Thanks to SwimSwam contributor Skyler King for contributing the following report.
Most states have a New Trier. That school that everyone else measures themselves by because they always seem to come through in the most important meets. That is always looked at as a contender if not the favorite to bring home that first place trophy and take that championship plunge at seasons end.
New Trier is the cornerstone program in Illinois high school swimming. Last fall they won state title number 13 led by a stellar senior class full of girls now with division 1 programs. Stephanie Marchuck (Indiana,) Riley Hayward (Southern Cal), and Jessica Sutherland (Duke) all made huge contributions to New Trier winning state the last three years and won’t be easily replaced.
Expectations never change for the Trevians though as they eye a 4-peat this November. The current seniors certainly aren’t the decorated group the 2013 class was but they still provide some state experience led by the state’s top Diver Juliette Corboy and breaststroke standout Kara Lucenti who has helped New Trier secure the last two titles including a fifth place finish last year with a 1:03.64.
Lucenti says that there is no mistaking what this year’s team is working towards, “We have stairs that run from the basement to the fourth floor and we run it 25 times and when we do we yell this is for state.”
It seems that not much has changed as the Trevians embark on their second season under coach Mac Guy. The goals and message don’t change just the names of the girls executing the plan as the machine rolls on. “Now I’m the one motivating the other girls in practice when it used to be the older girls motivating me” Lucenti said.
Lucenti certainly knows that winning state is a great motivator for all the girls on the team regardless of what stage they are at in their high school career. “We use state as that goal everyone is working towards, even if they don’t get there this year many of them will in the future.”
That’s one of the things you see from girls that pass through the program that it isn’t just about their four years but about maintaining the expectation of excellence year after year no matter who is on the team. It’s just one more reason New Trier always seems to find their way into the state title mix.
The biggest key to last year’s title was the emergence of now junior Nicole Retondo who came out of nowhere to be one of the state’s top IMers and play a big role on the 400 relay. There is plenty of talent waiting in the wings and if any number of girls make a similar move it will likely be part of yet another title.
Chiles High School (Tallahasee) girls after same 4-peat in Florida Class 3A.