Girls swimming: Scouting MSL swimming and diving
Mid-Suburban League swimming and diving championships
DivingWhen: 6 p.m. Friday at Barrington
Outlook: Prospect senior Dana Liva pursues a fourth straight league title and has been delivering scores that put her in a commanding position to do just that. But there are quality divers in many programs, including Fremd (Sydney Plichta, Sarah McTague), Conant (Bailey Hornstein, Emily Weingart), Schaumburg (Caiti Poland), Palatine (Elizabeth Johns, Andrea Ori), Hoffman Estates (Nathalie Castro) and Hersey (Madeline Bovino, Kelly Haines).
SwimmingWhen: 11 a.m. Saturday at Barrington
Team outlook: This year's conference meet serves as a tiebreaker of sorts, as Fremd and Barrington tied in their dual meet to share the MSL West title. But both those teams probably care more about an overall league championship anyway, and the way the last two have been decided - with Fremd earning narrow victories to break Barrington's long run of titles - it's safe to presume there will be great racing from the conference's top two teams.
In a nutshell, Barrington may have a slight edge over the Vikings in some of the freestyles and needs to take advantage there. The Fillies are exceptionally strong in the 200 and 500 freestyles and could gather important points in those races, and they also have the top seed in the 400 free relay. Fremd has the top-seeded medley relay and better second-swimmer depth in most of the non-freestyle races; how that competitor places for the Vikings will likely have a strong bearing on the meet's outcome. Fremd also figures to have an head-to-head advantage over Barrington with a pair of high-scoring divers in the mix before the swimming events start to be scored.
"I am very proud of my kids, especially my seniors," said Fremd coach Andrew Kittrell. "They have tons of heart and will give it everything they have. It's been a special privilege to coach this team."
As Barrington and Fremd battle for the league title, it's anybody's guess out of a handful of teams capable of third place - Conant, Palatine, Prospect and Hersey are each strong candidates. Palatine and Conant proved to be evenly matched in their dual; the Cougars will probably end up with more point-scoring finishes but Palatine features an elite race in junior sprinter Kristin Anderson.
MSL East champion Prospect and runner-up Hersey will have multiple opportunities to score. Prospect's challenge is to make its great overall lineup balance translate to points. Hersey has a similar task and figures to do some damage with frosh standout Olivia Kusio contributing big points.
Individual outlook: Barrington will move junior Kirsten Jacobsen out of the 500 freestyle and into the 100 freestyle in an effort to maximize its scoring punch, a move which could also keep the team's elite competitor sharper for the freestyle relays. The Fillies don't lose much points-wise doing that because the fierce freshmen Maggies - Emary and Menso - are both among the top 500 swimmers in the conference.
Barrington senior Andrea Vega is the top seed in two events, the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. Likewise for Jacobsen, in the 100 and 200 freestyles. In addition to them, Barrington's top guns include Emary, Sara Kate Capel, and three Emmas - Barnett, Toth and Graves.
Fremd senior Saki Takumiya is the fastest entry in the 100 fly and is in the final heat of the 100 back. Vikings junior Grace Grzybek is the No. 2 seed in the backstroke and is in the final heat of the IM. Among the other Fremd competitors poised for multiple high finishes are Erica King, Grace Kneller, Loretta Stelnicki, Julia Portmann and Rebecca Ballo.
Wheeling's Theresa Godlewski made a splash at last year's conference meet, winning the 50 free and the 100 back. The senior's times so far suggest she's capable of defending both titles. She's the top seed in the back and the second seed in the 50.
Buffalo Grove senior Sarah Morosan is among the top competitors in the 50 and 100 freestyles, and Rachel Rozow and Betsy Rozow each have earned spots in the final heat for Prospect.
Palatine will look for points from Anderson in the 50 free, where she's the top seed, and the 100 free. Lily Zahn (200 fly) and Tess O'Brien (50 free, 100 breast) should also dent the scorebard.
Conant has a diversity of potential scorers in Allison Cicero, Lea Cejvan, Paulina Wolska and Sam Wooley.
Hersey's Olivia Kusio has the second seed in the 100 breast and also is seeded in the final heat of the 200 IM.
Rolling Meadows has Bailey Rowley in the final heat of the 100 fly, and the Mustangs will also be taking aim at the school record in the medley relay.
Casey Rawling has the highest seed for Hoffman Estates, seventh in the 100 breast. First-year swimmer Lindsey Hendren (100 free) and Sara Lasovska (back) lead the way for Elk Grove, and Ingrid Hay (back) and Natalie Mack (fly) earned top-12 seeds for Schaumburg.
"Prospect's and Hersey's programs have some terrific underclassmen that are going to be the future of the MSL," said Kittrell, "and I have no doubt the entire MSL will be cheering on Theresa (Godlewski), Kristin Anderson, Lily Zahn, Cicero, the Rozows, Wolska and Lea Cejvan at the state meet. It's a much tougher conference because of all of these great kids."
- Aaron Gabriel