Round-up: Falconer, divers get it kickin'
In its first home meet of the season, Mundelein's swim team gave its fans plenty of reasons to hold off on heading to the home football game.
Sarah Falconer won two events, divers Taylor Reckert and Polly Hirt turned in typically strong performances, and the Mustangs won 8 total events to secure their first dual-meet victory of the season 110-76 against Vernon Hills.
"Our relays are really coming along and, with our divers, they seem to be our strength," said Mustangs coach Jenny Curry, whose team is now 1-1. "We had some strong swims from some swimmers who haven't been swimming as strong lately, and now they're coming up and swimming."
Vernon Hills (3-2) opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay, with the team of Kelly Steininger, Ashley Lenz, Melanie Lecaroz and Kelley Gallagher (2:02.98) won by more than 4 seconds.
But the Mustangs responded with wins by Alice Denny in the 200 freestyle (2:16.96) and Falconer in the 200 individual medley (2:19.50).
Melanie Rowland swam the 50 freestyle for the first time this season, and delivered another win for the Cougars with a time of 26.90.
"We tried to structure the lineup in a way to utilize some of my strongest swimmers in some places that Mundelein might not have expected, and also to spread out some kids," Vernon Hills coach Kedric Greenawalt said. "That was a case where I wanted to use Melanie Lecaroz in a couple different places. The 50's an odd event for Rowland to swim, and she did a great job."
There was nothing odd about the performances of Reckert and Hirt.
Mundelein's divers both topped their seed scores, finishing with 220.30 and 218.10 scores, respectively.
"That's usually the point in dual meets where we take the lead," Curry said. "They both did a good job, and we really count on them for points."
Rowland picked up her second win in the 100 butterfly (1:00.55), winning by nearly 10 seconds. The Mustangs delivered a 1-2 finish in the 100 freestyle thanks to Sara Marciniak (1:01.03) and Ashley Begrowicz (1:05.44).
In the 500 freestyle, Cougars freshman Gallagher jumped out to an early lead and only increased it, winning with a time of 5:52.90.
"Kelley swam that two other times this year and has done a really nice job," Greenawalt said. "I knew after seeing some earlier results that she would have been able to beat the girls Mundelein would have had. She's a really good breaststroker as well, so it was kind of a tossup which event to have her swim, but I'm glad I made that decision.
"She's a girl who's thriving right now being one of the top three kids. She has an opportunity to be a leader here, and she's really stepped into that role for us."
The Mustangs decided the meet by winning the final four events. The relay team of Jessica Bilski, Marciniak, Cassie Brueckbauer and Falconer took the 200 freestyle (1:50.75).
Falconer won the backstroke (1:06.00), Brueckbauer the 100 breaststroke (1:13.37) and the team of Michelle Lau, Marciniak, Melanie Spedale and Falconer claimed the 400 freestyle (4:02.36).
The Cougars swam competitively despite five swimmers battling injuries. The most severe was Lenz, who fought through a hip flexor injury to help the medley relay win and finished a strong second (1:14.07) in the breaststroke.
"We've got a few kids who are pretty hurt, and Ashley's one of them," Greenawalt said. "She really toughed out that 100 breaststroke for us and really gave Mundelein a race. I mean, I had to carry her back to the bench afterward because she couldn't walk. Without a doubt, she left everything she could in the pool, and I'm really proud of her for that."
-- Jeff Fleischer
Girls volleyball
Fenwick d. Carmel: The Carmel girls volleyball team was never in synch Thursday.
"Even at our team meal we were very low key," coach Bill Szczesniak said. "I sensed something wasn't quite right."
Visiting Fenwick took advantage of an inconsistent Carmel performance and posted a 25-21, 25-21 East Suburban Catholic Conference victory.
The fire that Carmel (8-6, 1-3) played with Saturday in winning the St. Viator tournament and the passion the girls showed in a close loss to state-ranked Marist on Tuesday was missing.
"We had absolutely no fire tonight," Szczesniak said. "We're not consistent yet with our focus and energy levels."
Although both teams had success all match with short serves, the Corsairs missed nine serves. That was the difference in what was otherwise a closely-contested match.
"That was really uncharacteristic," senior setter Ashley August said. "We're normally really good servers."
Carmel did not have an answer for Fenwick senior outside hitter Clare Liston. Of course, most teams struggle to stop the four-year starter who had a match-high 10 kills.
"She's a very smart player," Carmel senior middle blocker Kaitlyn Howard said. "She saw where our defense was setting up and hit accordingly. She killed us with taps in the middle."
Fenwick (10-7, 1-1) had 5 aces and served to its spots all match.
"We've been focusing on toughening up our serving," Friars coach Eileen Asmussen said. "Our (play) has been up an down all year, but we're getting into a groove."
The first game was close until a Liston kill gave Fenwick a 16-11 advantage. Carmel pulled within two points but could get no closer.
Senior Vanessa Toby sparked the Corsairs with two early kills in the second game, but Fenwick rebounded and took control. Just about every time Carmel was about to seize the momentum, the Corsairs would miss a crucial serve.
Toby finished with a team-high 6 kills. August, who distributed 13 assists, is confident this match was just a momentary blip.
"We have the best team chemistry," she said. "We'll shake this off."
-- Bob Gosman
Girls tennis
Warren 3, Libertyville 2: The Blue Devils got wins from Jenny Horner (No. 2 singles), Allison Strakusek/Taylor Ackerman (No. 1 doubles) and Laura Gutantes/Carley Mikkila (No. 2 doubles).
Libertyville's wins came from Dena Boulieris (No. 1 singles) and Jessie Bodeman/Megan Jensen (No. 3 doubles).
Vernon Hills 3, Round Lake 2: The Cougars' winners were Stephanie Borgman (No. 1 singles), Liza Xu/Colleen Rhoades (No. 1 doubles) and Kelsey Wolff/Tia Ginakakis (No. 3 doubles).
Round Lake's Heather Craig captured second singles, and the Panthers' Tori Holmes/Martha Quevedo won No. 2 doubles.
Boys soccer
Lakes 1, Grant 0: Josh Oppenheim's second-half goal, assisted by Steve Korosis, lifted the Eagles in the North Suburban Prairie Division match.
Matt Laine made 6 saves in earning the shutout for Lakes (4-6, 2-0).
Wauconda 5, Antioch 0: Mike Mrohen scored twice, and Mike LeClaire had a goal and an assist for the Bulldogs, who led only 1-0 at halftime of the North Suburban Prairie Division game.
Greg Gustafson and Greg Henk also scored for Wauconda (6-2-4, 1-0-1), while Eugene Nagawicki earned the shutout in goal.
N. Chicago 2, Vernon Hills 1: Matt Allen scored the lone goal for the Cougars in North Suburban Prairie Division action.
Lake Zurich 7, Mundelein 0: On Wednesday, Nick Janus scored twice for the Bears in the North Suburban Lake Division game.
Tim Kreutz, Eric Pothast, Reid Bergstrom, Brad McCurley and Mike Morrison also scored for Lake Zurich (9-3-2, 3-0). Andy Lynch had 2 assists.
Boys golf
Stevenson d. Mundelein: At the Arboretum Club, the host Patriots' 159 edged the Mustangs by one stroke in the North Suburban Lake Division showdown.
Four players shot 39 -- Stevenson's Tory Weidenmiller and Joe Pellettiere, and Mundelein's Johnny Pierpont and Ben Schroeder.
Warren d. Lake Forest: At Bittersweet, Taylor Furmanski was medalist with a 34 -- 6 strokes better than his nearest teammate -- as the Blue Devils carded a 156 to defeat the host Scouts (161) in North Suburban Lake Division action.
Antioch d. LFA: At Deer Path Golf Course, Eric Holst's 41 led the Sequoits (173) past Lake Forest Academy (185).
Antioch improved to 5-4 overall.
CL South d. Grayslake C.: At Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, Grayslake Central (172) lost to Crystal Lake South by three strokes, but the Rams' Mike Reynolds was medalist with a 37. He was the only golfer to break 40.
Girls golf
Carmel d. Marist: At Countryside Golf Club, the Corsairs (172) won by 44 strokes. Jacqueline Jaskowiak fired a 39 to earn medalist honors.
Libertyville d. GBS: At Glenview Park Golf Club, the Wildcats (191) earned a five-shot win over Glenbrook South.
Alex Hein carded a winning 41 for Libertyville (6-3).