advertisement

Scouting the Mid-Suburban West

MID-SUBURBAN WEST

Barrington Coach: Babbi Barreiro (27th season)

Last year's record: 12-18, 4-6

Graduated players: Tori Meyer

Returning Players: Taylor Thompson (6-0 Sr. F), Anna Mae King (5-6 Sr. G), Shanna Turczynski (5-5 Sr. G), Katie Tomczyk (59 Sr. G), Michaela Goetze (5-7 Jr. G), Laura Mahlum (5-11 So. F), Allison Funk (5-6 So. G)

Newcomers: Sophie Swanson (5-10 Fr. G), Gracie Stagnito (5-4 So. G), Marissa Faulkner (5-11 Sr. F), Hailey Schmidts (5-9 Sr. G)

Outlook: Veteran hall of fame coach Babbi Barreiro likes the chemistry and hard work she saw in the two-week preseason. "I am really looking forward to coaching this group," she said. "We have a strong mix of perimeter play as well as post presence around the rim." The Fillies feature a great deal of experience in All-Area Thompson (14 points, 9.5 rebounds), King and Turczynski. "And we will welcome some newcomers who will be difference makers right away," Barreiro added. "I love the depth this team brings and I think they will be fun to watch and even more fun to coach."

ConantCoach: Todd Strauch (2nd season)

Last year's record: 10-18, 4-6

Graduated players: Hannah Shulman, Abbey DiSalvo, Stephanie Mazurek, Taylor Anderson, Amber Licari

Returning players: Rachel Kutella (5-10 Sr. F), Alex Chernick (5-6 Sr. G), Chikere Oduocha (6-1 Sr. C), Maya Rahman (5-6 Sr. G), Ashanti Young (5-8 Sr. F), Eeha Kakuturu (5-6 Jr, G), Julia Flaishaker (5-8 Jr. F)

Newcomers: Isabella Tierney (5-11 Jr. G), Jenna Carr (5-10 Jr. F), Nina Rogers (5-11 Jr. F), Shria Wadhwa (Jr.), Samantha Locascio (5-8 So. G), Olivia Czarny (5-6 So. G), Emily Ytsen (5-11 So. F)

Outlook: As he begins his second season directing the Conant program, Strauch has a young team and said that he has a lot of girls who are hungry to prove how hard they've worked. "There will be some growing pains while learning to play with our new players," Strauch said. "But the leadership of our returning girls has improved the intensity and atmosphere of practices. The girls have worked hard and are ready to compete." One newcomer is Tierney, who played on Elk Grove's varsity the last two seasons and had eight double-figure scoring games last winter.

FremdCoach: Dave Yates (14th season)

Last year's record: 29-5, 10-0

Graduated players: Angie Zara

Returning players: Emily Klaczek (5-10 Sr. G), Olivia Hill (6-0 Sr. F), Ella Burns (5-7, Sr. G), Katie Hansen (6-3 Sr. C), Caroline Cochran (5-9 Sr. G), Kendall Maloney (5-10 Sr. G/F), Grace Cox (5-11 Sr G/F), Liz Prigge (5-9 Sr. F), Eleanor Klink (6-3 Sr. C), Ally Sheehan (5-7 Sr. G), Allie Prigge (5-8 Sr. G), Ruthie Montella (6-0, Jr G), Grace LaBarge (6-3 Jr. F)

Newcomers: Hanna Mahmoud (5-8 Jr G), Kate Beckemeier (5-10 Jr. F), Anna Schmitt (5-5 So. G), Maddy Fay (6-0 Fr. F), Kace Urlacher (6-0, Fr G/F)

Outlook: Fremd coach Dave Yates has one of his most experienced teams in his 14 seasons. Thirteen players return, including two four-year varsity players (Alabama-Birmingham recruit Klaczek and Bowling Green-bound Hill). "Emily does so many things that help her perform at a high level," Yates said. "She makes us very difficult to press, is an amazing passer, and shot nearly 50 percent from 3-point range last year. Olivia made a huge jump from her sophomore year to her junior year. She can attack the basket as well as stick the open 3-pointer and plays harder than most. She really sets the energy tone and is the motor for this team." The coach added that Montella can defend any position on the floor and continues to add more skills to an already strong offensive arsenal. "Caroline Cochran plays the game very hard and gives us shooting, ballhandling and another defensive stopper in the backcourt," Yates added. "Ella Burns had a great season last year shooting the basketball. She allowed us to stretch defenses with her ability to hit the three. And Grace LaBarge had a very strong season and has worked hard this offseason to take her game to the next level."

Hoffman EstatesCoach: Brad Reibel (first season)

Last year's record: 10-20, 3-7

Graduated players: Alysa Dupart, Catya Hargrove, Kate Mongold, Raven Wilson, Berry Chukwuyem

Returning players: Ashley Oliver (So.), Nora Thomas (Sr), Ritika Prasad (Sr.), Patricia Wadas (Sr.), Kalicia Sims (Sr.)

Newcomers: Toniyah Brown (Jr.), Jenna Coalson (Fr.), Isabelle Cochran (Jr.), Ashanti Fuentes (Jr.), Chiara Hurd (Sr.), Emily Morris (So), Diana Rami (Jr)

Outlook: There will be a lot of new starters on the floor for Hoffman and there is also a new coach as Prospect grad Brad Reibel takes over. "Anytime there is a new coach, there is a learning curve," Reibel said. "The girls have been extremely coachable and hardworking so far and we look forward to taking the season one step at a time." Reobel hopes his Hawks can make some noise in the conference and at playoff time. "We have a nice mixture of senior leadership and varsity newcomers," he said. "The culture that this group creates will have a big impact on the future of Hoffman hoops."

PalatineCoach: Mark Johnson (seventh season)

Last year's record: 7-23, 2-8

Graduated players: Amy Vitulli, Amanda Stanczuk, Sarah Arnold, Bella Tobin, Jasmine Jackson

Returning players: Madi Stark (5-10 So. G), Kayla Miotk (6-1 Jr. C), Olivia Radtke (5-11 Sr. F), Julianna Mandarino (5-5 Sr. G), Yunah Shin (5-7 Sr. G), Melanie Simon (5-8 Sr. F), Momo Davis (5-2 Sr. G)

Newcomers: Caitlyn Williams (5-1 So. G), Olivia Riley (5-10 So. F/C), Breanna Wiseman (6-1 Sr. F/C), Jennifer Lopez (5-5 Jr G), Laura Seeburger (5-3 Jr. G), Allie Henning (5-3 So. G), Abbey Van Brunt (5-8 Jr. F)

Outlook: The Pirates return a lot of varsity experience from a year ago which will make them competitive in the MSL West. "This group has tremendous senior leadership which also should lead to some more wins and more advancement through the postseason," said Johnson. Stark is a returning all-conference player. "She has looked even better in the early parts of our practice," Johnson said. Simon and Radtke have been strong as well and leading by example. Miotk has improved her strength and conditioning to transform herself into a better player. "And Breanna Wiseman has been a blessing for us as a transfer over the summer and she will be a contributor to our success," Johnson added. "I can see this group competing for a regional championship again."

SchaumburgCoach: Jacqie Strauch (third season, 47 wins)

Last year's record: 13-16, 5-5

Graduated players: Ari Doroskin, Vicky Aguirre, Jaime Lyke, Meghan Luecht

Returning players: Katie Smith (5-9 Sr. G), Talia Torosian (5-7 Sr. G), Jackie Drs. (5-10 Sr. F/C), Mady Vodicka (5-10 Sr. G), Alyssa Orozco (5-9 So. G), Namleen Kohli (5-10 Sr. F/C), Emma Raupp (5-5 Jr. G), Savannah Williams (5-10 Jr. G/F), Mary Hilgart (5-4 Sr. G)

Newcomers: Mickey Tuzil (5-10 Sr. F/C), Sam Rosenfeld (5-9 Jr. G/F), Taylor Apple (5-11 Jr. F/C)

Outlook: With a strong returning group, the Saxons look to get moving with a face-paced game. "We will lean on the leadership of our seven seniors as we take on the challenging MSL West," said Strauch, who welcomes back four-year varsity player Torosian who will be counted on for leadership on and off the court. Orozco and Smith will support the offensive end with aggressive scoring and ability to finish around the rim. Drs., Kohli and Savannah Williams will provide strength on the boards. Strauch also said she will look to Raupp to step into a bigger role on both ends of the court.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.