Scouting girls swimming / Northwest

Girls swimming and diving state meet

Where: Evanston Township High School

When: Diving prelims begin at 9 a.m. today, swimming prelims begin at 3:30 p.m. today. Swimming and diving finals begin at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Big picture: Rosary's four-year championship run in the team race is in jeopardy, as New Trier, Lake Forest and Downers Grove North have the best chance at going 1-2-3 based on qualifying times ... Haley and Gabby Sims of Downers North could win 2 individual events each, and another Sims, Maddy, figures to score points, too ... Glenbrook South sophomore Olivia Smoliga impressed in the 50 free (23.38) and 100 back (55.90) in sectional.

Local focus: Barrington placed eighth last year and could equal that or even surpass it, depending on its relays. Both freestyle relays have a good chance to make Saturday's championship heat; the medley will need to drop some time to make top 12. Junior Erika Elliott had a terrific qualifying meet last weekend and has the third-best seed in the 100 free and the fifth-best seed in the 50 free, putting her among the state elite sprinters. Her sister Danielle, a sophomore, has a chance to finish top 12 in both the 200 free and the 500 free. And if seniors Jacqueline Holdsberg (50 free, 100 back), Anne Jacobsen (100 back), sophomore Justine Kaszynski (100 fly) or freshman Mekenna Scheitlin (200 IM) manage to score, it will make for a great weekend for coach Jim Bart's Fillies.

Hersey sophomore Amanda Petro qualified with the 13th-best 100 free time and the 14th-best 200 free time. Huskies senior Christine Rovani has a chance to finish a standout career in a breaststroke field that's deep but has room for her to move up. Rovani and Petro join Erin Horne and Kelsey O'Donnell on the program's best-ever medley relay.

Schaumburg senior Sammy Schuckles concludes a four-year state meet run with a great scoring opportunity in the 100 backstroke and will also race in the 100 freestyle.

Palatine senior Monica Dorszewski is a dual point-scoring threat, in the 100 breaststroke and 200 free, and she'll join Nicole Huffman (100 fly) and freshmen Laura Mayer and Amy Zahn on the medley relay.

Maine West senior Ailish O'Connell has the 10th-fastest seed in the 50 free and will also race in the 100 free.

Fremd sophomore Breanna Anderson dropped big chunks of time at sectional and will compete in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and on the Vikings' 200 free relay.

Buffalo Grove sophomore Veronika Jedryka is in a big group of 500 freestylers in the 5:06-5:08 range; if she has another personal-best effort she'll be within range of scoring points.

Diving is jammed with area entrants. Palatine senior Mallory Fisher, who finished eighth last season, leads the way. She's joined by teammate Stephanie Hamer plus Fremd's Elizabeth and Stephanie Uhrich, Maine West's Jen Rey, Prospect's Christina and Sarah Pekar and Hersey's Katie Dewar.

Aaron Gabriel