Scouting girls swimming / Northwest

By Aaron Gabriel

BEGIN_ATTRIBUTIONagabriel@dailyherald.comEND_ATTRIBUTION

Barrington lost four-year standout Kimmy Steelman to graduation, but the Fillies return a wealth of talented swimmers. In addition to defending 100 breaststroke state champ Emily Fogle, Barrington got valuable state-meet experience for Erika Elliott, Anne Jacobsen, and Andi Leesley. With diver Ann Etherington back in top form and the addition of freshman distance swimmer Daniella Elliott, it looks like it will be difficult for anyone in the Mid-Suburban League to challenge the Fillies' impressive run of conference titles, and coach Jim Bart has high hopes for improving upon last year's seventh-place state finish.

The Erin Rodriguez era is over at Buffalo Grove (she placed third in the 200 IM in her senior season), but coach Tom Mroz is excited about his team depth. Sarah Fasching, Nicky Delaney and Angela Rodriguez figure to lead the way, with important contributions from Veronika Jedryka and Margaret Lotzer.

Conant finished a close third in last weekend's invitational at Hoffman Estates. Key contributions for Wayne Oras' team came from Monica Tanski, Courtenay Raymond, Kristi Burke, Amber Marcis, Amaris Pozniak and Casey Troccoli.

Elk Grove coach Dave Toler reports great progress in the program. The Grens have about twice as many swimmers out for the team and figure to be led by senior captain Jenna Kyriazes and senior diver Christine Baldovin as well as juniors Jordan Crocker and Natalia Banasik. Other keys figure to be sophomores Natalie Przybylski (diving), Kayla Starbuck and Leah Rivard, and freshmen Angelica Ford and Jackie Hirschauer.

Coach Dick Mortenson has taken over at Hersey after making the move from Prospect. He inherits a group with great depth, and one that lost virtually no swimmers to graduation. The Huskies feature unusually strong diving, with state qualifier Kate Reszotko, Kathryn Korff and Christine Rovani back at their craft. Swimming figures to be strong, too, with proven competitors such as Caroline Stoklosa, Laura Wilcher, Erin Cunningham, Bethany Figiel, Mackenzie Ireland, Kristy Johnson,Maura Kelly, Abby Petersen, Lindsey Petersen Ali Williams and Jenny Platek. Hersey's goals include an MSL East title and getting multiple competitors to the state meet.

Fremd sports a young but capable team. Among the key contributors in the early going include junior Megan Kennedy, Kayleen Samuels, Breanna Anderson, Samantha Del Prado, Sarah Gallo, Shannon Loria and Carly Gessert. Coach Andy Larson lost a bunch of talented seniors from last year such as Kelli DiCanio, Erika Lauraits and Katie DeFilippo, but the prevailing wisdom among the league's coaches is that the Vikings will once again be among the league's elite.

Hoffman Estates earned a fourth-place in the invitational it hosted last weekend. Rachael Gallo, Vishwa Shah, Sayali Sakhardande, Angee Serwin Rianna Schmidt, Michalia Agins, and Jessica Pablo were among the main point-scorers; diving will be led by Kasey Ray, Meran Liu and Kasia Serwin.

Leyden's top returners are Caryn Schmidt and Nicole Vazquez. Coach Chris Cook says he's got a young team that's hoping for "a lot of personal bests."

Coach Ryan Claus begins his 10th year of coaching at Maine West. The early returns are encouraging - a victory in the Highland Park Invitational and a narrow loss to a competitive Hersey team. So far, key contributions have come from juniors Casey Cullen, Lily Grant, Rachael Pond, Kelse Maciejewski and Ailish O'Connell, and seniors Rachel Murphy, Cassie Harville and Sian Wilson. The Warriors also feature excellent diving from senior Jennifer Rey and junior Michel Madalinski.

Palatine coach Ed Richardson enters his final season with an unusual blend of skilled swimmers with potential and complete novices. But he likes the team's enthusiasm and is focused on bringing out the best in everyone. He'll count on Nicole Theis, Katie Brown, Katy Jo Peters, Nicole Huffman and Monica Dorszewski, and they ought to team up for some formidable relays. Diver Mallory Fisher leads the usual complement of top-notch Pirates divers, including Alyssa Alden and Stephanie Hamer.

Alfonso Lopez is back at his alma mater, Prospect, as a coach. And he's got plenty to work with. Senior sprinter Kelly Wilson and junior Meg Dix return from last season's school record-setting 200 free relay, and they're joined by a group of capable athletes such as seniors Ali Alesi (backstroke) and Nicole Mayerck (IM), juniors Greta Pietraszek (IM) and Tori Shields (breaststroke), and sophomore Jessica Cavaiani. Grace Gruendel and Madeline Spacapan excel in fly and middle distance, and Spacapan and Tuttle lead the distance corps. The Knights also feature a first-rate diver in Christina Pekar, who broke a school record that had stood since 1977 with a 199.45 score against Hoffman Estates.

Coach Monika Chiapetta enters her 13th season at Rolling Meadows feeling lucky. She's overseeing a team that has embraced year-round conditioning and entered the season at a better starting point than it left off last year. The top competitors so far have been Maddie Conlin, Lauren Checchin, Michele Goodwin, Vicky Vockeroth and Jamie Vicars; key new faces figure to be Neeka Szacilo, Meaghan O'Brien and Jessica Dykstra.

Schaumburg graduated 10 seniors, including standouts Nicole Mundie and Amanda Creevy, but Saxons coach Tim Kasper is focused on replacing those losses. Key for Schaumburg will be experienced competitors Sammy Schuckles, Emily Langlotz, Kristy Bessler and Casey Houts.

St. Viator coach Adam Clementi has much to look forward to this season. The Lions have performed well in early duals and have the depth to assemble quality relays. Stephanie Nolan has already set a team record in the 100 breaststroke; other key varsity performers include Megan Shover, Madeline Wimberly, Margaret Stefanowsky, Melanie Battaglia, Kelly Schreuder, Samantha Swiderski, Carson Soch and Alli Lardner.

Wheeling seems to have taken big steps forward. Coach John Fournier is getting good swims in the early going from Leah Malsom, Kayla Dale, Christa Khatcherian, Jana Tornquist, Amy Wilson and Emily Sullivan. The program's overall numbers have also improved and the Wildcats are a program on the rise.

- compiled by Aaron Gabriel