Title in sight

Rosary seeking fourth consecutive state crown

At the start of the girls swimming and diving season, Rosary coach Bill Schalz simply said of his Beads, "This is a good group."

That may have been an understatement, considering Rosary is again the favorite at this year's state meet, which takes place today and Saturday at New Trier High School in Winnetka.

Favorite or not, Rosary is going into the meet confident.

"We have been ranked first all season, but New Trier is going to be awfully fast," Schalz said. "We are swimming in their home pool and they have qualifiers in every event (just as the Beads do). If both teams swim really well, it's going to be a very exciting meet. If either team slips up, it could mean the difference."

"Bill Schalz is a great coach," Waubonsie Valley coach Katie Peterson said. "You can see that by the number of competitors at the state meet. They always come out strong."

The Beads are hoping to four-peat, led by seniors Olivia Scott, Mackenzie Powers and Diana Norkus. All three were a part of the previous state championship teams, and all are heading to Division I programs next year. Scott is going to Auburn, Powers to Penn State and Norkus to Kentucky.

"While they have been major contributors to all three titles, it's your senior year when you really get to own it," Schalz said. "As a senior class, you provide the leadership. You need to have strong swimmers around you, but senior year is really your year. If the Beads win, they would be the first class in school history to win four titles. That is a record other classes can tie, but nobody can ever beat it."

The Beads have 19 entries in the 12-event meet. Waubonsie Valley and Oswego co-op have nine each.

Leading the way for Rosary are two-time state champion Scott (200-yard individual medley, 100 butterfly -- she holds the second-fastest qualifying times in both), the defending state butterfly champ in Powers (100 backstroke, butterfly) and Norkus (IM, 100 freestyle).

Filling out the Beads' state lineup are sophomores Emily Launer (500 free, 200 free), Rachel Burke (200 free, 100 free), Sarah Sykstus (500 free, 50 free), Grace Miller (diving), Katherine Hare (50 free); and juniors Francesca Divine (backstroke) and GiSun Pak (breaststroke).

Rosary's three relay teams -- 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle -- also have the top times in the state this season.

"This is what we train for all year long," Schalz said. "The girls were pretty tired on Monday coming off the sectional meet. (On Tuesday), they had much more energy. As the meet gets closer, they will get more and more excited and ready."

Waubonsie, which finished fourth in the state last year, has a good chance to do well with sophomore diver Taylor Eggenberger, who won the Neuqua Valley Sectional. Also contributing for the Warriors will be Illinois-bound senior Andrea Baumgartner (50 free, 100 free), senior Hillary Ferguson (50 free), freshman Gia Dalesandro (100 free, backstroke) and all three relay teams.

"Taylor was really excited to win sectionals," Peterson said. "All the hard work paid off for her. All the girls are really excited, especially the ones who have never been to the state meet. They can't wait to experience what it's all about."

Oswego co-op, which finished in the top 16 last year, has been buoyed by its two most consistent swimmers: seniors Nicole Ligeza and Karolina Wartalowicz. The Utah-bound Wartalowicz and the Iowa-bound Ligeza both have qualified for state every year on varsity. This year, both are competing in the IM. Ligeza and junior Rebecca Hatcher will race in the butterfly, and Hatcher and Wartalowicz are in the breaststroke.

Also in the mix for Oswego are sophomore Jordan Anderson (diving) and the medley and 200 free relay teams -- both of which recorded top-19 times.

After qualifying for state as a sophomore and then missing most of last season with an injury, West Aurora senior Jackie Iglesias will compete this year in the individual medley and the backstroke. She will attend Ball State next year on an athletic scholarship.

Geneva freshman Rylee Merges (IM, 100 free) and Batavia sophomore Shannon Adeszko (butterfly, IM) each will participate in a pair of events.

Sophomore Megan Sellers from Metea Valley is the Mustangs' sole competitor in the first year of the school's existence. She will swim in the breaststroke. Girls state swimming meet