Mundelein withstands an improved Vernon Hills
In the 15 years since opening its doors, Vernon Hills has developed a friendly, albeit competitive, rivalry with Mundelein, especially in girls swimming.
But with the Central Suburban League awaiting their arrival starting next school year, the Cougars want to do their best to leave a mark in the North Suburban Conference. They didn't achieve their desired result Thursday, as host Mundelein captured a 101-84 win.
"We've never beaten (Mundelein), and tonight wasn't our night either," Vernon Hills coach Kedric Greenawalt said. "But we competed hard. It's confidence-building because the North Suburban is such a tough conference, so even when things don't go our way, we always take something positive away from it. We were a little tired and sore, and had some people under the weather but we'll be all right."
Mundelein has a young team and is looking to mesh ahead of schedule.
"Every day I see little steps being taken as far as the team building camaraderie and chemistry," Mustangs coach Rahul Sethna said. "We did well at minimizing the damage (against Vernon Hills) because we knew it was going to be a close meet. Kedric has done a great job with their program. But our girls rose to the occasion."
Mundelein has plenty of senior leadership with Tara Lawson, Sasha Levin and Rachel Finerty, all of who played a major role in the win Thursday.
"We've been focusing on technique and not the actual race, and things have been working out well so far," said Levin, who joined Lawson, freshman Angela Kordik and sophomore Molly Mishler in winning the 200-yard medley (1:57.15). She teamed with Lawson, Mishler and freshman Mikayla Gruber in taking the 400 free relay (3:58.91).
"I'm trying to prove I can swim the 100 free and help the team out," said Mishler, who also took second in the 500 freestyle (25.74) and 100 butterfly (1:05.35). "We're really coming together as a team. The JV team really gets involved. Everyone's involved."
Lawson and Gruber also won individual events, with Lawson taking the 100 backstroke (1:03.00) and Gruber the 200 freestyle (2:06.62).
The youth movement seems to have taken center stage at Vernon Hills as well.
Freshman Drew Petereit has shown blazing speed. Against the Mustangs, she won the 50 freestyle with a season-best (25.71) and followed up with a victory in the 100 freestyle (57.77). Petereit also joined forces with juniors Ellory Longdon and Lilly Hemesath, and sophomore anchor Nicole Pinter in winning the 200 freestyle relay (1:46.61).
Hemesath also won the 200 IM (2:18.62) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.48), while Pinter captured the 100 butterfly (1:02.20).
"We've got a great chance to get some people to state," Greenawalt said. "That's the ultimate goal (along with doing well in the NSC meet)."