a relay, which is a major chunk of your points. You have to swim three races, and they all have to be perfect relay exchanges. There’s lots of risk involved, but we make it work.”

Beyond physical preparation, the team’s success is rooted in its culture. Swimming is often viewed as an individual sport, but the Red Devils prioritize collective success above personal achievement. That mindset is reinforced through team traditions and consistent bonding, something Ferio says has been passed down through generations of swimmers.

“The kids on this team have loved this team from before they stepped on the deck,” Feiro said. “Come freshman year, that just grows. We have a big emphasis on hanging out every weekend, and it’s a generational tradition. So once Teddy and I were lucky enough to get the privilege to be captains our senior year, we wanted to continue the same traditions that were taught to us freshman year and make sure each freshman, sophomore, and junior has the experience that we were lucky enough to have. Coach Barber always says that you have to swim fast to have fun and have fun to swim fast.”

Suliga further details the strength of the team culture.

“The culture is strong, just the grit we have,” Suliga said. “The fact that we have such a decorated past makes us all want to do it again, over and over. Everybody here is motivated. Everyone wants to win. No one takes a backseat. If they don’t feel good, you just give it 100% of whatever you got. We train better, we swim better. You know, we’re better as a team.”

As the postseason nears, the team’s focus has shifted to tapering, fine-tuning technique, and maintaining the habits that have led to success in past seasons.

“We’re fortunate enough to have someone to watch in every event,” Feiro said. “We have potential A-finalists across the board.”

For Hinsdale Central, winning state is not about relying on past trophies. It is the result of years of culture-building, relentless practices, and a standard that forces every swimmer to rise. As they prepare for another state meet, the Red Devils are not chasing history, they are following a process that has already proven it works.