The collective sigh heard coming from DuPage County this weekend is out of exhaustion and relief.
For when the Illinois Swimming Association wraps up its weeklong 28th water polo state tournament Saturday at the new Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, it will literally be out with the old, in with the new.
Beginning next season, water polo will become the Illinois High School Association’s newest sanctioned sport. And while a handful of coaches, principals, athletic directors and students of the game put their heart, soul and sweat into structuring their own state tournament before achieving IHSA recognition, many are feeling sentimental about the end of an era.
“Our whole goal was to get to this point. It was what everybody worked for,” said ISA chairman Rick Marsh, who helped head up an organization called Water Polo 2000, specifically to lobby the IHSA for its approval. “I couldn’t be any happier. The IHSA lends so much credibility to the sport, and they will take it to the next level.”
Currently 31 boys teams and 26 girls teams participate in the state series. With the IHSA behind them, coaches hope the number will double by next year. And while a final decision on a new state tournament structure is still two weeks away, the ISA is prepared to hand over the reins.
“The child is ready to be passed on,” said Brother Rice coach Jim Mulcrone. “It’s completed its college education, and hopefully no one has to do anything more for it. Hopefully, the IHSA will improve it even more.”
This weekend’s championship games look to be fitting sendoffs. Fenwick and Brother Rice, teams that have combined to win 19 of the last 22 state titles, appear to be the teams to beat. The Friars (30-1), behind 142-goal scoring sophomore Chris Przekot, will have to get past Loyola Friday night to advance to Saturday afternoon’s semis.
Brother Rice (20-3) and its senior scoring tandem of Peter Cabo and Jason Woodward takes on Chicago Latin in the quarterfinals Friday. The champion will be crowned at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Fenwick’s only loss this season came at the hands of Brother Rice.
On the girls’ side, two-time defending champ Mundelein (23-4) will face stiff competition from top-seeded Oak Park (28-2), while third-seeded Fenwick should be a team to be reckoned with. Mundelein is paced by senior Yayoi Baba, who has 75 goals this season. Oak Park senior Laura Graham leads her team with 130 goals.
