Scouting Cook and Lake County

BARRINGTON

Coach Alex Mikolajewski returns Elizabeth Williams, Eva Wetzel, Ingrid Coonrad and Kathryn Quintanar from a crew that positioned forty fifth within the state.

“We want to improve our performance from last year regards to the sectional and state meet,” Mikolajewski stated. “We need to get extra athletes to the state meet. We need to work arduous daily and do the little issues proper. We need to go in regards to the course of within the appropriate method which might guarantee our targets are attainable on the finish of the yr.”

BUFFALO GROVE

Senior Ella Houston, a SMU recruit, leads the cost for the Bison in 2025. Houston was the runner-up within the 500 freestyle and Tenth within the 200 freestyle.

Also again are seniors Payton Menely (twenty eighth 200 freestyle, thirtieth 500 freestyle) and Emily Krause (forty third diving) together with sophomore Allison Houston (fortieth diving), senior Rada Rekada and juniors Lydia Surdyka and Hailey Walscheid.

BG hopes to enhance on final season’s fifth-place end within the MSL, fifth-place sectional end and Twenty third-place effort on the state meet.

“We have the largest group of athletes since COVID,“ said coach Mike McPartlin. ”We have amazing freshman and sophomore classes. We hope to build them up to compete at the next level. The younger athletes will be tested. We are working hard in the pool. We want to finish higher in the conference. With the changes in the conference alignment the dual meets will look very different. The athletes have individual goals related to specific times at the state meet. The girls are excited about the challenge.”

Buffalo Grove’s Ella Houston will swim in school at SMU.
Sandy Bressner/Shaw Local News Network

CONANT

The Cougars beneath Denise Mitchell return senior Brooke Lucotti, junior Erika Lopez and sophomores Natalie Wong and Ola Zajt.

Freshman newcomers are Michelle Tzotxomanski, Sophia Kolaida, Kailyn Robiski and Stephanie Donchev.

“We need to enhance within the convention (Mid Suburban) standings, place properly within the sectionals and qualify for the state, stated Mitchell.

ELK GROVE

With 10 returning swimmers, the Grens hope to enhance on a Tenth-place end within the Mid-Suburban League.

Back are seniors Anastasia Jevtic, Naima Leonatti and Sarah Haller together with juniors Claire Krawec, Nora Bellatti and Claire Milles and sophomores Ema Restak, Natalie Shafar, Raya Panova and Roselyn Hoseman. Newcomers embrace freshmen Mia Bartel and Natalie Cetnar.

“We are optimistic about the Elk Grove swim and dive team this season,” stated coach Jason Spjuth. “We are trying ahead to the chance to compete within the new division of the convention. We hope to develop the crew to new ranges we’ve not seen in awhile. We might problem some college relay information. The tiered division might work out properly for us. The twin meets may very well be extra aggressive for us. There must be extra competitors and parity for us.”

FREMD

Returning a number of state finishers and boasting 25 seniors, Andrew Kittrell’s squad might definitely enhance on final season’s Tenth-place end within the state.

The Vikes return senior Noora Nahlawi who was sixth within the 100 breaststroke on the state meet. Junior Ellie Patla was sixth within the 200 freestyle and eighth within the 500 freestyle. Junior Mihika Tillu was seventh within the 1-meter dive and sophomore Sophia Pentchov was twenty sixth within the 100 freestyle.

Back from the Eleventh-place 200 freestyle crew is Patla, Pentchov, Anna Hinshaw and Cat Guido. The Fifteenth-place 400 freestyle relay crew returns Patla, Pentchov, Hinshaw and Erica Meyer.

Other returners embrace seniors Emme Lee, Lindsey Kaleta, Molly Kanupke, Naishu Gopa, Sarah Fletcher and Aubrey Schinkel together with junior Yana Sapsova.

“We are loaded with talent and experience,” stated the Fremd coach. “We have a wealth of expertise with 25 seniors. We have robust rivals who know how you can compete. It is an intense class however they know how you can have enjoyable. This is a particular group of children. I am unable to anticipate the season to begin. This is a superb senior class. They can have an excellent legacy after they depart the constructing. I will not take a minute as a right with this group.”

Freshmen looking for time within the pool are Ellen Hinshaw, Julia Dahl, and Lucy Palarz.

“We want to finish in the top 10 in the state and go undefeated in all four levels (varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, freshman,” stated Kittrell. “We are fortunate to be within the MSL. It is a implausible group of athletes and coaches. Hersey, Prospect Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg will problem us for the convention title.”

HOFFMAN ESTATES

The Hawks have been seventh within the MSL and seventh within the sectionals a yr in the past.

Back are state qualifiers seniors Emi Latasiewicz and Lena Banszewski. Other returners are senior Gigi Navar and juniors Raegen Kline and Karina Pikhovich, and the Hawks even have freshman Charlena Villaro.

“We want to finish in the top six in the MSL and qualify for the state in the relays,” stated coach Adam Longo.

LAKE ZURICH

Junior Alicia Czosnyka is the highest swimmer again for Jill Kragseth’s Bears. As a sophomore, Czosnyka was eighth within the 200 particular person medley and Twelfth within the 500 freestyle on the state meet.

Others again for the Bears are senior Nicole Dimitrova and juniors Mia and Anna Howarth.

“Our goal is to have Alicia and other swimmers make it to the state finals,” stated Kragseth.

LEYDEN

The Eagles have been third within the rugged West Suburban Silver and fourth within the sectionals.

Coach Chris Cook, in his twenty sixth season, has a veteran crew with 18 returners.

They embrace seniors Christina Alamillo, Carolina Diaz, Valerie Lagunas, Jocelyn Martinez, Xienna Martinez, Veronica Psencik and Molly Turacek, juniors Liz Bonfil, Olivia Casper, Emily Gacon, Valeria Gonzalez, Karla Magana, Evelyn Olney and Julia Zorniak, and sophomores Yurianna Carvajal, Emily Martinez, Jenisa Cerna and Kamila Szcepaniak, plus newcomers Zuzanna Karyta and Kamilla Williams.

“This is the smallest team I have had in 26 years,” stated Cook. “The primary purpose for the drop is ladies flag soccer. We graduated 10 swimmers from final yr. We hope to stay aggressive and enhance on the third place convention end. We hope Olivia (Casper) can qualify for the state within the 100 backstroke.”

LIBERTYVILLE

The Wildcats have been second within the North Suburban Conference and second within the sectionals. Back for Greg Herman’s troops are senior Anne Lock, juniors Elle Klotz and Courtney McCall and sophomore Maddie Moss.

Looking to contribute are seniors Sarah Barbee, Annie Buchert, Abby Neff, Olivia Vines and Finley Weinstein and juniors Katherine Anderson and Audrie White, and sophomore Isla Ellingson. A proficient group of freshmen embrace Indy Allen, Anna Eulberg, Hannah Hoover, Piper Stephens, Haley Byers, Haley Stonehacker, Bree Summers, Ashley Wicklander and Addison Woodward.

“We have nine freshmen on their way,” stated Herman. “We have a robust upperclassmen group. We need a excessive end within the convention and win a sectional title. Stevenson is the crew to beat. The battle for second can be between us Lake Forest and Warren.”

MAINE EAST

Blue Demons first yr coach Rob Payne welcomes again senior Carolina Cichy and Olivia Picco together with juniors Alexandra Stoyanova, Amy Morales, Tuisi Arya, Mia Chonillo, Nicole Maniewski and Mamata Bosker and sophomores Aleksa Svargina, Resh Mar and Anna Yushchek.

MAINE SOUTH

The Hawks, third within the rugged Central Suburban League South, first within the Deerfield sectional and twentieth within the state, return Ohio State recruit Sarah Juris. Juris was second within the state within the 50 freestyle and eighth within the 100 freestyle. Senior Maeve Przekota was sixteenth within the 200 particular person medley. Junior Gabi Szymanski was thirty fourth within the 200 freestyle and Twenty third within the 100 freestyle. Sophia Wandel was forty second within the 500 freestyle and forty fourth within the 200 freestyle.

The 200 freestyle relay with Juris, Przekota, and Szymanski have been eighth and the 400 freestyle relay with Juris, Wandel, Szymanski and Przekota have been Eleventh.

Returners are seniors Amelia Aguila and Kendall Bai, and juniors Olivia Babula, Hannah Drone, Claire Keyworth and Reece Mansser to go along with freshmen Abigail and Erin Przekota.

“We have a majority of our athletes back from the sectional championship,” stated coach Don Kura. “We have an skilled deep crew. The CSL South is a troublesome convention with New Trier and Evanston presenting important challenges. We need to stack good follow after good follow. We concentrate on our mindset in our coaching. We have a excessive ceiling and need to enhance our end on the state meet.”

MUNDELEIN

The Mustangs, third within the North Suburban Conference, third within the sectionals and thirty fourth within the state, are led by UIC recruit senior Melia Wills.

Wills was sixth within the 100 backstroke and seventeenth within the 100 freestyle. She was additionally on the Twenty third place medley relay crew with senior Gracyn Gigiano and junior Lauren Tablemann.

Returners embrace seniors Madeline Iverson, Sophia Sauer and Addie Hagel (diver). Juniors embrace Lily Madison, Paige Robertson, Isla Nutall, Hayden Hilgart and Olvia Bartusch and sophomore diver Trixie Kleinschmidt.

Newcomers are senior Lexi Southwick, Gabriella Gordon and Sophie Colvin together with sophomore Jaina Bartusch and freshman Jenna Taylor.

“This is one of the strongest teams we have had in awhile,” stated coach Raul Sethna. “We have an excellent mix of returning state stage skilled swimmers and mixture of athletes to fill out the roster. Stevenson is without doubt one of the prime groups within the state. We need to problem Libertyville for the runner-up spot and maintain off Warren. We need to get extra athletes to the state and peak on the finish of the season.”

PALATINE

With 5 strong swimmers returning the Pirates hope to rebound from a ninth-place end within the Mid-Suburban League and an eighth-place sectional placement.

Back for coach Kathryn Mroz are seniors Kali Kiss and Julietta Ottati together with juniors Vivian Meyers, Rachel Carlson and Tessa Faltinek, and so they welcome sophomore Debi Georgieva.

“We are excited about starting out the season stronger than we did last year,” stated Mroz. “We have plenty of varsity swimmers with expertise. We have a small crew however have massive targets for twin meets. We need to win the shut races and have an general constructive expertise for the complete crew. We need to have enjoyable and work arduous. There plenty of alternatives for us to be aggressive in the course of the twin meet season.“

ROLLING MEADOWS

After successful the 100 backstroke as a freshman and runner-up within the occasion as a sophomore together with a ninth-place end within the 100 butterfly, Vera Conic took her junior season off to focus on the recruiting course of.

Conic, who’s a North Carolina State recruit, is hoping for an enormous senior season.

Also again is senior Elise North, who was nineteenth within the 50 freestyle.

Conic and North can be joined by returners seniors Ella Poortinga, Emily Sang and junior Abigail Rodgers, plus a proficient freshman group spearheaded by Naomi Poortinga, Sophie Wery, Bria Hagen, Maddie Pariato, Claire Poteracki, Elyn Connelly and

Rosa Montgomery.

The Mustangs search to enhance on a sixth-place sectional effort.

“We want to break some school records and finish higher in the varsity conference and qualify a few for state,” stated coach Monika Chiapetta. “We have a a lot larger crew with some nice new freshmen. We need everybody to complete with their finest instances and have nice recollections.”

STEVENSON

With a fourth-place end on the state meet a yr in the past with 176 factors, can the Patriots end just a little larger in 2025?

“Our goal is to finish in the top two which would be the best finish in school history,” stated coach Ayrton Kasemets. “We return all individual state points from last year. We have our team ready to fight for another trophy.”

Boasting 5 Division I commitments and 9 returners who positioned on the state meet, the Patriots are primed for a run at a attainable state championship.

Winning the North Suburban Conference and a sectional title final yr, the Pats return juniors Ari Grossenbach (third, 50 freestyle, sixth 100 freestyle) and Claire Wang (Eleventh 200 particular person medley, thirteenth 100 butterfly). Senior place winners again within the fold are Linnea Florin (Utah, sixth 100 butterfly); Shay Donovan (Delaware, seventh within the 200 particular person medley, sixteenth 500 freestyle); Anika Donovan (Duquense, 14th 500 freestyle); Nelli Sandor (William and Mary; ninth, 100 breaststroke) and Heidi Swerken (Wisconsin-Milwaukee, seventeenth 100 breaststroke).

The additionally Patriots return all 4 swimmers from the fifth place 200 medley (Karina Cantero, Sandor, Wang and Florin), fifth place 400 freestyle relay crew (Wang, Shay Donovan, Florin, Grossenbach) and sixth place 200 freestyle relay crew (Grossenbach, Sandor, Florin, Cantero).

Also again is senior Vanessa Mieznikowski. Newcomers embrace freshmen Emma Kierzkowski and Shreya Chandrakasan.

ST. VIATOR

The Lions, eighth within the Catholic League and Tenth within the sectionals, return seniors Anne Stauder, Claire Franczyk Abby Farrell and Lily Maloney.

Newcomers are sophomore Mia Leslie and freshman Nicole Hsu.

“We want to improve as a team and individuals during the season,” stated coach Dan Emary. “We need to swim our greatest on the finish of the season and end higher within the convention and sectionals. We are doing the arduous work early within the season so we will carry out on the finish.”

VERNON HILLS

The Cougars have received 6 of seven Central Suburban North titles since 2018. Vernon Hills was third in 2022 and forty first within the state in 2024.

Coach Andrea Block, in her eighth season on the helm, has state qualifier senior Sophia Kamarauli (backstroke) returning. Other returnees embrace seniors Julia Rausa and Andrea Phua together with juniors Olivia Williams and Maeve McAullife. Newcomers hoping for pool time embrace freshmen Bryn McAuliffe and Katherine Prohorov.

“We are fielding a smaller team,” stated Block. “Every meet in the conference will be competitive. We want to keep the Cougars tradition going as being a contender in the conference and represented at the state meet.”

WHEELING

The Wildcats hope to enhance on a Twelfth-place end within the MSL and Twelfth-place effort within the Deerfield sectional.

Returners for coach Tod Schwager are seniors Isabel Nelson, Karina Sahayda, Diana Flores, Anna Matcharachvill, Joaneh Chapeshamano and Yessica Respardo together with juniors Jessica Wilkins and Lily Flores. Newcomers are sophomore Sierra Kuhlman and freshman Dephne Paul.

“We are growing as a team and we should be better,” stated Schwager. “We need to enhance our instances, win loss, end within the convention and sectionals.”