Pats' Cliburn moves ahead

During her first two years on the Stevenson girls water polo team, you could find senior Rachel Cliburn treading water and stopping shots as a goalkeeper.

At 5-foot-11, she was a natural at using her lanky frame to cover the net.

Prior to last season, she was asked to move from goalkeeper to the field. Although she liked being a goalkeeper, she was ready for a change.

"I thought it was exciting to start making goals instead of blocking them," she said. "In goal, you tend to get mad at yourself. I liked how, in the field when you get frustrated, you can take out your aggression."

Cliburn's play on offense last season helped Stevenson win the North Suburban Conference title and place fourth in the state. She picked up where she left off Thursday by scoring 5 goals in the Patriots' 16-5 victory over Oak Park in the season opener.

Coach Jeff Wimer was not at all surprised Cliburn would pick up her new position quickly.

"The kid is just a pure athlete," he said.

Cliburn, who dives for Stevenson in the fall, never swam competitively in high school. But that didn't stop her from sometimes beating her teammates in informal challenge races.

The biggest challenge for Cliburn was the way she had to change her practice schedule. Goalkeepers work a lot on treading and staying high in the water, while field players have to be able to swim at a consistently fast pace.

"She was used to chilling in the goal," senior Rebecca Shopiro said. "Now, she was swimming back and forth. She was exhausted in the beginning."

Cliburn joined a club swimming team to prepare for the high school season.

"I was proud when I could just finish a practice," she said with a smile.

For the first few water polo practices, Cliburn struggled with her new skill set.

"It's really physical; there's a lot of stuff that people can't see going on under the water," she said. "I had to learn passing skills under pressure. When I was in the goal, I would sometimes think why can't they (score)? When I got out there, I saw how hard it was."

Actually, she quickly made things look pretty easy.

"Her height made her transition that much easier," Shopiro said. "She could elevate really high. She picked it up right away."

Cliburn said she will be able to play more instinctively this season.

"I feel a lot more comfortable," she said. "I know my position and how to react to different situations."

Girls water polo season preview

Players to watch: Kristen Aucutt (Mundelein, Sr.), Katie Ahlgrim (Libertyville, So.), Janelle Bartman (Stevenson, Jr.), Melanie Blair (Libertyville Sr.), Rachel Cliburn (Stevenson, Sr.), Sarah Cull (Libertyville, Sr.), Alice Denny (Mundelein, Jr.), Kendell Duffy (Vernon Hills, Sr.), Ali Fedro (Mundelein, Sr.), Maddie Kleinhample (Vernon Hills, Sr.), Melanie Lecaroz (Vernon Hills, Sr.), Amy Michelau (Stevenson, Sr.), Anne Murrow (Mundelein, Sr.), Tracy Nigro (Libertyville Jr.), Rebecca Shopiro (Stevenson, Sr.), Kelly Steininger (Vernon Hills, Jr.), Brooke Theer (Libertyville, Sr.).

Outlook: Stevenson, the defending North Suburban Conference champion, placed fourth at the state tournament. The Patriots return five starters and expectations are extremely high. "The experience they've gained over the last three years is going to show in their play," coach Jeff Wimer said. "We're very strong defensively and we have a lot of speed. I think right now we're probably one of the top three teams in the state." … Mundelein will be led on offense by Alice Denny, while Ali Fedro and goalkeeper Anne Murrow will anchor the defense. "With much of our team being young, they've done a fantastic job of leading and showing how to be successful in water polo," coach Andrew Schneider said. "What's exciting about this young group is how fast they are learning." … Libertyville coach Hollie McCarthy takes over a team rich in sophomores. "For a young team, they're pretty developed in their skills," she said. "They're fairly decent swimmers and pretty strong in the water. They have knowledge of the game. I'm looking forward to watching them progress." … Vernon Hills lost 11 seniors to graduation, but first-year coach Shona Moeller said there is plenty of young talent left. "Everybody this year has stepped forward and wants to do well," she said. "I can feel the drive from the ladies. They work well as a team." Vernon Hills' will rely on its defense early as the offense learns on the job.

-- Bob Gosman