Center-stage finish for talented Travetto at Stevenson
The queen of her sport, ultimately, had a crown placed gently on her head.
Stevenson senior Allison Travetto received her headdress a couple of days after becoming the first female in IHSA water polo history to surpass 200 goals in a season.
The traditional sash came with it, too.
Say hello to Stevenson's prom queen, who's also the school's sharpshooting all-state polo player. Patriots water polo coach Jeff Wimer figures the student voters got it right.
"This girl is not only an amazing athlete, but she is probably one of the most likable kids I've ever been involved with," Wimer said. "She's so easygoing. She's so friendly. I told her, 'Whatever you decide to do in life, you're going to be successful at it.' "
If prom queen becomes as successful in life as she was in a high school pool, people might bow at her feet.
After finishing her senior season with a staggering 226 goals, Travetto is the Daily Herald's female athlete of the year for Lake County.
Yes, 226 goals. And 100 assists, also a team-best 100.
That was Wayne Gretzky clapping in the background.
"She was something special (this season)," Wimer said of his utility player, who was a team captain for both the polo and swimming teams her senior year.
After all, how many girls score 200-plus water-polo goals in a season and get voted prom queen in the same spring? None, apparently, other than Travetto. She fired home 8 goals in Stevenson's 15-2 win over Highland Park in the Buffalo Grove sectional final on a Saturday last month, then quickly dried off, hustled home and zoomed off to prom.
"Very (crazy)," Travetto said with a laugh. "We had like 45 minutes to get ready. The game ended and we had to run home, get ready, run to get pictures with the group, then go to the dance. It was fun (laughing), if you want to look at it that way."
Travetto had a blast this season, even though the defending state champs didn't successfully defend their title. Travetto scored 3 goals in a 10-7, state-quarterfinal win over St. Ignatius Prep, then tallied four times against Fenwick, which edged Stevenson 9-7.
Travetto notched 2 goals and 2 assists in her final game, the Patriots' 9-4 win over Mother McAuley in the third-place game at Stevenson.
Stevenson finished 34-2 with its lone defeats both being to Fenwick by a combined 3 goals.
"(The season) was so fun," said Travetto, who also led the Patriots with 141 steals. "Other than me and our goalie (Lauren Burns), our whole team was sophomores, freshmen, a few juniors. Very inexperienced, very young. I know they're going to be great next year and years after. It's a shame we couldn't repeat (as state champion), but it happens. I'm not down about the season."
Bound for Long Beach State University, Travetto finished her four-year varsity career with 608 goals, which is also a state record, and 252 assists. While she was an athlete growing up and was particularly skilled at soccer, she fell in love with water polo. She started playing the sport in sixth grade, competing for the Northern Illinois Polo Club age group team.
Playing sports with her dad, two brothers and three boys who live next door helped toughen her up for the physically demanding sport of water polo.
"We all played together," Travetto said. "I was like one of them. I was never playing with the girls, (playing) dress-up."
The queen made an exception for prom.