Scouting DuPage County girls water polo
Top local teams: Naperville Central, Waubonsie Valley, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley.
Top games: Naperville Central at New Trier, March 16; Naperville Central Tournament, March 19; Naperville Central at Waubonsie Valley, March 22; Neuqua Valley at Metea Valley, March 22; Lyons Township Tournament, March 26; Naperville North at Naperville Central, April 5; Hinsdale Central Invitational, April 9; Naperville North at Neuqua Valley, April 12; Hinsdale Central at Waubonsie Valley, April 13; York Invitational April 15-16; Hinsdale South at York, April 18; Naperville Central at Fenwick, April 21; Lyons at Neuqua Valley, April 21; Fremd at Naperville Central, April 28; Waubonsie Valley at Stevenson, May 4.
Top players: Tricia Bannister (Neuqua Valley, Sr.), Taylor Bridgman (Naperville North, So.), Julia Campbell (Naperville Central, Jr.), Audrey Chien (Naperville North, Jr.), Lizzy Giuliani (Naperville Central, Sr.), Kristyn Haralamos (Hinsdale South, Sr.), Ellen Heenan (Hinsdale Central, Sr.), Lizzie Hollopeter (Metea Valley, Jr.), Audrey Jeannin (Hinsdale Central, Sr.), Laurel Johnson (Hinsdale Central, Sr.), EB Keeve (Waubonsie Valley, Sr.), Abbey Kerth (Naperville Central, Sr.), Rachel Lehman (Neuqua Valley, Sr.), Alecia Lewis (Hinsdale South, Sr.), Maggie Melvin (Hinsdale Central, Sr.), Colleen Moran (Hinsdale Central, Sr.), Michelle Moynihan (Waubonsie Valley, Sr.), Eleni Murphy (Hinsdale South, Sr.), Katie Nelson (York, Sr.), Maria Palladino (Metea Valley, Jr.), Emily Sejna (Naperville Central, Jr.), Cheryl Skukas (York, Sr.), Cara Stack (Waubonsie Valley, Sr.), Alex White (Waubonsie Valley, Sr.), Claire Wirtz (Naperville Central Sr.). Outlook: Naperville Central is once again the class of area water polo. The Redhawks are just 10 months removed from an epic 6-5 loss to Lyons Twp. in the state semifinals. Lyons went on to win the state tournament, while the Redhawks settled for a 9-3 blowout win over Homewood Flossmoor to finish third in state.
The Redhawks will attempt to fill the massive void left from the graduation of superstar Claire Fleming with the three-headed monster of Abbey Kerth, Claire Wirtz and Emily Sejna. Returning goaltender Julia Campbell brings state tournament experience and confidence between the pipes.
Nipping at the heels of Naperville Central in recent seasons has been Waubonsie Valley. This is the season the Warriors could make the push to dethrone the Redhawks.
In last May's Neuqua Valley sectional final — with a trip to the state tournament on the line — the Warriors gave the powerhouse Redhawks everything they could handle in a heartbreaking 8-5 loss. Arizona-bound Waubonsie goalie EB Keeve was nothing short of sensational in the loss. Keeve will continue to use her tremendous length and agility this season to keep the Warriors' chances for a trip to state sky high.
The Naperville North program in recent seasons can be summed up in one word: speed. The Huskies are no strangers to making deep playoff runs based on this style of play. Last May their season ended in a 9-7 loss to Waubonsie in the sectional semifinal.
The return of Audrey Chien, one of the best defensive players in the area, should help the Huskies make a serious threat at catching the Warriors and Redhawks.
With all the standout programs within a 10-mile radius of its campus, it could be tempting to overlook Neuqua Valley. Don't do it. Head swim and dive coach Mac Guy will enter his first year coaching Wildcats polo, and he walks into a favorable situation.
“I'm really excited to join the program,” Guy said. “It's a really competitive group, and we're lucky to have so many girls jumping into this season with so much enthusiasm and passion.”
Neuqua returns senior standouts Tricia Bannister and Rachel Lehman, plus goalie Meghan Gradle. The Wildcats lost to Naperville Central in the sectional semifinal last season.
Another team coming off a wildly successful playoff run is York. The Dukes fought all the way into the championship game of sectionals but fell just short of a trip to state by losing to perennial powerhouse Fenwick.
“We'll get a chance to play Fenwick right after spring break; the girls are really excited about that,” said first-year coach Maria-Elena Agrela.
Metea Valley enters its first season as a full-fledged varsity team, and according to coach Lenny DePasquale, there isn't a more excited group of girls in the area. Juniors Lizzie Hollopeter and Maria Palladino lead the Mustangs' youthful enthusiasm.
“We're working a lot on the counterattack,” DePasquale said. “I want to see that technique play out instead of seeing us just swim back.”
With a batch of players possessing strong leadership skills, determination, and intelligence, Hinsdale Central has the right attitude to improve upon its 9-18 season of a year ago. Leading the charge will be seniors Ellen Heenan and Colleen Moran.
Hinsdale South will look to seniors Eleni Murphy, Alecia Lewis and Kristyn Haralamos to step up in place of 2010 leading scorer and graduate Hillary Veselik.
The Hornets went a rock solid 17-9-1 last season, but couldn't get past Neuqua Valley at sectionals, losing 7-4 to the Wildcats.
— Casey Callanan