Girls swimming: Scouting Northwest
Barrington: The Fillies were the class of area teams last year, and that seems unlikely to change this time around. Sure, elite competitor Emily Fogle is gone to Purdue, but nearly all of the rest of last year's swimmers are back, along with a fresh jolt of varsity-ready talent. Seniors Jacqueline Holdsberg and Anne Jacobsen and juniors Kate Valentine and Justine Kaszynski all earned state-meet experience last year and will help provide excellent relays once again. Danielle Elliott and Kayla Widdowson (breaststroke-IM-fly) give quality speed and depth. Freshmen McKenna Scheitlin (breaststroke, free), Olivia Hoffman (fly, breast), Maddie Burrell (distance), Ashleigh Kleinjan (breast-IM) and Sam Gavars round out a lineup that seems likely to again prove superior in the Mid-Suburban League, and possibly top 10 at state.
Buffalo Grove: Coach Tom Mroz' has several reasons to look forward to the rest of the season. Sophomore Veronika Jedryka qualified for the state meet last year in the 500 freestyle, Sara Fasching distinguished herself as a first-rate varsity swimmer across a wide range of events, and quality competitors such as Margaret Lotzer, Kristen Perek and Angela Rodriguez also return. One key addition figures to be sophomore Callie Fasching. Mroz feels his team may struggle against some of the deeper Mid-Suburban League teams in the dual format, but he's also optimistic about Jedryka's chances for returning to the state meet, as well as perhaps another individual or two and perhaps the medley and one of the freestyle relays.
Conant: Coach Wayne Oras' group produced a nice victory over Palatine on Thursday, and the Cougars did it with depth. Freestyle efforts from Barbara Rose, Casey Troccoli, Lucie Banahan, Kristi Burke and Katie Varga were key. Solid production from returners such as Monica Tanski puts the Cougars in a good place with lineup flexibility, and Jessica Southern and Rachel Barthel look like they'll help fill out a quality lineup.
Elk Grove: Freshman Simona Kurta is making a splash with coach Dave Toler's team with quick early efforts in the fly and sprints. Though the Grens will be challenged in a dual format against the better East Division teams, competitors such as sophomores Angelica Ford and Jackie Hirschauer are combining with seniors Jordan Crocker and Natalia Banasik to provide a better core group than last year. Continued development from junior divers Kat Baldovin and Natalia Przybylski figures to make this a very interesting team to watch.
Fremd: Andrew Kittrell is in charge of the Vikings after Andy Larson's successful run came to a close following last season. Kittrell has had high school coaching experience at Warren, Maine East and Glenbrook South, and he likes what he sees already at Fremd. The Vikings return several key swimmers from last year, notably seniors Megan Kennedy and Sam Kirby, and sophomores Breanna Anderson and Kayleen Samuels. Kennedy will concentrate on sprints this year after focusing on distance events last fall; Samuels is a top backstroker and Anderson showed great promise in breaststroke and the sprints. Other prominent contributors will likely be freshmen Sam DiCanio and Gillian Marsden and senior co-captain (along with Kennedy and Kirby) Jessica Xenakis. Figure in elite junior divers Elizabeth and Stephanie Uhrich, and it seems likely the Vikings will be solid in both dual and championship meet formats.
Hersey: It was a breakthrough season for the Huskies and coach Dick Mortensen, and it only looks like the breaking through will continue. In addition to state-meet returners Amanda Petro and Christine Rovani, the Huskies can rely on proven first-rate varsity depth from backstrokers Bethany Figiel and Erin Horne and distance freestyler Laura Wilcher. Kelsey O'Donnell continues to make quantum leaps forward and will help in sprints and butterfly; Karolina Szymaszek, Maddy Leisz and Stephanie Kintzle provide unusually good breaststroke depth and freshman sprinter Lenna Fotos seems up to the daunting task of replacing graduated standout Kathryn Korff. "We are focused on getting not just a few kids to state, but a boatload," Mortensen said. "We plan on taking out a few Hersey records along the way. I cannot tell you how much fun I am having - these kids are very passionate about swimming and this makes it very easy for the coaching staff. We feel that last year we became one of the elite teams in the MSL. Now we want to stay in that elite group."
Hoffman Estates: The Hawks seem to building a stronger program and have a solid group of upperclassmen in place. Senior Rachel Gallo leads the way, and coach Josh Schumacher figures to have consistent contributions from seniors Sharon Sturnfield, Angee Serwin and Jessica Pablo.
Leyden: The Eagles lost 12 seniors from last season's team, so for many of his swimmers, coach Chris Cook is expecting mainly an instructional year. He hopes the eventual creation of a summer park district program will start a more regular pipeline of talent, but until then Leyden will be learning on the move. Key individuals this season figure to be captains Nicole Vazquez (sprints, backstroke) and Veronica Drozdowski (fly), junior distance specialist Emily Radziejewski and junior Nihada Hadzic (sprints). Promising younger competitors include junior Dana Laren (backstroke), sophomore Lisa Graff (sprints) and freshmen Laura Sevilla (IM) and Grace Wischmeyer (breaststroke, distance). "We've had a good two weeks of practice," Cook said last week, "and most of these girls have done more swimming in the past two weeks than they've ever done before. I'm real encouraged by what I see, and I look forward to a season of development."
Maine West: The Warriors return a pair of seniors with high hopes, sprinter Ailish O'Connell and diver Jennifer Rey. Both made the state meet last year and are focused on scoring points there this time. Coach Ryan Claus doesn't yet have the team depth for great dual results, but Maine West does have enough to make things interesting in that setting. Senior Lily Grant provides some punch in the distance freestyles, and Casey Cullen, Gigi Groener, Kelsey Maciejewsi and Rachael Pond will figure into solid relays.
Palatine: Coach Brittany Berleman takes over for Ed Richardson with an impressive array of swimmers. Senior Monica Dorszewski nearly scored state-meet points in the 100 breaststroke last fall and has had terrific early season swims. Junior Nicole Huffman was also a state qualifier, Nicole Theis and Paige Wainwright (also a diver) were valuable components last season and freshman freestyler Amy Zahn is a huge help this fall. Senior diver Mallory Fisher placed eighth in the state last season and seems to have picked up right where she left off last fall; she's joined by another first-rate diver, Stephanie Hamer. The Pirates look to be challenged with depth in a dual setting in certain events, but they look like they might be at their best at conference and sectional time.
Prospect: Knights coach Alfonso Lopez likes his senior-dominated group. Greta Pietraszek, Meg Dix and, Grace Gruendel and Madeleine Spacapan, Tori Shields and Lisa Mazur are among those leading the way; juniors such as Jessica Cavaiani, Megan Tuttle and Amanda Drucker give Prospect some punch. Cavaiani has already equaled her best efforts from last year in the 100 breaststroke and is a legitimate state meet hopeful. The Knights' overall depth is solid and helped them to victory in last week's St. Viator Invite. Diving will be a strength as Christina and Sara Pekar return to lead the way.
Rolling Meadows: Coach Monika Chiappetta lost six capable swimmers to graduation. That's the bad news, but the good news is the Mustangs have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Soph Neeka Szacilo nearly qualified for the state meet last season in the 500 free and also is strong in the 200 free, 100 free and 100 breastroke. Junior Vicky Vockeroth showed supreme dedication to summer training, and the results are clear as she's already about three seconds ahead of last year in both the 100 fly and 100 free. Senior Gina Vockeroth is also back with the team and should help the dual lineup in several spots. Other key swimmers figure to be senior Maddie Conlin and sophomore Jessica Dykstra. "I was a little leery of trying to replace the girls we lost - not necessarily their talent, but their leadership. But this group is working together better than any I've had." Chiappetta expects her squad to better five team records before season's end, with realistic chances at advancing both individuals and both freestyle relays to the state meet.
Schaumburg: The Saxons bring back the main competitors from last year's team, and that's a very good thing. Senior Sammy Schuckles qualified for the state meet in the 100 back last fall and anchors the team. She's also a very capable freestyler, and coupled with returners such as Kristy Bessler, Emily Langlotz and Ema Cigerova, it's plain to see this team has taken a step up. Add to that a swimmer like Sydney Skibinsky, who's already been 1:12 in the 100 breaststroke, and it puts coach Tim Kasper's team a cut above many other area teams. The Saxons stayed within shouting distance of Barrington in Thursday's dual, showing they match up well not only in quality but in depth with one of the area's elite programs.
St. Viator: Coach Adam Clementi welcomes back a group that made great strides last year. Led by returning state qualifer Stephanie Nolan, the Lions have good reason to think they'll be represented at state again. Nolan is the school record-holder in the 100 breaststroke, where she's joined by teammate Melanie Battaglia. Megan Shover is a top competitor as well. There's senior depth from Samantha Swiderski, Margaret Stefanowski, Kelly Schreuder and Madeline Wimberly. Junior Carson Soch will help out, and freshman Erin Primdahl is providing varsity-ready swims across a wide range of events.
Wheeling: Coach Lisa Hanrahan's top returning competitors are sprinter Kayla Dale and distance freestyler Leah Malsom. Callie Schoeneman joined the recently on a winning 400 freestyle relay in dual meet against Prospect. The Wildcats will be challenged in depth but both Dale and Malsom were front-line varsity performers at the conference level.
Save the dates
Mid-Suburban League meet: Saturday, Oct. 30 at Barrington
Sectional meets: Saturday, Nov. 13. Barrington will not be hosting a sectional, meaning area teams will likely be split up between Stevenson, St. Charles North, York and Glenbrook South.
State championships: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20, at Evanston Township High School