Scouting DuPage County girls swimming and diving
Top teams: Hinsdale Central, Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central, Naperville North, Downers Grove South, York, Waubonsie Valley.
Top players: Addison Trail/Willowbrook co-op: Elissa Haake, jr.; Michelle Ramirez, sr.; Anna Christiansen, jr.; Benet: Catherine Meehan, jr.; Paige Smith, jr.; Emma Kash, jr.; Fiona Moran, so.; Jillian Devine, so.; Megan Dobrolinsky, jr.; Tabitha Torres, fr.; Sophie Kash, fr.; Downers Grove North: Ellie Benge, sr.; Elizabeth Candel, so.; Libby Benge, so.; Downers Grove South: Allie Puccillo, sr.; Makaila Scheiblein, sr.; Annie Leinart, jr.; Melanie Scheiblein, so.; Jorie Selig, so.; Nicole Molnar, jr.; Glenbard North/East co-op: Amber Finke, so.; Glenbard West/South co-op: Jane Denenberg, jr.; Molly Rosenthal, jr.; Julia Hall, sr.; Megan Murphy, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Stephanie Bowater, sr.; Emily Graham, sr.; Hollis Clark, sr.; Maud Willemse sr.; Maddie Fowler, sr.; Anna Gruvberger, so.; Anna Glowniak, jr.; Hinsdale South: Briana Veselik, sr.; Cameran Frank, sr.; Kaitlin Hall (diver), sr.; Lake Park: Jennifer Hauser, sr.; Francesca Orlando, sr.; Kathy Buff, jr.; Donna Kurek, jr.; Shannon Murphy, jr.; Metea Valley: Anna Scovill, sr.; Sadie Gregory, sr.; Natalia Castillo, sr.; Kellie Willhite, so.; Laurel Bludgen, so.; Lucy Siwicki, so.; Riley Stone, jr., McKenna Stone, fr.; Naperville Central: Audrey Coffey, sr.; Lisa Johnson, jr.; Alexa Puccini, so.; Natalie Hey, sr.; Emily Wagner, jr.; Payton DeZur, sr; Naperville North: Connie Zhang, sr.; Claire Russell, sr.; Isabelle Rocco, sr.; Kelly Zhou, so.; Holly Wessel, fr.; Taylor Wessel, jr.; Neuqua Valley: Kristen Stege, jr.; Athena Salafatinos, jr. Sabrina Firnett, sr.; Cloe Pace (diver), sr.; Samantha Carlson (diver), jr.; Maxine Parkinson, so.; Isabella Harder, so.; Divya Kale, jr.; Jill Erlechman, jr.; Rachel Stege, fr.; Tiffanie Ruan, fr.; Megan Ciezczak, fr.; Waubonsie Valley: Julia Burling, sr.; Lily Hunt, jr.; Rebecca Farber, jr.; Kayla Lohman, sr.; Emily Hennessy, jr.; Lauren Lee, so.; Kathryn Suplee, fr.; Kylie Mears, fr.; Wheaton Warrenville co-op: Sira Limbu, fr.; Maya Hutchison, fr.; Mia Savicevec, jr.; Rebecca Dicosola, jr.; West Chicago/Batavia co-op: Ula Konopko, sr.; Kelly Sego, so.; Addy Novak, so.; Annabelle Kinerk, so.; York: Meghan Quinn, sr.; Nicole Bednarik, jr.; Moleigh Waldherr, so., Amanda Polach, so.; Birgitte Kammerdiener, (diver), jr.; Isabel Monarrez (diver), sr.
Scouting report: DuPage County had its share of qualifiers for last year's state swimming and diving meet, but the county was a little light on individual scorers, people who finished in the top 12 in their events. Coaches throughout the county are optimistic that the situation will change this year. The wealth of underclass talent matures and those who did qualify are veterans who now know what to expect at the state meet. One person to keep an eye on in the talent-loaded DuPage Valley Conference is Naperville North senior Zhang, who was top six in the 100 freestyle and top 12 in the 200 freestyle. Zhang hopes to earn a place in the first six in both this year as she leads a talented Huskies lineup that is determinded to crash the top 20 in the team standings, which they just missed last year. The Huskies are also shooting for a DVC crown. Zhang, a respected team leader, has set high goals for the coming year. "The girls call her a 'beast', said Naperville North coach Andy McWhirter. "There's no challenge she won't tackle in the pool and in the weight room and she has been a vocal leader of the girls in our promising freshman class." In addition to Zhang, the Huskies hope that a pair of relays can make it into the top dozen. McWhirter also has hopes that sprinter Rocco and the freshman Holly Wessel can score. While the DVC race will once again be a mad scramble, last year's conference champ
Neuqua Valley is reloading on the fly after suffering heavy graduation losses from last year's team that finished 12th at state. Kristen Stege is the only returnee from the Wildcats' 200 medley relay team that was third at state. But as always Neuqua has plenty of candidates to compete for the relay spots. Several of the returning starters had solid off-seasons and could be in position to make some noise at state. Include Parkinson, in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke and Salafatinos in the backstroke as two who are looking forward to the postseason. Pace is one of the most dynamic and consistent divers in the area and is expected to score some points for Neuqua. "Our relays are the big hope this year," said Neuqua coach Jason Niforatos. "If the freshmen contribute and push the veterans we'll be strong in relays at the end of the season. That's our chance to break into the top 10."
Naperville Central, Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley also will be in the battle for DVC supremacy. For the Redhawks, 2016 was a year of growing and learning, and they've worked hard to prepare to take the next step this time. Naperville Central is bolstered by the return of Coffey, who finished seventh in the 500 freestyle two years ago. "We'll be more competitive this year," Adams said. "We bring a lot back and we have some talented freshmen. We're hoping to be in position to do well at state."
Waubonsie Valley, which finished just outside the top 20 in the final state standing and finished second to Neuqua Valley in the DVC, scored in two state relays. While a number of the fastest girls graduated, those who return can give coach Katie Peterson a lineup that has the potential to at least equal last year's success. "We have many versatile swimmers who will swim in whichever race helps the team the most," Peterson said. "We scored in two relays last year and we're hoping to do even better this year." Hunt, Farber and Hennessy are among those who are capable of qualifying in individual events. At Metea Valley the postseason plan is to build state-qualifying relay teams in the medley and the 400 free and pin their hopes on mainstays such as Scovill, Gregory and Siwicki in the individual races. "We're hoping to crack the top 20," said Metea Valley coach Mark Jager. "But it all depends on our relays."
While Lake Park doesn't have the depth of the Naperville schools, the Lancers do have some talent, led by Hauser, one of the best sprinters in the area. "She really makes our team thrive," said Lake Park coach Dan Witteveen. "She will swim in college." Buff is expected to take a big step forward.
It's a rebuilding year for Wheaton Warrenville co-op under new coach Jason Maddux with speedy freshmen Limbu and Hutchison helping to usher in a new era.
Outside the DVC, Hinsdale Central, which finished ninth at state and returns a boatload of talent is again the class of the field. The Red Devils scored in all three relays and they're looking to improve by getting to the finals in more individual events. They're led by the versatile Graham, outstanding flyer Gruvberger and Clarke, who hopes to final in the backstroke. "We have some good kids coming up who will need a few meets to see where they fit into the equation," said Red Devils coach Bob Barber.
The Glenbard West/South co-op team continues to grow.Coach Chris Flamion has better depth than ever before and a couple of outstanding performers in Denenberg - who qualified in the 200 IM and the 100 fly and is looking to score this year - and distance swimmer Rosenthal, who could get to Saturday in the 500.
Downers Grove South is hoping for its fifth straight conference championship. But the big news with the Mustangs is that they have the depth and quality to qualify someone for state in every event. "We're hoping the Scheiblein sisters can score in the breaststroke," coach Paul Krick said. "And we have a chance to go top 12 in one or two relays. That could get us into the top 20."
York is deep with a group of state qualifiers who will be pushing each other to score both in relays and individual races. Waldherr is outstanding in the breaststroke, while Bednarik, Quinn and Polach have the versatility to fill a number of slots. Addison Trail-Wilowbrook co-op has a superstar in Haake, who scored in both the 200 and the 100 freestyle.
Benet coach Sarah Maggio has more talent and depth than she's had for years, but the Redwings must learn how to put it together in sectionals in order to be well-represented on the deck at the state meet. Veselik and Frank lead an improved Hinsdale South outfit that is looking to win conference and qualify a couple of relays. Sego, is the standout for West Chicago/Batavia and she could score in both the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke and maybe lead a relay or two to state.
Key dates: Sept. 9: Neuqua Valley Invite; Sept.9: Hornet Invite at Hinsdale South; Sept. 16: West Chicago Wildcat Invite; Sept. 23: Downers Grove North Invite; Sept. 23: Rosary Invite at Marmion; Sept. 30: Downers Grove South Invite; Oct. 7: Naperville North Invite; Oct. 21: Metea Valley Mustang Invite; Oct. 28: Conference meets; Nov. 11: Sectionals; Nov. 17-18 state meet at New Trier.