Scouting girls swimming: Lake County
Swimmers and divers to watch
Lauren Alexander, sr., Warren; Lauren Anderson, fr., Mundelein; Dana Andrea, soph., Vernon Hills; Madison Blaydes, fr., Stevenson; Maggie Boling, sr., Libertyville; Cassie Brueckbauer, sr., Mundelein; Morgan Dickson, fr., Libertyville; Madison Douglas, fr., Stevenson; Bethany Drebing, soph., Warren; Zoe Eldridge, soph., Vernon Hills; Emma Engdahl, soph., Mundelein; Michelle Hannon, soph., Stevenson; Maddy Hennelly, sr., Warren; Sarah Honda, jr., Mundelein; Amy Klink, soph., Mundelein; Katie Li, jr., Stevenson; Whitney Mitchell, jr., Libertyville; Lauren Pontello, jr., Stevenson; Taylor Rogers, sr., Libertyville; Melanie Rowland, sr., Vernon Hills; Kerrin Seymour, sr., Stevenson; Emma VanLieshout, sr., Stevenson; Anne Wright, jr., Warren.
Libertyville coach Erik Rogers, who held the same position last year at Warren, is enthused about the mix of his first group of Wildcats. "We have upperclassmen to bring the experience and freshmen to bring the energy," he said. "We've done really well out of the gate." As a junior, Maggie Bolling finished in the top 12 at the state meet in the 100-yard breaststroke. Senior Taylor Rogers is a returning state qualifier in the 200-freestyle. "What's stood out is how hard they are working to start the season," Rogers said. Junior Whitney Mitchell is a returning qualifier as well and one of the area's most versatile swimmers. "She could come close to qualifying in just about any event," Rogers said. Freshman Morgan Dickson is undefeated so far in the 500-freestyle. Against New Trier, she was the only Libertyville swimmer to win her event. - Mundelein's Cassie Brueckbauer, a senior, is a returning qualifier in the 100-breaststroke and 200-freestyle. Sophomore Amy Klink is a solid threat to qualify in the 50-freestyle. Fellow sophomore Emma Engdhal should be a consistent performer in the 100-backstroke and 200-individual medley. The Mustangs feature strong freshman and sophomore classes. The two key freshman swimmers are Meghan Falconer and Lauren Anderson. Three sophomores promoted from the junior varsity are Megan Casali, Jacqui Lodor and Alyssa Garcia. If the Mustangs can avoid injuries, they could send some individuals and a relay to the state meet. - Stevenson's last two senior classes set the bar high, but the Patriots have enough young talent coming up to partially offset the key losses to graduation. Among Stevenson's best swimmers are a freshman (Madison Blaydes), a sophomore (Michelle Hannon) and a couple of juniors (Katie Li and Lauren Pontello). Senior Emma VanLieshout is a returning state qualifier in the 200-individual medley and 100-breaststroke. Senior Kerrin Seymour is one of the state's top divers. Freshman diver Madison Douglas will make an immediate contribution. - Vernon Hills senior Melanie Rowland should qualify for the state meet for the fourth consecutive year. Diver Tammy Olson is the only other senior. "Tammy's biggest asset is her leadership," coach Kedric Greenawalt said. In Zoe Eldridge and Dana Andrea, the Cougars have two of the area's best sophomores. Both already are very close to swimming state cuts. Diving will be a strength for the Cougars. Sophomore Stacy Rowland has the potential to score points at the conference and sectional meets. Junior Jessica Echales and freshman Jessica Tomback also have impressed. Greenawalt likes how invested the newcomers to varsity are. "They have a vested interested in improving and working their way up to a competitive varsity level," he said. - The Warren girls swimming team has a new coach, Chad Rusk, but the Blue Devils were up to their old tricks in defending their title at the Fremd Invitational. "We lost a big senior class, but we pulled out a win," said Rusk, who was a varsity assistant last year. "The girls who used to be second-and third-level swimmers have made big improvements." As a sophomore, Bethany Drebing advanced to the state meet as part of Warren's 200-freestyle relay. Seniors Maddy Hennelly (200-individual medley, 100-butterfly) and Lauren Alexander (200- and 500-freestyle) will be major contributors. "We have a lot of senior leadership and they're showing our big sophomore class how to do things," Rusk said.
- Bob Gosman