Rosary's state title one highlight of memorable prep year

It's time to forward the mail, kennel the pets, and get everyone bundled into the car.

It's time to head home again.

As with last year, the end of the prep sports season -- which takes place this coming weekend, also means the end of my column writing for another summer.

And unlike those whose summers are times for intensive travel, the brief respite from June to August actually sees my car a happier vehicle. Given gas prices, that's not such a bad thing.

For the last nine months, I have again seen such great things. As with other recent years, I've spent most of my autumn months watching girls swimmers, the winter watching boys swimming and the spring viewing girls soccer.

I've seen other sports, of course. But those three are my "beats," and I'll confine most of what I say to those sports.

There has been no shortage of highlights, starting with girls swimming season and Rosary's second consecutive state championship. Repeating is never easy, though the Beads returned an amazing group from their 2006 success.

What's frightening is that the core of last year's state team returns again this fall for a shot at winning three in a row, which would edge Rosary one step deeper into the state's annals of great teams.

The history of Illinois high school girls swimming has been that of a sequence of teams which have gone on "runs." Since 1979, no champion has failed to repeat. Some teams have famously won multiple team titles -- notably Jennifer Heyer's St. Charles teams from 1994-99 and New Trier's seven straight wins from 1981-87.

The core of Rosary's team will be seniors this fall, and there are other talented athletes in the pipeline already. However they finish, they'll be fun to watch.

There was more, of course. Caitlin Dauw swam her final state meet -- and with it one of St. Charles East's famous swimming names ended its competitive time in high school.

I got to see Casey, Curtis as well as Caitlin, and all were incredible athletes who are most notable by the fact that they are better people than they are athletes.

Caitlin also had a swim for the ages when she battled Rosary's Olivia Scott to the wire in the 100-yard butterfly final at the state meet. Scott won but Dauw showed her grit and talent.

We also got to see a glimpse of the future at St. Charles North, where Angie Chokran finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke. Chokran was a freshman last year, and we'll no doubt hear a lot more about her in the coming years.

As the boys took over the pools, the local question was whether or not anyone could beat Neuqua Valley -- and the answer to that remained "no" throughout the Wildcats' championship season.

But St. Charles North came charging at Neuqua Valley and proved just how talented they were. The North Stars finished fourth, their second consecutive top-five finish, and they won the 200 individual medley.

Jimmy Brooks, John Higgins and Matt Baumann all wanted more after what they felt was a 2007 disappointment. None of the trio, or any of their teammates, should be disappointed with their 2008 accomplishments.

There are always issues in every sport, and the one that remains in swimming is the venue at which the state finals are held. In practically every other high school state finals experience, any fan can attend if they so choose.

There isn't even enough room at the Illinois state venues -- Evanston and New Trier -- to house even a small portion of a potential crowd. The atmosphere is great, but it's like being at a very private party. And that goes against one of the usual tenets of prep sports -- you can attend and not pay an arm and a leg to get in. Sellouts and ticket reselling are things that should be reserved for the pros and perhaps major college athletics.

Illinois is one of the fastest states in boys and girls swimming. More people should be able to enjoy that excellence.

Finally the year ended, as it has for me for five years, at the girls soccer fields of the area. A number of better than average teams worked their way through the season in the area and St. Charles North came within three overtimes and a possible penalty kick shootout of upending eventual state champion Waubonsie Valley. The Warriors were as dominant this year as was Neuqua Valley's boys swim team -- and Rosary's swimmers as well.

But the North Stars hung in there with the Warriors and the game became a showpiece for St. Charles North goalie Vicki Traven. Had she stereotypically stood on her head to make a save, no one would have batted an eye -- she made just about every other possible save.

There are some serious issues in high school soccer, just as there are in all sports. The club-high school debate continues, and it will continue until meaningful discussions take place. There is so much to be gained from representing one's school, and it is easily complemented from the experience of competing for a top-notch club.

The IHSA state tournament is badly weighted. Class A is currently too weak. Class AA is not only bloated but there is no serious effort to move the best teams into a spot to where the best make the state finals. When the state finals consist of only the top four teams in a class, this will become even more important. No one will pay to go see one star survivor of a brutal playoff path and three makeweights, put there because of geographic or other concerns. If the top two teams in the state happen to be St. Charles North and St. Charles East, those teams should have the chance to play for the state title. Do you think that would draw a few fans?

The state of fields in the area remains poor. I've written on this before, but it still needs attention. Soccer is a game played best when the ball is on the ground. Alternatives need to be explored to make surfaces better at nearly every school. The school's football teams will benefit too. A uniform surface helps them too.

There was so much more. Along the way, I went to Holland for two weeks with my father. I saw five matches in all, including one in London and came back with memories that far exceed the number of days spent abroad.

And there were tears too. Back in days gone by, an annual rite of spring was to talk to Kari Batka about how St. Charles' drill teams would fare. I don't understand dancing any more than most people understand soccer -- but Batka made it easy and I think I picked up a thing or two along the way.

So when a St. Charles North drill teamer died, one of the things I did was pop onto the school's Web site. There are still two links to state championship drill team performances.

The one to click is on the right. And you're darned right it brought tears to my eyes.

Finally a word to those who have read this column, electronically or in print: thanks. We only exist because people read what we write.

I must go make sure the shades are pulled down and that I really did double lock the front door.

See you in August.