Girls water polo / Scouting Northwest
Barrington: The Fillies have a pair of returning seniors in the starting lineup in Chloe Padula and Laura Danhauer, but the main theme for coach Mark Markwell’s team is gaining experience. Junior Brooke Fanslow is already a proven competitor in goal, and junior Carly Smith and sophomore Catherine Byron also have played varsity. The team’s depth will come from a mix of classes who had experience last season at JV and are trying to find a niche at the next level. “With so many new players on varsity we know we have our work cut out for us,” said Markwell. “We want to be competitive with all our games.”
Buffalo Grove: The Bison have come up short against some of their competition in the early going in the MSL East, falling to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in divisional play after Tuesday’s 7-5 loss to Hersey. Senior Angela Rodriguez has been a steady source of offense for the Bison, and Sarah Fasching has been seeing action in goal.
Conant: The Cougars lost a top-notch player after last season in Hannah Duke, but coach Justin Bickus is pleased with how his team has answered the challenge of moving forward. Katie Varga has taken a leap forward and has become a potent scorer against tough competition. Jessica Southern and Gina Iaffaldano both are contributing productive minutes in the o-hole, juniors Andie Cobb and Kristi Burke are proving to be capable outside shots, and seniors Mabel Nevel and Leslie Wiesen (d-hole) are helping limit foes’ scoring chances. Add to that experienced senior goalie Lucie Banahan, who has a special knack for directing the counterattack, and it’s clear the Cougars have reason for optimism. “In general we feel like we are in every game, and have played that way despite a few losses,” said Bickus, whose team was 6-4 heading into spring break and dropped a 10-6 decision to Schaumburg on Tuesday. “We look to be competitive against Schaumburg, Fremd, and Barrington and improve our game through the season to get to the championship round at sectionals.” One more reason for optimism: The Conant JV has outscored its competition 60-5.
Elk Grove: Victories have been hard to come by in recent season for the Grens, but coach Kristen Kopf is seeing real progress this season. Elk Grove’s key players are seniors Jordan Crocker (driver), Krissy Soriano (wing), and Carly Hirschauer (d-hole), and standout sophomore Kathryn Noonan (O-hole). “For this season, our opponents will see that we’ve picked up our offensive game,” Kopf said. “We have faster and stronger swimmers who are able to keep up with the strong swimming teams we have in our area. Yet again we will be showing improvement this year.”
Fremd: The Vikings’ focus is simply on maintaining their own standards for excellence. Fremd has completed three consecutive seasons without a loss to a Mid-Suburban League foe under coach Brian Newby. Three straight league titles, three straight trips to state — the Vikings are hoping to extend these habits, and possibly take home the program’s second state trophy to boot. Such expectations are reasonable, especially considering the wealth of talent returning from last year’s team. Seniors Megan Kennedy (driver) and Emily Orlowski (d-hole), along with juniors Julie Conrath (goal), Lauren Zambelli (hole/driver), Samantha Matuszewski (driver), Emily McCarthy (driver) and Sam DelPrado all saw extended time on last year’s team and helped the Vikings cement their reputation as one of the state’s elite programs. “I am proud of these young ladies and the dedication that they put forth every day,” Newby said. “They are really showing me the desire and potential of being able to bring another trophy home.”
Hoffman Estates: Experienced standout Rachel Gallo gives coach Maryann Senesak a great place to start. Shannon Sturmfield has also been a reliable scorer in the early going this spring. Other players seeing regular action include Stephanie Castro, Doroto Knaga and Kasia Serwin. It figures to be tough for the Hawks to join the upper half of the rugged Mid-Suburban West, but there’s certainly been improvement on this team.
Hersey: Coach Megan Brownley is faced with replacing eight seniors from last season’s successful effort. The Huskies will rely upon Christine Rovani (driver/hole) and Maura Kelly (d-hole), but Brownley is still waiting to have her entire roster together for an extended period of time. Hersey’s looking forward to post-spring break tests against Prospect and Wheeling when the team wil be at full strength. “There’s no fighting or drama with these girls,” said Brownley. “They all want to win and working very hard together to accomplish the team goals that we set together. They are so good about complimenting and giving constructive criticism to one another.”
Maine West: Coach Brett Unruh expects a mostly young group to learn some hard lessons in the first half of the season, then put those lessons to use in the second half. He’s fielding a team lacking experience but with plenty of potential. Players with central roles include seniors Gigi Groener (hole), Kelsey Maciejewski (driver), Rachel Pond (driver) and Katie O’Hagan (driver), junior Amy Nakano (hole) and sophomore Zoe Levonyak (driver). “The growth that the girls have shown is truly a testament to the hard work they have put in so far,” said Unruh. “As a team, we still have a lot to learn, but I think that if we keep progressing the way we have we will be a handful for any team as we start moving toward the second half of the season.”
Palatine: The Pirates have struggled against top competition such as Mundelein, but they’ve been improving against MSL competition. The most reliable scorers so far have been Nicole Huffman, Nicole Theis and Paige Wainwright.
Prospect: The Knights lost standout Kelly Wilson and have a new goalie in Tori Thompson, but much is familiar for this team, starting with senior standout offensive hole set Megan Dix. Senior wings Lisa Mazur and Tori Shields are back as starters, senior Kasey Mika returns at d-hole and senior Lydia Kafader will start again at wing. Junior Jessica Cavaiani will spell Dix in the o-hole and will start at driver. Coach Alfonso Lopez has high hopes for this group. He expects strong results in the MSL East and at the four tournaments in which Prospect will play. “We have great leadership and ability throughout the pool,” Lopez said, “and that should bode well for us as the season progresses and as we prepare for postseason games.”
Rolling Meadows: Coach Tiffany Kupkowski is hoping it’s quality, not quantity, that makes the difference this spring for the Mustangs. Senior Emily LeBuhn is an established scorer in the offensive hole, senior Andrea Golden is starting at driver and senior Michelle Mitchell will be a key in goal. Junior Kylie Karam plays d-hole and has been leading the team in steals. Sophomores Jessica Dykstra (swim-offs) and Angela D’Astice (driver, d-hole) will also have central roles. “We are a small team but have a good talent base to work with,” said Kupkowski. “I expect to see a lot of growth as a team and in individual players as the season progresses.”
Schaumburg: Coach Beth Donatucci is looking to maintain the momentum the program established last year, when the Saxons finished 19-10 overall and 7-3 in the MSL West. They’ll have to do it without standout goalie Jackie Sumsky, who graduated, but most of the other key players from last spring are back, including all-conference pick Sammy Schuckles (d-hole). Other key players will be Corinne Trujillo (Jr.), Kristy Bessler (Jr.), Rachel Fish (Jr.), Stephanie Porter (Sr.), Casey Houts (Jr.), Ashley Johnson (So.), Addie Reis (Jr.), Haven Aldridge (Jr.) and new goalkeeper Atheena Wagner (Sr.). “We hope to continue with another successful season,” said Donatucci. “A lot of these kids began the sport my first year coaching water polo at Schaumburg, so it is extremely remarkable to see where they have taken this team and program.”
St. Viator: Coach Adam Clementi has three key players returning from last season — seniors Stephanie Nolan and Melanie Battaglia, and junior Eileen Mallof. Nolan is back in goal, Battaglia will play driver and Mallof will man the 2-meter spot on offense.
Wheeling: The Wildcats lost a load of talent from the team that had made two straight trips to the Mid-Suburban League championship game. The key figures so far this season have been Callie Schoeneman and Leah Malsom, with contributions from Heather Murphy, Haylie Moeller, Kat Dobrowski, and Gabi Fuentes.