Preview: DuPage girls swimming
Top area teams: Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Naperville Central, Downers Grove North, Benet, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South.
Top area athletes: Benet: Sarah Galvin, sr.; Colleen Webb, jr.; Maddi Webb, so; Downers Grove North: Haley Sims, so.; Adrienne Bicek, sr.; Emma Buckley, jr.; Downers Grove South: Alexis Spivak, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Caitlin Connor, sr.; Meredith Sweeney, jr.; Abby Grilli, jr. (diver); Hinsdale South: Kristine Kassl, sr.; Dominique Drouin, sr.; Hillary Veselik, jr.; Natalie Cain, sr. (diver); Lake Park: Sandra Gregor, sr.; Lindsay Collins, sr.; Naperville Central: Erin Lamb, sr.; Vanessa Hendrix, jr.; Caley Faulkner, jr. (diver); Naperville North: Emma Williams, jr.; Sarah Rendek, sr.; Neuqua Valley: Lexi Piranian, jr.; Jeanette Nolte, sr.; Kelly Healy, sr.; Waubonsie Valley: Elena Carvell, sr.; Andrea Baumgartner, jr.; Shelby Daeschner, sr.; Julia Carroll, jr.; West Chicago: Kelly Dunn, so.; Caitlyn Madsen, jr.; Wheaton co-op: Danielle Reminger, sr.; Jessica Wellick, jr.; Madeline Scarborough, sr.; York: Tori Larsen, so.
Scouting report: Eight DuPage County teams finished in the Top 20 at state last year, making the county one of the strongest in Illinois. Though most of those teams suffered significant graduation losses, many of the scorers in the state meet return, and they're looking to improve upon their 2007 performances.
Neuqua Valley, which finished fifth, must retool after losing last year's strong senior class that was led by four-year standout Kathleen Patterson. A good freshman class joins a nucleus of solid talent to give coach Jennifer Heyer-Olsen the potential for another solid season. "We're just looking at the team week by week trying to build and figuring out where the pieces fit," Heyer-Olsen said. Waubonsie Valley, which also lost some key swimmers from its ninth-place team, will challenge in the Upstate Eight Conference. The Warriors have good veteran depth behind the talented Carvell, who finished fifth in the 100 butterfly. "We have no knockout-punch people, but we're solid," said Waubonsie coach Tom Schweer. "We have a lot of really hard swimmers and we'll be tough in the postseason."
In the DuPage Valley Conference, Naperville Central is strong again even without graduated state champion Amy Prestinario. Coach Jon Carlson looks to Lamb and Hendrix to spearhead another move on the top 10. "If the relays can still score and Erin and Vanessa can make a couple of finals, we could creep up a spot or two," Carlson said. Naperville North and Wheaton co-op both look to be better than last year and hope to make the Top 20.
In the West Suburban, Downers Grove North (13th) and Hinsdale Central (16th) are two that could be trophy contenders at the end of the year. Trojans coach Judy Busse believes this is the strongest team she's ever had. Bicek (second in both the 500 free and the 200 IM) and Sims, who was sixth in the 100 free, are potential state champions. "We're very deep and hope to get back to the top ten and possibly trophy," Busse said.
The Red Devils are looking for their eighth sectional title in the past nine years. Connor and Sweeney lead what promises to be a large state contingent, which should include all three relays. Grilli hopes to score in the diving competition. "The money's in the relays, and we'll be leaning toward those relays," said Hinsdale Central coach Bob Barber. "We're going to try to dig our way back into the top 10."
Hinsdale South and Downers Grove South were tied for 20th. The Hornets are looking to improve their position behind Kassl, who was fifth in the 50 free, and Drouin, a pair of outstanding sprinters. For the Mustangs the versatile Spivak could make it to Saturday in both the 200 IM and the 100 fly.
Benet had its best year ever, finishing 14th at state. Many of the people who got them there return, including the great Galvin, who was second in the 100 backstroke and third in the 500 freestyle. A strong and deep group should make the Redwings outstanding and possibly move them into the top 10. Benet doesn't have a home pool, so every meet is a road meet for them. "We're returning practically everyone," coach Nicole Kothe said. "We're older and stronger and we have three really good freshmen."
Key dates: New Trier Relays (Oct. 18); conference meets (Nov. 1); sectionals (Nov. 14); state meet at Evanston High School (Nov. 21).
- Neil Shalin