BG Invitational offers intriguing matchups
Several Mid-Suburban League teams are looking forward to an appearance in the Buffalo Grove Invitational on Saturday.
There's the obvious universal allure of competing in a delightful, brand new facility which has already proven to be conducive to putting up fast times.
And it's also an opportunity for two of the Mid-Suburban East's top teams to get a sneak peek at one another before they meet in a dual setting that will likely decide the divisional championship.
Prospect is the defending champ, but Hersey added some impressive talent to the varsity lineup this season and hopes to have a chance at reclaiming the top spot in the division after a long run as East's top team.
The Hersey-Prospect dual is scheduled for Oct. 9 and will be hosted by Prospect at Wheeling.
It remains to be seen whether the new and improved Huskies have enough to match up with Prospect's exceptional third-swimmer depth.
"We'll know a lot more after Saturday," said Hersey coach Dick Mortensen.
The diving portion of the BG Invite offers fans a rare chance to see Prospect standout Dana Liva in action close to home with an 11-dive list. She's twice bettered 300 points with 6 dives this fall and is clearly among the state's elite after finishing third in the state last season.
Diving begins at 8 a.m., with swimming scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.
Wheeling, Rolling Meadows and the host Bison will join the action, too, and will add to the competive swimming mix.
Meadows' medley relay is closing in on a team record and coach Monika Chiappetta likes what she's seen from her young team.
Buffalo Grove senior Sarah Morosan, a state qualifier last season, will figure into the sprint freestyle picture along with Wheeling senior Theresa Godlewski.
Conant will compete as well, and hopefully the Cougars can take solace in that fact that they, too, will soon have a new pool. Their season has been difficult as renovations have forced them out of their own pool this fall. But Allison Cicero, Sam Wooley, Lea Cejvan and Paulina Wolska are regularly turning in times that suggest they're overcoming the training obstacle.
Speaking of Godlewski: Wheeling's senior standout Theresa Godlewski enjoyed a breakthrough season last fall, winning both the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke in the Mid-Suburban League meet with breathtaking time drops.
She eventually qualified for the state meet and generally had an amazing season.
She's finding out this fall that her own act is a tough one to follow.
"It's been stressful," she said after Wheeling's dual meet against Hersey on Tuesday. "You always think of being a senior as, I don't know, maybe more free or something, but it's been tough."
Though Godlewski has regularly been in the 24-second range in the 50 free, she's not been satisfied with her times so far.
Also a standout water polo player, Godlewski is committed to a future in collegiate swimming. Recruiting visits have been another consideration in a busy senior year.
Godlewski's coach, Lisa Poynor, remains confident better things are coming.
"She's very hard on herself," said Poynor. "I think she's her own toughest critic. That's part of being the kind of competitor she is, but I think she's doing just fine."
On the road: Barrington takes part in the Lake County Invitational on Saturday at Lake Forest. Expect quality teams from Libertyville, Lake Forest, Warren, Vernon Hills, Stevenson and Mundelein to provide great races for the Fillies.