March 27, 2002
Author: Brad Nolan,
The location and schedules of the first IHSA boys and girls water polo state tournaments have been set.
Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire will host the events.
The boys tournament will open with four quarterfinal games May 8, two semifinals May 9 and the third-place and championship games May 11. The girls quarterfinals will take place May 9, semifinals May 10 and finals May 11.
Specific game times are listed on the IHSA’s Web site.
The elite eight fields for both season-ending competitions will be determined at various sectional tournaments in late April and early May. So far the IHSA has yet to announce sectional assignments, but plans to do so in the next week or so.
When the sectional tournaments open play, they will officially welcome boys and girls water polo into the IHSA state series fold.
In previous seasons, spanning back to the early 1960s, the sport has operated under the Illinois Swimming Association rather than the IHSA.
That all changed in December.
IHSA guidelines require that at least 10 percent of the membership — 760 schools — must pledge to sponsor a team and conduct regular competition.
In regard to water polo, the IHSA compromised and decided that if 65 boys or 65 girls teams pledged, the IHSA would recognize both.
On Dec. 5, the IHSA announced it had received pledges from 65 boys teams, including all four Naperville schools, opening the way for a state series.
There will be slight organizational differences between the ISA and IHSA series formats.
Instead of only four sectionals for boys and girls each, with two co-champions advancing to the state tournament, the IHSA will operate eight boys and eight girls qualifying events.
Only the top team at each will earn a berth in the season-ending competition.
And the state-tournament seedings will be based on a random draw instead of team records.
All considered, the new state series has water polo players, coaches and fans buzzing about the upcoming postseason, as well as the sport’s future in Illinois.
Naperville North boys coach Blake Lucas was one of several people actively involved in pursuing IHSA recognition.
When the decision was announced in December, he predicted it would go a long way toward growing the sport statewide.
“We have a lot of new teams already and more coming soon,” Lucas said.
“One of the things that has held some schools back is that we didn’t have an IHSA state series.
Now that we have one, there will be a lot more teams in the next few years.
“Some kids have been reluctant in the past to play.
The IHSA brings recognition and helps prove water polo is a valid high school sport.”
Lucas’ prediction looks to be coming true.
ISA Water Polo and Midwest chairman of U.S. Water Polo Rick Marsh said approximately 25 schools, including West Chicago and Downers Grove North and South, have shown elevated interest since the December announcement.
“There’s huge excitement right now,” he said.
“We’ve been able to build some great momentum off the IHSA announcement.”
Marsh added that he expects a total of 20 to 30 new teams (boys and girls combined) to join the fray next season.
REVERSAL OF FORTUNE It’s hard to imagine that at one time this season the Neuqua Valley girls team was uncertain about its prospects for success.
Hard to imagine because the Wildcats are the defending sectional co-champion and have jumped out to an impressive 14-1 record this season.
Neuqua has posted victories over area rivals Naperville North and Central, as well as St. Charles North, York and Fremd.
Last weekend, the Wildcats added the Lincoln-Way East Tournament title to their budding resume.
“I still feel we’re the team to beat in this area,” Neuqua coach Luke Payette said.
“I think the girls feel that way too.
They’ve really been practicing hard and we’ve had some good wins lately.”
That confidence was a bit more rickety earlier this month when Neuqua lost its only game of the season to host Homewood-Floosmoor on March 11. Following that defeat, first-team all-state senior Ashley Gucinski, who led the Wildcats with 135 goals in 2001, decided not to play the remainder of the season.
Combined with the loss of 2001 graduates and team leaders Jackie Brazzil and goalie Melissa Lo, there was no way to predict how the rest of the current campaign would bare out.
With relative speed, Neuqua began to shoot down its doubters, both external and internal.
What has emerged is a more balanced offense and a newfound standout in goal.
Senior Jackie Lopez and juniors Jamie Lawler, Jill Doran and Jillian Jefferds have shared the scoring load, and sophomore Amanda Adducci is developing into a reliable goalie with 40 saves and only 12 goals allowed.
“I’ve got several players who are really stepping up big time,” Payette said.
“If we continue the progress we have achieved in such a short time, some of them will have a shot at all-sectional, and even all-state awards.
“In general, we have some kids who are really focused on playing together.
And they’re not just trying to do one thing well, but instead learning a lot of different aspects of the game, which is allowing us to be a better team.”
The Wildcats next host Evanston Township at 5 p.m. Thursday, and then cross-town rival Waubonsie Valley at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Popularity: 15% [?]