Naperville Sun swimming notebook

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:10PM

Naperville Central's Lauren Scotti is a backstroker who is definitely looking ahead.

A member of the Redhawks sectional team in her freshman and sophomore years, the senior was only the third best on the team in her main stroke as a junior, so she missed sectionals and her dream of qualifying for state had to be postponed.

But, Scotti quickly turned that failure into purpose and then into determination as she spent the offseason in a comprehensive training program to make her senior year count.

Her plan is to not only make the sectional team, but to qualify for state in the 100 backstroke and to score points for her school by placing in the top 12.

"After that disappointment I changed my thinking and set my goals to make the state cut," Scotti said.

In her last meet, she was about a second from the state cut, but Scotti and Redhawks coach Sue Welker believe she can do it because her times have been dropping throughout the season.

"Lauren took it hard not making the sectional team last year," Welker said. "That lit a fire under her and she really focused and committed herself more to the sport. Now she's one of the hardest workers on the team and she's become a leader in the water and in dry-land training."

"My goal is to get the state cut before sectionals," Scotti said. "And then I can taper for state. I've been raised with the motto to shoot beyond your goal and strive for beyond what's possible. I'm proud that I've made this commitment because I've seen myself grow as a person."

Scotti, who plans to swim in college at a small Midwestern liberal arts school, is determined to be the backstroker on the Redhawks' 200 medley relay team, which she believes can make state.

That would make her the first Redhawk in the water at the state meet (not counting the divers).

"I'm sure it will be nerve-wracking," Scotti said. "But it will be exciting."

NEUQUA VS. ROSARY

Neuqua Valley finished in second place just 17 points behind four-time defending state champion Rosary at last week's Wildcat Invitational at West Chicago, and that's certainly nothing to be ashamed of.

"We kept it pretty close, within 10 points until the 200 free relay," said Neuqua Valley coach Mac Guy. "But it says a lot about us that we competed against a team that has done so well in recent years. That meet gave our girls the confidence that we can race against the top swimmers in the state.

The Wildcats Gia Dalesandro and Maggie Masxstadt finished one-two in the 50 freestyle and Gina Dalesandro won both the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.

Neuqua also won the 200 medley relay with Dalesandro, Childs, Brooke Bedford and Courtney Taylor making up the team.

"Our girls know they can compete," Guy said. "And the ones who went to state last year and didn't score are very hungry to make it back to Saturday in their individual events. We have a number of good options for our relays, but who swims on the relays will depend in part on how everyone develops in their individual events."

The Wildcats top-level depth was enhanced this year by the addition of Dalesandro who transferred from Waubonsie Valley.

"Gia's ability to go out and compete against the top swimmers is encouraging all of her teammates to raise the bar and see themselves in a more competitive role," Guy said. "She's a leader on the scoreboard and a leader in the pool. This team has great chemistry because so many of our returning players have stepped up and taken leadership responsibility."

THE FIRST HOME MEET

Janine Horne attended Thursday's opening home meet of the Metea Valley swim season, the inaugural meet for the Mustangs new pool, with mixed loyalties.

Horne has a daughter on both Metea and Waubonsie Valley, so naturally she's rooting for everybody.

Julianne Horne is a senior on the Waubonsie Valley team, and Jenny Horne is a junior at Metea Valley.

"My sister and I are best friends and we swam together our whole life," Julianne said. "And our schools are like sister schools. A lot of their swimmers started at Waubonsie, and the Metea Valley team used our pool last year. So it will be a lot of fun just seeing them and competing against them. There's a lot of history and a lot of close relationships."

The Warriors have extra incentive this time around, because the Mustangs, which opened last year and doesn't have a senior class, have finished ahead of them in two recent meets, the Neuqua Valley Invitational two weekends ago and the Wildcat Invitational at West Chicago last week.

"Our coach, Katie Peterson, has experimented a lot with our relays and individual races," Julianne said. "And now we have more depth and a stable lineup. We know we have a lot of people who can do better. We should show our stuff against Metea Valley."

A score was unavailable as of press time.

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