Scouting DuPage County girls swimming
Top teams: Downers Grove North, Hinsdale Central, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, West Chicago
Top swimmers: Addison Trail/Willowbrook co-op: Sara Pardue, sr.; Colleen Krawczkowski, so; Benet: Taylor Kramer (diver), so.; Maddi Webb, sr.; Tori Bertschy, jr.; Cristina Favia, jr.; Katelyn Katsafanas, jr.; Downers Grove North: Meghan Downey (diver), jr. Haley Sims, sr.; Gabby Sims, fr.; Maddie Sims, fr.; Allison Soper, sr.; Jen Glockman, so.; Glenbard Co-op: Sara Taege, sr.; Mary Floren, so.; Hinsdale Central: Lindsay Pavich, jr., Jenna Heidkamp, jr.; Kristen Worthington, jr.; Abbey King, jr.; Jennifer Coady, jr.; Hannah Lillioja, jr.; Hinsdale South: Dana Vinyard, jr.; Hannah Veselik, jr.; Eleni Murphy, sr.; Maya Rodrigues, jr.; Lake Park: Taylor Johns, jr.; Metea Valley: Erica Carvell, jr.; Lizzie Hollopeter, jr.; Jenny Horne, so.; Megan Sellers, jr.; Erin Turner, jr. Naperville Central: Molly Schatz (diver) so.; Julia Roller, so.; Lauren Gunn, jr.; Emily Sejna, jr.; Naperville North: Paige Bloodgood (diver), jr, Lauren Bogle, jr., Jen Law, jr.; Lexi Nash, sr.; Amy Novak, so; Anna Williams, so, Neuqua Valley: Lauren Mikulecky (diver) sr.; Brooke Bedford, so,; Amanda Childs, sr.; Megan Childs, so.; Gia Dalesandro, so; Maggie Maxstadt, jr.; April Niccolai, jr.; Lauren Pierce, sr.; Riley Schroedter, so.; Courtney Taylor, jr.; Waubonsie Valley: Taylor Eggenberger (diver), jr.; Megan Devine, jr.; Alex White, sr. West Chicago: Kelly Dunn, sr.; Yvette Kruk, so.; Maya Skorupski, so. Wheaton Co-op: Meghan Bagley, sr.; Cindy Jezuit, sr.; Erin Bagley,so.; Sarah Schaffer, jr.; York: Tori Larsen, sr.
Outlook: In previewing DuPage County swimming and diving prospects, we'll start with the undersung heroes of the aquatic world, the divers. This year's crop of divers may be the deepest and the best this area has seen. There are a half dozen who did well at state, led by Waubonsie's Eggenberger who finished sixth. This year she, Mikulecky, Bloodgood, Kramer, Downey and Schatz are all capable of putting up points for their schools.
Teamwise, DuPage County had five schools finish in the top 20 at state, and they all had a strong group of underclassmen who make the outlook even better this year. Hinsdale Central, which finished fifth, graduates several key performers but returns an outstanding junior class led by returning state scorers Heidkamp and Worthington. All three relays picked up points, as well, and there's plenty of competition for the relay spots. Barber is hoping to crack the top five again, but he sees New Trier and Rosary as certain for the first two trophies. Downers Grove North which finished 13th, is a lock for the top 10 with the great Sims coming back for one more year. And she'll be joined by her freshmen twin sisters, who promise to be just as good as they mature. Coach Judy Busse believes a trophy isn't out of the question. Naperville North's top 15 finish was just a preview of things to come, as the Huskies did it with a young team parked by a great freshman class. They're sophs now as they and a handful of older returnees are in position to score as individuals and as relay teams this year. First-year coach Kristy Holben likes what she sees in terms of talent, depth and team chemistry and she believes the Huskies can move up at state. West Chicago (16th) is built around Dunn for the fourth year in a row. But the Wildcats have some good people in the pipeline such as Kruk and Skorupski, who will keep the program going in the right directions. And Neuqua Valley (20) has its usual mixture of talent and depth. This was another young team last year and several of the many experienced swimmers such as the Childs sisters, Dalesandro and Taylor, can break out and score at state.
There's more competition in the DVC this year as the Huskies will be challenged by their cross-town rival Redhawks and a particularly strong veteran group at Wheaton co-op, led by the Bagley sisters. But the new kid on the block is Glenbard co-op (North and East), which has a core of top-flight swimmers, including Taege, Floren and a pair of super freshmen, who should qualify for state. Although they don't have the numbers to compare to the bigger teams in dual meets or invites, Chris Dal Galdo's team will be heard from in the postseason.
Metea Valley, in its second year, is also establishing a tradition with a competitive group that's hoping to challenge Neuqua, Lake Park and Waubonsie in the Upstate Eight.
Benet has the talent to bounce back after a disappointing state meet. The Redwings are small in number but big in skill and determination.
Key dates: Sept. 11: Hinsdale South Invite, Neuqua Valley Invite; Sept. 18: West Chicago Wildcat Invite; Sept. 25: Rosary Invite, Downers Grove North Trojan Team Challenge; Oct. 30: conference meets; Nov. 13: sectional meets, Nov. 19-20 state swim meet at Evanston.