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Huntley girls swimming coach Jenna Gaudio declared prior to the start of the 2019 season, "big things await our team," a year after the Red Raiders finished fifth out of seven teams in the Fox Valley Conference.
Gaudio's preseason prediction was spot on, as the Raiders won the FVC championship for the first time in program history, while snapping Jacobs co-op's two-year reign atop the conference.
Huntley brings back one of three swimmers who earned Most Valuable Swimmer recognition at last year's FVC Invitational, Ella Young, who is joined by a talented group of swimmers that will make the Raiders difficult to beat.
Jacobs co-op returns 2019 Northwest Herald Girls Swimmer of the Year, Jenny Tokarz, a three-time state qualifier, and Cary-Grove's Emily Marks is one of the area's top returning sprinters. Dundee-Crown's Ali Fitzgerald was named FVC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman at last year's conference meet.
The 2020 season will look a lot different because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with no relays and the status of the state meet unknown. FVC teams will compete against only each other, with two duals scheduled per team a week.
Richmond-Burton's Eleni Gewalt, who had the area's best finish at state last year, taking fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke, is holding out hope for a potential state series. R-B does not have a girls swim team, which could put her junior season in jeopardy.
Gewalt, who trains and swims with the Pleasant Prairie Patriots team in Kenosha, Wisconsin, earned National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association All-America honors last year with a time of of 1:03.20 at last year's state preliminaries.
Here's a closer look at the Northwest Herald-area girls swimming teams for the 2020 season:
Fox Valley Conference
Cary-Grove
Coach: Scott Lattyak (11th season)
Last year: Fourth at FVC Meet
Top returners: Emily Marks, sr.; Lizzy Fournier, jr.; Molly Gilbert, jr.; Audrey Boldwyn, jr.; Maddie Dolezal, jr.; Alina Cielak, jr.; Olivia Willis, sr.; Katie Bruhn, jr.; Kelsey Harmsen, so.
Key newcomer: Delaney Lentz, fr.
Worth noting: The Trojans placed fourth at the FVC Meet for the second year in a row. ... Marks is one the area's top returning sprinters. She finished first in the 100 yard freestyle and runner-up in the 50 free at last year's conference meet. Dolezel placed fifth in the 500 free. ... Lentz should make an immediate impact, Lattyak said. ... "I think it's a blessing that we are having a season," Lattyak said. "Now more than ever, it is important for the swimmers to have a team experience and to be able to bond with each other."
Crystal Lake South co-op
(with Crystal Lake Central and Prairie Ridge)
Coach: John Valentine (fourth season)
Last year: Third at FVC Meet
Top returners: Olivia Dannhaus (CLS), so.; Maddy Uhl (PR), so.; Abi Zelikman (PR), so.
Key newcomers: Avery Watson (CLS), fr.; Mackenzie Resch (CLS), fr.; Abi Daman (CLS), fr.
Worth noting: Crystal LakeSouth co-op improved from sixth to third at conference and was only one point behind Jacobs co-op for second place. ... Jamie Gindorf, a 2020 Prairie Ridge graduate who will swim at NCAA Division I Butler, placed runner-up in the 200 IM and 100 free at conference; Uhl was second in the 200 free and fourth in the 50 free; and Dannhaus was second in the 100 breaststroke. ... "We are grateful to be back in the pool," Valentine said. "Sage YMCA, D155 administrators and Crystal Lake South Athletic Director Jason Bott completed a comprehensive plan to make sure that our athletes are safe in and out of the pool. We have a very young varsity squad."
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Amy Field (fifth season)
Last year: Seventh at FVC Meet
Top returners: Ali Fitzgerald, so.; Coral Howard, sr.
Key newcomers: Delaney Ober, fr.; Maya Bernstein, fr,; Victoria Kramarz, fr.
Worth noting: Fitzgerald is the defending conference champion in the 100 breaststroke and was named FVC Newcomer of the Year. D-C finished seventh at the FVC Meet for the third straight year. ... The Chargers graduated nine swimmers in the program, including six on varsity. ... "Flexibility is my word for 2020," Field said. "We don't know what is going to happen day to day; we just hope to make the best of it. We are excited with the new talent and hope we can have a positive season."
Huntley
Coach: Jenna Gaudio (third season)
Last year: First at FVC Meet
Top returners: Skyler Arredia, sr.; Raquel Salinas, sr.; Ella Young, so.; Abigail DeVries, jr.; Caitlyn Gooden, jr.; Jillian Cherwin, so.; Ashley Garrard, so.
Key newcomers: Kate Gribbens, fr.; Sophie Young, fr.
Worth noting: The Red Raiders won the FVC championship for the first time in program history, going from fifth to first in the standings. ... Young and Huntley graduate Sydney McGuine both qualified for state and earned Most Valuable Swimmer honors at conference. Young took 30th in the 100 butterfly at state, while McGuine was 36th in the 100 backstroke and 42nd in the 50 free. ... At the FVC Meet, Young took first in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly; Garrard was third in the 200 free and fourth in the 100 free; Salinas was third in the 500 free and 100 breaststroke; DeVries was fourth in the 200 free and fifth in the 100 backstroke; Cherwin was third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 500 free; and Arredia took fifth in the 100 free. .. "The girls already are talking about defending the FVC title," Gaudio said. "Having the swimmers out of water for so long has been a challenge, but I am impressed by the energy and effort put into our training so far. The girls have been very enthusiastic and so excited to be back in the pool."
Jacobs co-op
(with Hampshire)
Coach: Emily Peterson (seventh season)
Last year: Secondat FVC Meet
Top returners: Jenny Tokarz (Jac), sr.; Olivia Johnson (Jac), sr.; Julia Koltuniuk (Jac), sr.; Sydney Skertich (Jac), sr.; Riley Skertich (Jac), sr.
Key newcomers: Katelyn Mumper (Jac), fr.
Worth noting: The Golden Eagles finished runner-up after winning the FVC championship in each of the previous two years. ... Tokarz was the 2019 Northwest Herald Girls Swimmer of the Year. She went to state for the third straight year, placing 20th in the 500 free and 25th in the 200 free. At the FVC Meet, Tokarz earned Most Valuable Swimmer honors, taking first in the 200 free and 500. Julia Koltuniuk was fourth in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 100 backstroke at conference. ... Peterson sees Mumper making a big impact as a freshman. ... "I want the girls to have fun this season and make the best out of the situation," Peterson said. "We have a huge senior class and I want it to be special for them. These girls are like my family. I'm thankful for having a season and I am just looking forward to being on the pool deck with my swimmers and watching them succeed."
McHenry
Coach: Sharon Lesniak (second season)
Last year: Sixth at FVC Meet
Top returners: Melisa Nava, sr.; Paige Bantner, sr.; Riley Tobin, jr.; Morgan Donovan, jr.; Andrea Avila, so.
Key newcomers: Reilly Byron, fr.; Victoria Sadowski, fr.
Worth noting: The Warriors went from second to sixth place in the FVC last season. ... Nava was third in the 100 free and 100 backstroke at the FVC Invite. ... Lesniak said she is encouraged by a large number of first-year swimmers who came out for the team this year. ... "We have a large group of freshmen this year; this hasn't happened in a few years," Lesniak said. "The girls are excited to have such a large group come in. They are embracing each other and will become a close swim family. It is so exciting to watch them put in their hard work and dedication after not being able to be in the pool in such a long time."
Woodstock co-op
(with Woodstock North)
Coach: Renee Walker (seventh season)
Last year: Fifth at FVC Meet
Top returners: Haley Halsall (WHS), jr.; Autumn Zimmerman (WN), sr.; Abbie Heidtke (WHS), sr.
Key newcomers: Addison Walker (WHS), fr.; Hannah Blaksley (WN), jr.
Worth noting: Halsall finished runner-up in the 100 butterfly and 500 free at last year's FVC Invite. ... Woodstock North co-op graduated two of its top swimmers, including Lucia Alcazar, who is now swimming at D-I Northern Iowa. Alcazar is first D-1 swimmer in Walker's seven seasons. ... "So far, we have started off strong and feeling lucky we are able to start our season and get the girls in the water," Walker said. "The girls are excited to be back as a team ... active and ready to make the best of it. The coaches within the FVC, we are finding ways to make this exciting, fun and competitive all at the same time."