Girls swimming: Scouting Lake County

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Erik Rogers

Last season: 9-1, 2nd in NSC meet, 3rd in Lake Forest sectional

Returning swimmers: Sr. Macey Neubauer, Sr. Staci Herchenbach, Sr. Harriet Davies, Jr. Emma Richert, Jr. Lucy Saucedo, Jr. Anne Barnett, Jr. Morgan Paul

Newcomers: none

Season outlook: The Wildcats had a great sectional last fall and return all of their state qualifiers: The group includes senior Macey Neubauer (100 breast, 200 medley relay), senior Staci Herchenbach (100 fly, 200 medley relay), senior Harriet Davies (200 free relay, 400 free relay), junior Emma Richert (200 IM, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay), junior Lucy Saucedo (50 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay), junior Anne Barnett (200 free relay, 400 free relay) and junior Morgan Paul (diving). "(We'll) be strong this year with several returning state qualifiers and lots of talented upperclassmen," coach Erik Rogers said.

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Rahul Sethna

Last season: 3-3, 4th in NSC meet, 2nd in Lake Forest sectional, 8th in state

Returning: swimmers: Tara Lawson (Sr.), Sasha Levin (Sr.), Rachel Finerty (Sr.), Maggie Franz (So.), Amauri Thomas (Jr.), Molly Mishler (So.), Nicolina Bottiglieri (So.), Carolyn Westgate (So.), Abbie Lukas (So.)

Newcomers: Mikayla Gruber (Fr.), Kate Hay (Fr.), Angela Kordik (Fr.), Cayce Parker (Fr.), Ella Krauss (Fr.), Nicole Robb (Fr.), Cassandra Kellogg, Audrey Rehm (Fr.)

Season outlook: The Mustangs lost 13 seniors - including stars Erin Falconer (Auburn), Jennifer Kordik (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and Rachel Robb (Butler) - who helped the team place fifth at state two years ago and eighth last fall. "It is impossible to replace them," coach Rahul Sethna said. The Mustangs' returnees include sophomore diver Maggie Franz, who qualified for state last fall. "For us this year," Sethna said, "it really is about getting the new girls to learn about competing at the high school level rather than club swimming and continuing on with some of the culture and traditions from the past group, while blending their own personalities into the team. So for us, it will be a season-long process to see where our ceiling is."

STEVENSON

Coach: Kevin Zakrzewski

Last season: 3rd in NSC meet, 3rd in Stevenson sectional

Returning swimmers: Sr. Casey Kirby, Sr. Irune Andres, Jr. Rachel Song, So. Iza Pelka, Jr. Morgan Bosse

Newcomers: Fr. Ashley Carollo

Season outlook: Former Stevenson and Wisconsin all-American swimmer Kevin Zakrzewski takes over as coach at his high school alma mater. He coached Libertyville's boys team from 2008-12. He inherits a Patriots group that includes 2014 state-qualifiers Casey Kirby, Irune Andres, Rachel Song and Iza Pelka. All four swam on relays at state, while then-juniors Andres (200 IM) and Kirby (100 backstroke) also competed individual events. The Patriots opened their season with a second-place finish among 13 teams at the Lake Forest invite. Kirby, freshman Ashley Carollo, junior Morgan Bosse and the junior Song combined to win the 200 backstroke relay. Kirby also finished third in the senior 50 freestyle and joined Song on a pair of third-place varsity relays.

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Kedric Greenawalt

Last season: 5-5, 5th in NSC meet, 5th in Lake Forest sectional

Returning swimmers: Sr. Melanie Schaffer, Sr. Pam Lin, Sr. Susana Peszek, Sr. Rachel Weinstein, Jr. Ellory Longdon, Jr. Lilly Hemesath, Jr. Erin Blase, So. Nicole Pinter, So. Alina Goodman, So. Rachel Jacobson

Newcomers: Fr. Drew Petereit, Fr. Ellie Long, Fr. Abby Kamai, Fr. Jami Ellen, Fr. Eliana Schneider, So. Gabriella Muraca

Season outlook: With so many returning athletes, along with a strong group of incoming freshmen, the Cougars look to finish the highest they ever have in the NSC. Their best finish is sixth. This is their final year in the conference. "This being our last season in the NSC, we look to leave our mark with goals of defeating teams we have not yet defeated within our conference," coach Kedric Greenawalt. "Beyond that, our goal is to have multiple individual qualifiers, as compared to only one last season, as well as qualify multiple relays for a second year in a row to the state meet this November." The Cougars graduated state-qualifier Lisa Cheng (50 and 100 freestyles), but junior Lily Hemesath and sophomore Nicole Pinter both swam on the team's state-qualifying 200 and 400 free relays last year.

WARREN

Coach: Chris Bertana

Last season: 6th in NSC meet, 4th in Lake Forest sectional

Returning swimmers: Jr. Courtney Barker, Sr. Katie Bell, Sr. Lindsay Travelstead, Sr. Megan Wantoch, Sr. Samantha Kroc, Jr. Gemma Russell, So. Danielle Glisovich, So. Megan Wong, So. Emily Wong

Newcomers: Alyssa Church, Alla McLaughlin, Jacky Oehlerking

Season outlook: The Blue Devils have a legitimate star in junior Courtney Barker, who last season finished sixth in 50-yard freestyle at state, while also qualifying in the 100 backstroke. She has been to state since her freshman year. At the Lake Forest sectional last fall, the Blue Devils' state-qualifying 200 medley relay included Barker, Megan Delfeld, Lindsay Travelstead and Danielle Glisovich. Warren's 200 free relay qualified for state with Barker, Katie Bell, Delfeld and Glisovich. Delfeld graduated, but Travelstead (senior), Bell (senior) and Glisovich (sophomore) all return this season.