BADMINTON
Downers Grove North
1. A fourth state championship since 2003 is in reach for the Trojans with state qualifiers Stephanie Gretch and Ellie Franklin back at doubles and Carolyn Mabee competing at No. 1 singles.
Hinsdale South
2. Caitlyn Wott and Rupan Bhandari head a talented Hornets squad that has captured back-to-back titles. Julie Schiappa, Namrata Donthamsetti, Anjylla Foster, Kirsten Damon and Deepa Ramadurai will contribute.
Fremd
3. Top doubles team of Judy Hsieh and Sarah Hong is back after a sixth-place finish. Sophomore Jenna Langhorst won her first two matches at state before dropping a third-rounder to Kollipara. Freshman Erica Lee adds depth for the Vikings, who won their fifth consecutive sectional title and took 11th in state.
Hinsdale Central
4. Pencil in two-time singles champion Karishma Kollipara in the lineup and your team is an instant contender. In her second season with the Red Devils, Kollipara could become the third player to win three state singles titles and the first with three in a row.
Andrew
5. With four titles in the last seven seasons and eight consecutive top-3 finishes, the Thunderbolts are again strong with Seniors Melissa Grant and Amanda Astan at singles, and Lauren Redweik and Laura Zotto at doubles.
Also keep an eye on: Glenbard West, Glenbrook South, Prospect.
BOYS GYMNASTICS
Libertyville
1. Senior all-arounders Scott Brzezinski (14th) and Scott Somers (21st) and Ashton Coulson, Steven McBride, Phil Pickar, Greg Wilhelm and Chas Stewart give Libertyville a solid lineup in all six events.
Glenbard West
2. Seven state qualifiers return, including Ryan Webster and James Qualiato and Thuyen Nguyen (fifth on rings). All-arounder Branden Wilfong returns after breaking his arm last season.
Lincoln-Way Co-op
3. Junior Dan Hutton returns after taking 11th in the all-around and tying for the parallel and horizontal bars titles for the defending champions. State qualifier Phil Guinid (rings) and Mitch Christie will both compete in the all-around.
Palatine
4. The Pirates won their first conference championship and are again strong with junior Matt Eckardt (ninth last season in all-around) and state qualifiers Kendale Coats and Tyler Yee returning.
Downers Grove North
5. All-arounder Doug Rybar should challenge for the title. The soph (seventh in all-around) scored an 8.7 or better on all six events, finishing eighth on pommel horse, sixth on parallel bars and fourth on horizontal bar. State qualifier Dan Fenton (parallel bars) is competing on horizontal bars, parallel bars and vault.
Also keep an eye on: Conant, Fremd, Wheaton North.
BOYS LACROSSE
New Trier
1. Four players from last year’s team are playing Div. I lacrosse, but expect the state champs to be there at the end–even if the Trevians have been saying it’s too early for them to talk three-peat.
Loyola
2. Led by captains Mike Barr, Steve Sanchez and Mike Moore, the Ramblers’ seven seniors desperately want to end New Trier’s two-year title run and take their first state title since their freshman year.
Lyons
3. Lions lost 10-4 to New Trier in last season’s semifinal and then lost 10 of 11 starters to graduation. But seniors Matt Gralen (defenseman), Mark Nolan (midfielder), and Neil Jaworski (goalie) are back.
Also keep an eye on: Glenbrook South, Highland Park, Hinsdale Central.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Loyola
1. Two-time defending state champs lost five players to Div. I programs, but Player of the Year Kathleen Dwyer returns, as do Claire Sheehan, Grace Chensoff, Jesse O’Donnell and Erin Sullivan.
Hinsdale Central
2. Third-place finish made the Red Devils the first team outside of Loyola, Lake Forest and New Trier to finish in the Top 3. The senior-loaded roster includes Marist-bound Meghan Cleary and Emily Schneider.
Lake Forest
3. Second straight title-game loss to Loyola has ’04 champs hungry. Senior midfielders Hannah Alley and Kristen Tallon, a Boston University signee and daughter of Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon, lead the way.
Also keep an eye on: New Trier, Evanston, Barrington.
— Matt Beardmore
GIRLS SOCCER
Waubonsie Valley
1. Warriors hope they won’t have to stay at the Heartbreak Hotel–where they were after regional final loss to Downers South. Bri Rodriguez, Rachel Bostick and goalie Claire Hanold are just sophomores.
Barrington
2. Lost a lot to graduation, but Fillies just reload with juniors Carly Samp (committed to Indiana), Kelsey Miller and Kaitlin Denis, who all return after playing club last spring. Soph Mary Kubiuk scored team’s only goals in state semifinal victory over Lyons and in title-game loss to New Trier in 2006.
New Trier
3. Until this team falters, it’s hard to rank Trevians any lower. Defending Class AA champ have won three of last four AA titles. Top returnees include Jessie Wall, Aly Wray and Jenny Samuelson.
Wheaton North
4. Jaime Orewiler finished 23rd in the 2006 Class AA state cross country meet–and she’s one of the reasons the Falcons made a run for a third-place soccer finish. Orewiler and Michelle Scandora return. Colleen Antas, injured most of 2006, is also back.
Hinsdale Central
5. With 10 seniors back, including Indiana-bound Cameron Myers and Miami (Ohio) recruit Cortney Sorce, the Red Devils appear experienced and loaded. Soph Lee Battaglia (13 goals, 5 assists as freshman) will be leaned on for scoring.
Also keep an eye on: Wheaton Warrenville South, Neuqua Valley, Lincoln-Way Central.
— Alan Sutton
TENNIS
Hinsdale Central
1. Freshman sensation Augie Bloom will be the key as Central looks to improve its fifth-place finish of 2006. Bloom, at No. 1 singles, is ranked No. 8 nationally among 14s by the USTA. Hinsdale Central’s doubles front will be anchored by Nabeel Atassi and Alex Klein.
Lake Forest
2. Good news-bad news for the Scouts. They return Alex Nemerov and Carl-Eric Girardin at singles but have none of their top four doubles players from the ’06 team that finished seventh in the state.
Deerfield
3. Warriors are relying on Scott Buchowski to move from No. 2 to No. 1 singles. He is a good all-around player who also can rush the net successfully. Danny Mihalov and Josh Gross form top doubles team.
Highland Park
4. Senior Justin Lewis will defend his doubles state title–with a new partner, likely Ben Woldenberg, who’s coming off a fifth-place state finish. Sam Barnett likely will move up to No. 1 singles. Senior Danny Gutman also will play an integral role.
Glenbrook North
5. No. 1 singles player Jon Flaksman, who has been living and playing in Spain the last two years, steps into the No. 1 singles spot, and brings a strong serve and good ground strokes. Soph Joo Ho Yu likely will land at No. 2. Brad Kaspers is back at No. 1 doubles and will team with Jeremy Turim.
Also keep an eye on: Glenbrook South, New Trier, Lyons.
— Ross Forman
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Thornwood
1. Jonathan Majors and Josh Gist return. Majors, a junior, was fifth in the long jump (22 feet 9 inches), and Gist, a senior, took fourth (14.79) in the 110 high hurdles as Thornwood tied for eighth in state. Both ran on the seventh-place 4 x 100 relay and sixth-place 4 x 200 relay teams.
Barrington
2. This team is stocked with Div. I talent. Michigan State football recruit Andre Anderson is running sprints and has already gone 21-6 in the long jump. Ryan Asta (sixth in discus) just signed with Illinois State and could be a major factor in both throwing events.
York
3. With three consecutive top-five finishes, the Dukes’ goal, not surprisingly, is to win another trophy. Seniors Nick Kuczwara, Kris Hinchley (12th in 800 meters) and Mark Sulkin are back from the Dukes’ second-place 4 x 800 team have a host of runners from last fall’s cross-country champs.
Neuqua Valley
4. If their convincing Upstate Eight indoor victory at Elgin is any indication, the Wildcats–fifth at state in ’06–are in great shape for the outdoor season. Marcus Bailey should make a big impact after qualifying for the 100 meters and placing fourth in the 4 x 100 relay and seventh in the 4 x 200. Matt Allen is the only returning member of the fourth-place 4 x 400 squad while Chris Derrick (11th last season) is one of the top returning 2-milers.
Jacobs
5. Evan Jager is back to defend his 1,600-meter title. And Aaron Russo joins Jager as the two returning Golden Eagles from last season’s victorious 2-mile relay team that edged York by less than :02.
Also keep an eye on: Thornton, Plainfield Central, Lake Zurich.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Barrington
1. Amanda Schnack took fifth at state in the 100 meters and second as part of the 4 x 200 relay, which returns intact with Jayne Jaderholm, Sara Rebmann and sophomore Jennifer Schnack.
Evanston
2. State relay champions Adrienne Slaughter and Brittany Tolar return for the Wildkits, who are bidding for their fifth consecutive state championship.
Palatine
3. Expect a seventh consecutive top-six finish for the Pirates. Junior Jocelyn Kuksa has already improved on last season’s 11th-place effort in pole vault. Shevon Burgin (long jump qualifier) and Brittany Scales return from the eighth-place 4 x 200 team, and Colleen Standridge and Michelle Brunk are strong. The throwing events should be covered with sophomores Martha Shepard (shot) and Lauren Orris (discus).
Grant
4. Grant will be a favorite to take the throwing events with defending shot put champ Bailey Wagner (third in discus) and Tori Ziegler. State qualifier Leya Munwam (400 meters) leads Grant’s 4 x 400 (11th place) and 4 x 200 relay teams, which both return all four runners.
Zion-Benton
5. The Zee-Bees will be strong in the sprints behind with Aireonna Bailey, who took ninth in the 100 meters and finished fourth in the 200 meters returning and qualifiers Brittany Simmons qualified in the triple jump (36-3 1/2) and Brittany Alexander in the shot put (38’1″).
Also keep an eye on: Thornton, Conant, Hinsdale Central.
— Matt Beardmore
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Maine South
1. With two go-to players back on board this season–outside hitter Teddy Adamczyk (353 kills) and setter Kris Staks (990 assists, 80 kills)–the defending state champions get the early nod to repeat. Ryan Haas, a 6-5 middle, is back in good health after missing much of last season with an ankle injury.
New Trier
2. It has been 11 years since the Trevians won their sole state title, but this 2007 group could be the best New Trier has had to offer since. This season’s standouts include Jack Polales (210 kills), who is headed to UCLA, Ball State signee Ted Garard (111 kills), Chaz Hindsley (139 kills) and setter Matt Hutter, who missed half the 2006 season but still managed 344 assists.
Oak Lawn
3. Leading returnees include senior setter Kyle Exline (946 assists), senior middle Beau Bradshaw (254 kills, 62 solo blocks) and junior outside hitter Randy Hansen (244 kills). The Spartans went 15-0 in conference play last season but couldn’t get past Brother Rice in the sectional final.
Lake Park
4. The Lancers return three all-conference players from a 26-11 group and will be among the taller teams in the Chicago area. Jason McCown, a 6-foot-4-inch senior outside hitter, paced Lake Park with 259 kills last season, 6-5 middle hitter Colin Haney added 196 while 6-4 setter Mike Ashida contributed 697 assists.
Brother Rice
5. Perennial Catholic League power has 10 returnees from last year’s 32-8 team. Mike Gallik, a senior middle and three-year starter, recently signed to play at Lewis University. Also returning are senior co-captains Josh Scaletta, a setter, and defensive specialist Brian Reed. Returning too is junior outside Kevin Padden.
Also keep an eye on: Lincoln-Way East, Lyons, Wheaton Warrenville South.
— Jack McCarthy
BOYS WATER POLO
Fenwick
1. The Friars return their big guns after blowing through the state finals by a 55-10 aggregate. Soph Chris Wendt and senior Chris Bonk are key returners.
Lyons
2. Strong offense features twins Scott and Mark Nemecek. Seniors Paul Busse (attacker) and Peter Cosentino (defender) play big roles.
Brother Rice
3. The 2003 state champs look to return to prominence after rebuilding. Four-year goalie Joe Frantz and offensive leader Sean Coghlan are key.
Also keep an eye on: St. Patrick, Loyola, Lincoln-Way East.
GIRLS WATER POLO
St. Ignatius
1. Time has not been on the side of Wolfpack sports. This might be the squad that breaks through for the big trophy.
Mother McAuley
2. The Mighty Macs have not missed a final four since the IHSA sanctioned water polo in 2002. Experienced McAuley seeks the school’s third title.
Fenwick
3. Friars lost nearly 200 goals from offense but have experience with Alison Pavlik and Morgan Bonk.
Also keep an eye on: Loyola, Stevenson, Naperville Central.
— Dave Surico
