Girls swimming: Scouting Lake County

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Erik Rogers (ninth season)

Last season: fourth in North Suburban Conference meet, third in Lake Forest sectional, 36th in state meet

Returning swimmers: Allison Morettini (Sr.), Emma Gleason (So.), Claire Neuburger (Sr.)

Newcomers: Alex Eastmond (Fr.), Caitlin McCarty (Fr.)

Season outlook: Coach Erik Rogers says his Wildcats are young this season, but they also return state-meet experience. Gone are Meredith Robbins, who graduated after qualifying for state last year in four events (200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, 50 free, 100 butterfly), and diver Morgan Paul (eighth at state). But the returnees include senior Allison Morettini, sophomore Emma Gleason and senior Claire Neuberger. Morettini and Gleason swam on the Wildcats' state-qualifying medley relay, while Neuberger qualified for state in diving for the second year in a row.

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Rahul Sethna (fifth season)

Last season: fifth in North Suburban Conference meet, sixth in Lake Forest sectional

Returning swimmers: Angela Bowes (So.), Maggie Franz (Sr., diving), Mikayla Gruber (Jr.), Kate Hay (Jr.), Angela Kordik (Jr.), Ella Krauss (Jr.), Abbie Lukas (Sr.), Molly Mishler (Sr.), Sarah Parduhn (So.), Cayce Parker (Jr.), Carolyn Westgate (Sr.)

Newcomers: Lauren Carlson (Fr.), Ella Fidanze (Fr.), Adry Kasemets (Fr.), Jennifer Lopez (Fr.), Hannah Stanley (So.), Jaime Allore (Fr., diving), Jodi Lawson (Fr, diving), Elle Mishler (Fr., diving), Anna Van Belleghem (Sr., diving)

Season outlook: The Mustangs return their only two state qualifiers from last year in junior Maggie Franz (diving) and sophomore Angela Bowes (100 backstroke). Franz (three-year state qualifier), Molly Mishler, Abbie Lukas and Carolyn Westgate are four-year varsity competitors. "I am excited to see what we can do this year," coach Rahul Sethna said. "We have a great blend of experienced competitors while also having a bunch of new, versatile athletes join our program. As always, we want to be swimming and diving our best in November."

STEVENSON

Coach: Kevin Zakrzewski (third season)

Last season: first in North Suburban Conference meet, first in Stevenson sectional, sixth in state meet

Returning swimmers: Iza Pelka (Sr.), Eva Holsen (Sr.), Ashley Carollo (Jr.), Claire Huang (Jr.), Sasha Kokhan (Sr.), Lucy Stevens (So.), Maddy O'Donnell (So.), Sherry Mestan (Jr., diving)

Newcomers: Elizabeth Cao (Fr.), Jennifer Xiong (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Patriots return senior Iza Pelka and junior Ashley Carollo off last year's 400 freestyle relay that placed fifth in the state meet. Pelka also touched fifth in the 200 free and seventh in the 500 free. She's been contributing on varsity since her freshman year. Carollo, who's also been swimming on varsity since her freshman year, earned the sixth-place medal in the 100 backstroke last fall. The Patriots graduated a strong group that included state qualifiers Danielle Fang, Rachel Song, Morgan Bosse, Jessica Lenhart and Kathy Xiang (diving), but three other 2016 state-meet participants are back. Junior Claure Huang returns after qualifying in the 200 medley relay, senior Eva Holsen made state in the 500 free, and junior Sherry Mestan earned a berth in diving. "We are looking to continue our momentum we generated from last season as a team," coach Kevin Zakrzewski said. "Our team culture has been building and building each season. We've had a great start to the season already as far as team camaraderie. Like every year, our goals are to win the NSC meet, win sectionals and place top 10 at state. Everything leading up to that is all preparation."

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Kedric Greenawalt (11th season)

Last season: fourth in Central Suburban League meet, fourth in Lake Forest sectional

Returning swimmers: Nicole Pinter (Sr.), Drew Petereit (Jr.), Alexandra Skatchkov (So.), Ally Landis (So., diving), Anya Caples (Sr.), Ellie Long (Jr.), Abby Kamai (Jr.), Sophia Phoenix (So.), Jami Ellen (Jr.)

Newcomers: Samantha Michals (So.), Catherine Zhao (So.), Anna Long (Fr.), Claudia Yoon (Fr.), Casey Craffey (Fr.)

Season outlook: The Cougars got their season off to what coach Kedric Greenawalt called a great start in the Lake Forest Scout Relays last Saturday. Standouts included junior Drew Petereit leading off two winning relays (500 crescendo, 200 freestyle) as well as nearly chasing down Stevenson in the final relay (400 freestyle) to finish second. Senior captain Nicole Pinter also played a big role in two wins as a part of the 500 crescendo alongside Petereit and the 200 butterfly relay. Pinter (200 medley relay), Petereit (200 medley relay, 50 free, 100 breaststroke), sophomore Alexandra Skatchkov (200 medley relay, 100 butterfly) and sophomore Ally Landis (diving) also qualified for state last season. Pinter, who went to state in the 200 free two years ago, is swimming on varsity for the fourth season.

WARREN

Coach: Chris Bertana (fifth season)

Last season: third in North Suburban Conference meet, second in Lake Forest sectional, 24th in state meet

Returning swimmers: Danielle Glisovich (Sr.), Emily Wong (Sr.), Megan Wong (Sr.), Alyssa Church (Jr.), Jackie Goldman (Sr.), Alla McLaughlin (Sr.), Jackie Oehlerking (Sr.), Hannah Tarantino (Sr.), Teagan Albert (Sr., diving), Carly Baun (Sr., diving), Delany Jones (Sr., diving), Carissa Barker (Jr.), Maia Russell (Jr.)

Newcomers: Annie Stingle (Fr.), Grace Towson (Fr.)

Season outlook: The Blue Devils graduated star Courtney Barker (Tulane), who wrapped up her great high school career by placing fifth in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 50 freestyle at state last year. But Warren returns state-meet experience in seniors Danielle Glisovich, Emily Wong, Megan Wong, Alyssa Church and divers Teagan Albert and Carly Baun. At the Lake Forest sectional last year, Glisovich, Megan Wong and Church all swam on the state-qualifying 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Glisovich and Megan Wong each has competed at state on relays each of the last two years. Glisovich, both Wongs and Jackie Goldman are four-year varsity swimmers. Freshman Annie Stingle is a butterflier and distance swimmer, who has a "great ability to finish strong at the end of a race," coach Chris Bertana said. The Blue Devils have already started the season strong. They notched a win over Hersey and then won the Lake Forest Scout Relays last Saturday. "We are looking forward to a great season and being a strong force in the NSC conference," Bertana said. "We are a very deep team in almost every event that will give us the ability to compete with all of the NSC teams."