Two of the four swimmers in two state qualifying relays from last season are back to help lead the Fenwick swim team to another sectional title and a trip to the IHSA State Meet.
Casey Dollard and Stephanie Ovalle, who both competed in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay at state last year return as sophomores with vital experience.
Along with taking on a slew of individual events, Dollard will also try and reprise her role in the 400-yard freestyle relay that finished 12th at state last year. Besides Ovalle, Kaitlin Brown returns in the 400 free relay event.
The Friars will try to improve on last season’s 24th team finish at state with the help of Morgan Bonk (200 and 500 freestyle), Colleen Carey (100 breaststroke), Krystle Kutak (100 butterfly), Mary Finn (100 breaststroke), Madeline Lloyd (50, 100 freestyle), Mariclaire Bresnahan (50 freestyle, 100 backstroke), and Kelly Ryan (IM and 100 butterfly).
Moving up in the East Suburban Catholic Conference from third place in 2006 will be quite a challenge for the Friars. Rosary, who took the ESCC title last season, also won the IHSA State Meet last year, while ESCC runner-up Loyola finished eighth overall.
Fenwick hosts Grosse Pointe South on Saturday (1 p.m.) and welcomes cross-town rival OPRF on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Friars will host their own invitational on Sept. 22, before competing on the road for five straight meets.
-Brad Spencer