Girls water polo: Scouting Lake County

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Tracy Balla (third season)

Last season: 10-19, lost to Lake Forest in Deerfield sectional quarterfinals

Returning players: Allison Morettini (Sr.), Michaela Olsen (Sr.), Margaux Scally (Jr.), Anna Heard (So.), Katie DeAcetis (Jr.), Hayden Marth (Sr.), Kate Speer (Jr.)

Newcomers: Cate McCarty (Fr.)

Outlook: The Wildcats graduated a few key players from last year's squad, which reached double-digit wins. Coach Tracy Balla says there is young, developing talent on the team, however. "Over the course of this season and the next one," Balla said, "we should develop into a well-rounded team."

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Mike Vukovics (second season)

Last season: 21-12, lost to Stevenson in Deerfield sectional final

Returning players: Abbie Lukas (Sr.), Carolyn Westgate (Sr.), Nicolina Bottiligieri (Sr.), Amanda Garcia (Sr.), Ella Krauss (Jr.), Cayce Parker (Jr.), Hannah Stanley (So.)

Newcomers: Angela Kordik (Jr.), Natalie Gray (Jr.), AnnMarie Hirst (Jr.), Sydney Bradshaw (So.), Adry Kasemets (Fr.)

Outlook: The Mustangs are returning from a successful season. Last year, they won 11 more games than the previous year and placed second at conference. This year the Mustangs are looking to take things to the next level, coach Mike Vukovics said. They are focused on improving from last season. "Our goal is to place at North Suburban Conference and at sectionals," Vukovics said. The Mustangs return with four seniors who contributed to last year's success. Included is returning captain and senior Abbie Lukas, who had 8 goals in Mundelein's season-opening, 17-3 win over Palatine. Junior Cayce Parker added 3 goals. Lukas, who was named third-team all-state last year, recently committed to play Division I water polo at The George Washington University. Vukovics adds his team has more speed, determination and tenacity than the previous year due to the senior leadership. "After losing the sectional final last year, the girls know what it takes to get to the next level," Vukovics said. The Mustangs have promising underclassmen, three of whom are returning starters. "The girls have worked extremely hard in the off-season," Vukovics said. "They strive to improve and be competitive at the state tournament. What an ordinary day in the pool is for us is impossible for most. This is the mindset that will set us apart."

STEVENSON

Coach: Jeff Wimer (25th season, 18th at Stevenson)

Last season: 34-2, won Deerfield sectional, won state championship

Returning players: Claire Haas (Sr.), Eileen Hoang (Sr.), Eleanor Michaud (Jr.), Lauren Maloney (Jr.), Anna Mossakowski (Jr., goalie), Kalista Tapas (Jr.), Amelia Eastman (Sr.), Bella Greenspan (Sr.), Brigitte Lefebvre (Sr.)

Newcomers: Shreya Sreedhar (So.), Ann Baldino (Jr.), Kelly Kempf (Jr.), Hanna Cloeter (So.), Maanasa Devabhaktuni (Jr.), Natalie Wess (Jr.), Alena Bardic (So.), Valerie Zlotnikova (So., goalie), Vicky Kim (Jr.), Maddy O'Donnell (So.), Maria Mossakowski (Fr.), Anna Gates (Fr.), Maddie Meirhaeghe (So.)

Outlook: The Patriots' 14-13, overtime win over Naperville Central last May gave them their second state championship in three years. A repeat is realistic considering their returning group, which includes senior Claire Haas, who has signed with USC. Last season, Haas piled up 156 goals and 60 assists. The other returnees include Eileen Hoang (59 goals, 53 assists last season), Lauren Maloney (64 goals, 57 assists), Eleanor Michaud (34 goals, 44 assists), Kalista Tapas (34 goals, 16 assists), Amelia Eastman (25 goals, 21 assists) and Bella Greenspan (24 goals, 10 assists). Haas was named player of the year in Illinois, while Hoang also earned first-team all-state honors. Michaud was named second-team all-state. "We are a very deep and experienced team," said veteran coach Jeff Wimer, who was named coach of the year in Illinois last year. "Our goal this season is to stay focused and take nothing for granted. We have the talent and ability to make a run deep into the season. Our ultimate goal is to play on the last Saturday of the season in the last game."

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Katie Ahlgrim (first season)

Last season: 9-18, lost to Wheeling in Deerfield sectional play-in

Returning players: Ellie Mayes (Sr.), Danielle Wolff (Sr.), Diana Castro (Sr.), Paige Landry (Sr., goalie), Cara Orbell (Sr., goalie), Milen Aguilar (Sr.), Maria Manzella (Sr.), Hannah Kramer (Sr.), Riya Shah (Jr.), Abby Kamai (Jr.), Steph Chang (So., goalie), Allie Pappas (So.), Kim Zhou (So.), Katie Gheysen (Jr.), Brittany Garcia (Jr.), Sydney Umansky (Sr.), Elizabeth Friday (Jr.)

Newcomers: Katelyn Kries (Fr.), Alyssa Oliva (Fr.), Zosia Okinczyc (Fr.), Caroline Ewing (So.)

Outlook: Former assistant coach and first-year head coach Katie Ahlgrim says her team will focus on the basics of water polo and getting strong. "This group of girls want to learn and want to play smart water polo," Ahlgrim said. "They are ready to take on any challenge that is thrown their way without complaining, but with a smile instead. Ahlgrim adds her players are doing dryland workouts every day to gain strength. "With these workouts they need to work together and push through," Ahlgrim said. "The girls need to get to practice on time and be putting in 100 percent during practice so that during games, they know how to play well and aggressively."

WARREN

Coach: Sarah Zink (second season)

Last season: lost to Palatine in Deerfield sectional play-in

Returning players: Nicole Baelum (Sr.), Jackie Oehlerking (Sr.), Jordan Elkinton (So.), Anna Erpenbeck (So.), Calista Herrmann (Jr.), Nora Jersild (Jr.), Dowlaann Kuzmickus (Sr.), Philomina McLaughlin (Sr.), Anna Richey (Jr.), Trinity Springer (So.)

Newcomers: Grace Heppner (Jr.), Alyssa Kucharski (Jr.), Caroline Kucharski (Jr.), Jessica Oehlerking (Fr.), Tori Shumate (Jr.), Hannah Tarantino (Sr.), Nicole Terzian (So.)

Outlook: The Blue Devils are looking to continue building their program after their inaugural campaign last spring. Returning seniors Nicole Baelum and Jackie Oehlerking serve as team captains again.