The 2016 IHSA Boys and Girls Water Polo State Finals will unfold on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 19-21 at Stevenson High School’s natatorium in Lincolnshire.

The four boys’ quarterfinal matches will take place on Thursday, with the four girls’ quarterfinal matches following on Friday. Saturday will feature all four semifinal matches in the morning. The third-place matches will kickoff the evening session. The boys’ state championship match is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the girls’ title match to follow immediately afterward. Both state championship matches will air live on the NFHS Network via a CN100 broadcast, which subscribers can watch live on www.IHSA.tv

Stevenson will have both its boys and girls teams playing in the finals at home this weekend, while the fan bases from Naperville Central, New Trier and St. Ignatius will be making multiple trips to Lincolnshire as well after qualifying both squads. The Lincoln-Way District has two of its four schools represented this weekend, with the East High School boys and North High School girls qualifying.

BOYS PREVIEW

NEW TRIER TREVIANS (29-3-1)
Boys water polo is one of the few sports that New Trier doesn’t boast a state title in. Second-year head coach David Rafferty-Flatter hopes to change that this weekend or at the very least earn the school’s first Top 3 finish. The Trevians best was fourth in 2004.
Goals: 74, Henry Yavitt
Goalkeeper: Piers Braunot (85 saves) & Cole Maizel (90 saves)
  vs.
FREMD VIKINGS (22-5-0)
A two-OT thriller over Barrington lifted Fremd and head coach Brian Newby to the state finals for the second time in school history (2012). The Vikings are used to close matches, as four of its five losses came by a combined 11 goals, including a pair of one-goal defeats.
Goals: 109, Robert De Pau
Assists: 37, De Pau & Alex Nicholas
Goalkeeper: Zac Keper (92 saves) & Mitch Thompson (87 saves)


LYONS LIONS (30-2-0)
Both Lyons defeats this season came against state final qualifiers, Stevenson & Naperville Central, and Doug Eichstaedt’s squad avenged the former in late April. The defending state champion Lions have dominated the postseason, outscoring its three foes 49-13, and could become the first school not named Fenwick to repeat as state champs.
Goals: 181, Sam Szczepaniak
Assists: 45, George Lundgren
Goalkeeper: Nick Rosenberger (151 goals allowed, 254 saves)
  vs.
STEVENSON PATRIOTS (26-6-0)
The Patriots fell to Lyons 9-6 in last year’s state championship, avenged the defeat in March (7-5), and then fell to the Lions in late April (9-6). Sean Wimer’s squad knows its quarterfinal opponent well and has won its quarterfinal match three years in a row resulting in two runner-up trophies (2013, 2015) and a fourth-place finish in 2014.
Goals: 104, Andrew Shashin
Assists: 62, Kurt Holzer
Goalkeeper: Charlie Day (167 goals allowed, 206 saves)


ST. IGNATIUS WOLFPACK (26-6-1)
A model of consistency, St. Igantius is now making its fourth consecutive state final appearance under fifth-year head coach Luis Martinez, which includes a pair of fourth-place finishes in 2013 and 2015. The Wolfpack enter on a hot streak, having won 14 of their last 15 matches.
Goals: 171, Shane Hughes
Assists: 81, Shane Hughes
Goalkeeper: Sam Enger (217 goals allowed, 272 saves)
  vs.
LINCOLN-WAY EAST GRIFFINS (25-5-0)
Lincoln-Way East has three previous state final appearances, but second-year coach Zach Van Swol hopes to bring the program its first-ever quarterfinal victory in a regular-season rematch. The Griffins fell to St. Ignatius 13-9 in their second match of the season.
Goals: 111, Bryan McNitt
Assists: 42, Mason Maze
Goalkeeper: Jason Culver (180 goals allowed, 192 saves)


NAPERVILLE CENTRAL REDHAWKS (32-0-0)
Bill Salentine’s Redhawks are trying to make history, not only winning the first state title in school history in their 10th state final trip, but also becoming the fourth undefeated state champ in state history. The Redhawks went 5-0 vs. fellow state final qualifiers during the regular-season.
Goals: 128, Nick Walker
Assists: 68, Nick Walker
Goalkeeper: Kent Emden (109 goals allowed, 302 saves)
  vs.
YORK DUKES (23-7-2)
York’s third state final appearance is its first since 2008 and first under head coach Brian Drumm. The Dukes are 17-0 since April 6 against schools not named Lyons. If Dukes were to avenge those two setbacks to the defending champs (14-7, 16-8), it would have to occur in the trophy round.
Goals: 101, Tim Evely
Goalkeeper: Tyler McKenna (225 goals allowed, 307 saves)


GIRLS PREVIEW

LINCOLN-WAY NORTH PHOENIX (27-5-0)
Lincoln-Way North’s first state final trip will also likely be its last, as the school will close at the conclusion of the year. Head coach Kendra Will will try for the storybook ending with a team that is peaking at the right time, having won 14 of its last 15 matches.
Goals: 131, Cassidy DeGraff
Assists: 60, Cassidy DeGraff
Goalkeeper: Kaylie Pollard (81 goals allowed, 200 saves)
& Mia Sterchele (176 goals allowed, 161 saves)
  vs.
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL REDHAWKS (29-4-0)
Naperville Central is one of the state’s most consistent programs under Jeff Plackett, having now reached state in 10 of the past 12 seasons. The program has appeared in two title matches and hopes 2016 will mark the school’s first state championship.
Goals: 105, Kaela Coda
Assists: 46, Emily Rodgers
Goalkeeper: Faith Vandercar (115 goals allowed, 240 saves)


MOTHER MCAULEY MIGHTY MACS (25-6-1)
After a one year reprieve, Vanessa Carroll has the Mighty Macs back at state for the fifth time in her seven seasons at the helm. The team’s six losses have come against three schools (Fenwick, Stevenson, St. Ignatius), all of whom are playing in the state finals this weekend.
Goals: 82, Paulina Correa
Assists: 52, Julia Olivares
Goalkeeper: Geena Peyton (130 goals allowed, 252 saves)
  vs.
CONANT COUGARS (20-12-0)
Conant went 6-7 down the stretch, but Justin Bickus’ squad recaptured its mojo in the State Series to return to the finals for the second year in a row and second time in school history. The Cardiac Cougars won their Sectional Semifinal and Final by identical 7-6 margins, and had 12 matches this season decided by two goals or less.
Goals: 88, Sam Wooley
Assists: 24, Sam Wooley
Goalkeeper: Cam Rosas (187 goals allowed, 370 saves)


FENWICK FRIARS (27-5-1)
The state’s most prolific program is back in the state finals for the 13th year in a row and in search of state title number nine, all of which have come under head coach John Wagner. The Friars, who placed third a year ago, were 6-4 through their first 10 matches,,\ but enter the weekend on 17-match winning streak.
Goals: 91, Catie Wallace
Assists: 48, Catie Wallace
Goalkeeper: Anna Sullivan (110 goals allowed, 130 saves)
& Sam Rodriguez (73 goals allowed, 68 saves)
  vs.
NEW TRIER TREVIANS (25-8-0)
Matt Wendt made an immediate impact on the Trevian program by bringing them to state in his first season in 2010. New Trier is now back at the finals for the sixth straight season and played in the title match for the first time a year ago where they fell to Stevenson.
Goals: 100, Lauren Barrett
Assists: 37, Sarah Caywood
Goalkeeper: Lauren Engelhard (77 goals allowed, 150 saves)
& Elizabeth McKenna (76 goals allowed, 144 saves)


STEVENSON PATRIOTS (32-1-0)
The defending state champs certainly look poised for a repeat, as Jeff Wimer’s Patriots posted a 7-1 record against state final qualifiers amidst an incredibly difficult schedule. A 7-6 decision to Fenwick, who they also defeated 12-6, is the lone setback on the year. The rubber match could happen in the semifinals.
Goals: 217, Allison Travetto
Assists: 97, Allison Travetto
Goalkeeper: Lauren Burns (135 goals allowed, 368 saves)
  vs.
ST. IGNATIUS WOLFPACK (25-3-0)
The Wolfpack have missed the state finals just once since 2004 and Michael Cashman has filled the trophy case since taking over as head coach in 2006. Last year’s quarterfinal loss to Stevenson ended a string of five straight years placing in the Top 3, including a state title in 2013. This season’s regular-season match also went to the Patriots 11-8.
Goals: 84, Diana Fernandez
Assists 35, Stephania Lopez
Goalkeeper: Jennifer Stelnicki (81 goals allowed, 187 saves)

TOURNAMENT HISTORY
15th annual State Series


SITE
Stevenson High School
Lincolnshire
Directions


SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 19
Session 1
Boys Quarterfinals
4:30 PM
New Trier vs. Fremd

5:45 PM
Lyons vs. Stevenson

7:00 PM
St. Ignatius vs. Lincoln-Way East

8:15 PM
Naperville Central vs. York


Friday, May 20
Session 2
Girls Quarterfinals
4:30 PM
Lincoln-Way North vs. Naperville Central

5:45 PM
Mother McAuley vs. Conant

7:00 PM
Fenwick vs. New Trier

8:15 PM
Stevenson vs. St. Ignatius

Saturday, May 21
Session 3
Boys Semifinals
9:00 AM - Semifinal #1
10:15 AM - Semifinal #2

Girls Semifinals
11:30 AM - Semifinal #1
12:45 AM - Semifinal #2

Session 4
Third-Place Matches
3:30 PM - Boys 3rd Place
5:00 PM - Girls 3rd Place

State Championships
6:30 PM - Boys Final
8:00 PM - Girls Final


TICKETS
$8 per session


WATCH
State Championship matches on May 21 available live on www.IHSA.tv via NFHS Network subscription


RESULTS & BOX SCORES
Boys Results

Girls Results


SOCIAL MEDIA
#IHSA on Twitter
Twitter - @IHSAstate

Twitter Weather Updates

Instagram - @IHSA_IL

Facebook.com/IHSA.IL

Classic IHSA YouTube Video


OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva

Photos from VIP

Balls from Kap7

Souvenir Program


STUDENT SAFETY
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HISTORY & RECORDS
2016 Boys State Series

2016 Girls State Series

Boys Record Book & Past Champions

Girls Record Book & Past Champions