Senior Sami Rabah is a veteran of the Lyons Township High School boys water polo team’s 2024 state championship team and 2023 third-place state finisher. These more inexperienced Lions continue striving toward a strong postseason with an 8-7 start against their usually tough schedule.
“The scores haven’t really shown it, but I think we’ve had a lot of good things come out of every game,” Rabah said. “We’re getting better and we’re always focusing on that one goal, winning state again. We’re trying to hold ourselves to that standard. That’s one thing that’s really helpful.”
The Lions reached the championship game of their annual home Weber-Allen Classic Saturday but lost to York 13-7.
Senior Declan Vahey had three goals and sophomore Joaquin Fabrara from Brookfield two against York (11-3).
The Lions led 8-4 in first-quarter shots on goal yet trailed 4-1 on the scoreboard.
“I thought we had some high-percentage shots. We just couldn’t get the ball in the net,” LTHS coach Doug Eichstaedt said. “We’re trying to learn, apply, get better at this point. I thought we definitely got better throughout this weekend, making some better decisions, executing some plays.”
Four of the Lions’ losses have come to last year’s other three semifinalists (state runner-up Stevenson, Naperville North and Whitney Young). There’s also losses to York and New Trier, which both reached the 2024 state quarterfinals along with Lincoln-Way East, which LTHS has beaten twice.
The Lions defeated the Griffins 8-6 in pool play Friday, followed by St. Ignatius 20-2 and St. Rita 12-2 Saturday.
Rabah had five goals against St. Rita and Vahey and Rabaha five each against St. Ignatius. Season leaders are Rabah (33 goals, 18 assists), Fabara (25 goals), Wes Musgrove (22 goals, 14 assists), Vahey (20 goals), Ben Kozak (14 goals, 18 assists) and goalies Zayn Rabah (69 saves) and Vedran Petkovic (44 saves).
In 2024, Sami Rabah had 44 goals and 45 assists in earning fourth-team all-state and all-sectional honors.
“This year I’m more of a facilitator. I’m not as much of a driver. I’ll post up more but I still feel my role is pretty similar,” Sami Rabah said.
“To be a good water polo player, it’s just making everybody look better, make good passes, playing as a team. That’s how you win games.”
LTHS girls track and field
Lyons Township junior Lindsey Dunneback is running much faster in her second girls track and field season. One reason is she’s running differently with help from LTHS head coach Greg Frandsen.
“I feel like I’ve improved a lot,” Dunneback said. “Last year, I would always run on my heels. This year, I focus more on running on the balls of my feet, which kind of helps, and staying up.”
Dunneback finished second in the 200-meter dash (27.08) and long jump (5.09 meters/16 feet-8½ inches), fourth in the 100 (12.79) and anchored the third-place 4 x 100 relay at Downers Grove South’s Mustang Invitational Saturday. The Lions finished fifth (65 points).
Senior Leigh Ferrell tied for second in pole vault (3.20m/10-6), equaling the Class 3A state-qualifying standard the two-time state qualifier has surpassed previously.
Dunneback liked track in middle school but played club volleyball the spring of her freshman year. She was an alternate for the state-qualifying 4 x 200 in 2024 and hopes to compete this time. That relay lineup remains intact with senior Jordyn Hoffenberg, sophomores Mia Toulios and Lucy Laux and junior Gwen Smith (43rd, 1:48.72).
Laux, Karenna Knop, Toulios and Dunneback ran 50.84 in the 4 x 400 Saturday and the 4 x 200 (Laux, Toulios, Brooke Bonniwell, Vesta Samuolis in 1:50.62) also was third. Hoffenberg, working back from a hamstring injury, and Smith did not compete Saturday.
“[State] was so much fun last year, even though I didn’t run,” Dunneback said. “It’s really hard, but you’ve got to keep your head up.”
This past indoor season, Dunneback moved to No. 4 in the 200, No. 6 in the 55 and No. 9 in long jump on the Lions’ all-time indoor best lists. She achieved a personal-best long jump Saturday.
“I’m really excited about long jump. I like it a lot and I’ve improved a lot,” Dunneback said.
In high jump, Samuolis (1.48 meters/4 feet-10¼ inches) shared third and Russell (1.43m/4-8¼) was fifth.
Maya Coglianese (3,200 in 12:01.58), Knop (100 high hurdles in 17.76) and the 4 x 800 (Jenna Lally, Grace Rhoten, Chloe Elter, Ryann Remiaz in 11:06.04) were fourth. Autumn Schmidt (25.41 meters/83 feet-4 inches in discus), Natasha Lumb (400 in 1:02.49) and the 4 x 400 (Lumb, Toulios, Sarah Wiggins, Russell in 4:23.47) were fifth. Laux was sixth in the 200 (27.90).