Girls swimming season preview capsules

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Fox Valley Conference

Cary-Grove

Coach: Caitlin Sullivan, first season.

Last year’s finish: First.

Top returners: Courtney Mega, jr.; Lauren Curtis, so.; Molly English, so.; Megan Franz, jr.; Jessica Gronset, sr.; Olivia King, so.; Larissa Martinez-Szewczyk, so.; Laura Mintert, sr.; Brianna Musielak, jr.; Kimberly Schaefer, so.; Jordan Starr, sr.; Chrissy Perry, so.; Jackie Zinkus, sr. 

Top newcomers: Emily Griswald, fr.; Madeline Gronset, fr.

Noteworthy: Sullivan is the third coach in as many years for the Trojans but hopes to bring some stability to the program and has instituted dry-land training and Saturday practices. Mega hopes to qualify for state in the backstroke and individual medley.
 

Crystal Lake Central co-op

Coach: Lindsey Mernitz, sixth season.

Last year’s finish: Fifth.

Top returners: Claire Walker, jr.; Katrina Peters, sr.; Jennifer Hartsel, sr.; Alex Hartsel, sr.; Taylor Dostel, sr., Emily Howe, sr.; Maggie Gomberg, jr.

Top newcomers: Amanda Neville, fr.; Courtney Lefevre, fr.

Noteworthy: Mernitz that the strength of Crystal Lake Central, which co-ops with Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake South, will be its depth with a strong base of girls. State hopefuls include Walker and Gomberg.
 

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Kendra Everett, eighth season.

Last year’s finish: Fourth.

Top returners: Colleen Champa, so.; Courtney Raske, jr.; Danielle Cross, so.; Jessica Humanski, jr.; Danna Jensen, sr.; Morgan Knight, jr.

Top newcomers: Ashley Skoog, fr.; Emily Edstein, so.

Noteworthy: Champa returns from being injured her freshman year and joins Skoog as a state qualifying hopeful, Everett said.
 

Jacobs

Coach: Tracy Balla, first season.

Last year’s finish: Tied for second.

Top returners: Kristin Horney, jr.; Lindsey Pankau, jr.; Chelsea Conzelman, sr.

Top newcomers: Paulina Gawrysiuk, fr.; Courtney Podczerwinski, fr.; Brittany Podczerwinski, fr.

Noteworthy: The Golden Eagles gain two Podczerwinskis but lose Amanda, a junior, who has elected to swim club this season to concentrate on longer distance events. Horney is the only returning state qualifier from the area. SFlbSNbSMcHenry

Coach: Mike Shanahan, 40th season.

Last year’s finish: Tied for second.

Top returners: Courtney Matthys, sr.; Haley Pritkin, sr.; Casey Meszaros, sr.; Tiffany McCoy, jr.; Kristen Lenard, so.; Sydney Trost, jr.; Samantha Gorman, sr.; Ashley Andronowitz, sr.; Leah Brewbaker, sr.

Top newcomers: Liz Cichowski, jr.; Kayleigh Jensen, jr.; Olivia Long, jr.; Courtney Naughton, fr.; Sam Smith, fr.; Caitlyn Sembach, fr.

Noteworthy: McHenry is looking for state qualifying times from Matthys (breaststroke), Lenard (500 free) and McCoy (50 free), and Shanahan also is hopeful of qualifying a relay team.
 

Woodstock co-op

Coach: Ian Shanahan, fourth season.

Last year’s finish: Sixth.

Top returners: Becca Ortmann, sr.; Haley Brasile, sr.; Olivia Hunt, sr.; Cristal Kawi, sr.

Noteworthy: This is the first full season in the new Woodstock North eight-lane pool for Woodstock, which co-ops with Woodstock North. Ortmann and Brasile are freestyle sprinters and hope to qualify for state in the 100 and 50 frees.

– Rob Smith
rsmith@nwherald.com