Stevenson High School has hired Ayrton Kasemets as its new girls swimming and diving coach. He replaces SHS alumnus Kevin Zakrzewski, who stepped down from the position in December after five seasons.
Kasemets currently serves as an assistant coach on the Patriot boys swimming and diving staff, leading the JV2 squad.
Kasemets was an all-state and All-American swimmer at Mundelein High School, earning three state medals. He finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke in 2014 after finishing eighth in the same event the year before. Kasemets also placed 10th in the 200-yard individual medley in 2014.
After high school, Kasemets swam for Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., from 2014-18, serving as a team captain. Oakland won the Horizon League championship in each of his four seasons. During his senior year, he was part of the Golden Grizzlies’ 400-yard medley relay team that won the league title.
Kasemets has dual citizenship with Estonia, where his parents were born, and swam for the country in the 2017 World University Games.
Zakrzewski guided Stevenson to a 29-5-1 dual meet record in his five seasons. His teams won sectional championships in 2016 and 2019, and his 2016 squad placed sixth in the state. The Patriots won North Suburban Conference championships in each of his final four seasons.
Returning members of the girls swimming and diving program are invited to meet with Coach Kasemets at 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7 in the Little Theater portion (Room 4200) of the Performing Arts Center.