Girls swimming and diving: How high can Neuqua Valley go at state?
The Neuqua Valley girls swimming team is optimistic about earning a top 10 finish in the team standings at this weekend's state meet at Evanston Township High School.
The Wildcats, who finished 17th last year at state, were second at last weekend's Metea Valley sectional, and the Wildcats will have at least one state qualifier in every event but the 100 freestyle.
All three Neuqua relays qualified, with the 200 medley relay team finishing third in what many consider the strongest sectional in the state.
Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove South, Waubonsie Valley, Naperville North and Metea Valley are among the teams that also qualified all three relays.
By winning the sectional, defending state champion Rosary goes to state in good position to repeat.
"Rosary is the heavy favorite, but I think we are poised to make a good showing," said Neuqua Valley coach Jason Niforatos.
He cited Waubonsie Valley, which finished fourth at the sectional, as another area team that could crack the top ten.
One reason for Niforatos' optimism is that the Wildcats qualified all three relays and they have at least one qualifier in every individual event but the 100 freestyle.
"We have so much depth this year that we have the ability to do interesting things with the lineup," Niforatos said. "We have a lot of options in setting our relay lineups."
Though the seeding can be rendered irrelevant once the preliminary races start on Friday, the Wildcats have a bunch of qualifiers who are listed in the top dozen based on the times put up in the sectional.
Based on those sectional times the Wildcats best chances to score by finishing in the top 12 at state are: Kayleigh Cannon and Wyli Erlechman, who go into the prelims with the fourth and fifth best times in the 100 butterfly; Amanda Brockmeier, who is seeded eighth in the 100 breaststroke; Maxine Parkinson, who ranks in the top 12 in the 200 IM; and Ryan Dulaney, who is among the top 12 seeds in the 200 freestyle.
Neuqua's 200 medley relay team goes into the meet as the eighth seed.
"We feel good about this meet because the girls are focused on executing their plan for each race rather than worrying about the clock or the competition," Niforatos said. "And they have also responded to our efforts to make this a team thing even though it's really an individual sport. Our kids are swimming solo, but they're also aware that they're doing it for the team. They're providing great support for their teammates."
Around the pool:
There are a number of girls from other DuPage County schools who are entering the state meet with a good chance to score based on their sectional results.
Downers Grove South's divers Emily and Elizabeth Aument are ranked Nos. 3 and 4 and Lake Park's Jennifer Hauser is seeded at No. 5 in the 50 free.
Naperville North's Connie Zhang is listed at No. 7 in the 200 free and No. 8 in the 100 free. Anna Scovill of Metea Valley holds the eighth slot in the 100 fly. Hannah Hunt of Waubonsie Valley is No. 10 in the 100 breaststroke, and Naperville Central's Alexa Puccini is at No. 11 in the 50 free.
Waubonsie Valley goes in with the No. 6-seeded 200 medley relay team and starts in the top 12 in the two free relays. In the 200 free relay Naperville Central holds the eighth-fastest time, and Downers Grove South is in the No. 11 slot.