Sectional repeat?

Last year was the first time all five area swim teams sent girls to the state swimming and diving finals. Based on their performances so far this year, there's a good chance all five will be heading back at the close of this Saturday's sectional meets.

The winner of each race this weekend will automatically qualify for next week's state meet at New Trier, and swimmers can also advance by beating the state-cut times. In diving, each sectional winner advances, with 32 others statewide receiving slots based on their total scores.

North Suburban Conference champ Stevenson is hosting its own sectional, which features returning champion Barrington as well as Glenbrook South. The Patriots are hoping to qualify all three relays and have individuals with real shots at state in every event.

Ashley Wanland is a two-time state champion in the breaststroke, and diver Kerrin Seymour won state as a freshman last year. Martha VanLieshout, April McKee, Tori Alland, Erin Cunningham, Melanie Koto and diver Sam Stenn have all been to state before, and are all in position to make return trips.

"We want to win our sectional after having such a close meet with Barrington last year," said Stevenson coach Karl Milkereit, whose team won its sectional in 2005. "They've been doing well this season and so has GBS. That's a huge goal, and really to get everyone who swims in the sectional down to state, especially in our relays."

Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Warren and Mundelein will all swim Saturday at Vernon Hills, where Lake Forest is hosting its sectional due to construction at its school.

The Wildcats won this sectional last year, edging out the Scouts. While its team is a lot younger this season, Libertyville placed a strong third at conference and has a number of swimmers in position to beat state times.

Emily Ott, Dana Davidsen, Maggie Boling and diver Brittany Tazzioli are state veterans, and underclassmen Whitney Mitchell and Taylor Rogers are near the qualifying times.

"Obviously you want to get as many kids to state as you can; that's the No. 1 goal," Wildcats coach Greg Herman said. "It's going to be a good sectional. Lake Forest has been beating us all year, so we'd like to come in and change that at sectional."

Melanie Rowland of Vernon Hills had top-10 state finishes in two freestyle events last season. This year she's expected to qualify in the butterfly and the backstroke, beating the state cuts in both those events last week. Senior Melanie Lecaroz is also close to the cut in the 50 freestyle, and the medley relay has a shot at state.

"Melanie Lecaroz is a special kid," Cougars coach Kedric Greenawalt said. "She's been so close in the 50 the last three years that, if we can get her to qualify for state, that would be a pretty special thing for the whole team to rally around her. She's somebody who's done a lot for our program."

Warren's Kristen O'Connor is looking to advance in the 100 freestyle after making state in the 50 last year. Ally Calewarts has a shot in the 50 and in the backstroke, as does Laura Chou in the latter.

"One team goal is to try to get our medley relay down," Warren coach Erik Rogers said. "Unfortunately we got DQ'd (at conference), but the time was right there. For sectionals, we'll fine tune it. As a team, our goal is to get a relay down so we can take as many girls to state as possible."

For Mundelein, senior Sarah Falconer and diver Polly Hirt already have state experience, and diver Taylor Reckert and Cassie Brueckbauer are primed for strong meets.

"As a team, we'd like to drop our relay times more and then hopefully our seniors can finish it out well," Mustangs coach Jenny Curry said. "We're looking for strong performances from everybody at sectionals."