Catie Wallace spent her entire summer in 2014 playing water polo in California.
The Fenwick junior proudly said she didn’t get homesick.
“It was a great experience,” Wallace said. “It’s really different from what you’re used to having here. They have a different style, a different way of playing.”
Just days after completing her final exams, Wallace left for Southern California and lived with two different host families while training with the Los Angeles 16U water polo club. Wallace was the only Midwesterner to train with the team, which also competed in the Junior Olympics in the Los Angeles area.
Her trip was set up by former Fenwick boys water polo player Chris Wendt, who wrapped up his career at UCLA in 2013 and now plays for the U.S. national team. His younger sister, Olivia, was a senior teammate of Wallace’s on Fenwick’s state championship team last season.
Chris and Olivia Wendt’s brother, Bailey, is a senior on Fenwick’s boys water polo team.
In California, Wallace said she learned how offenses make quick adjustments from defense to developing breaks.
“There is also a lot of post-ups and running set (plays),” said Wallace, a Niles resident.
Wallace is the top returning scorer for the Friars (32-2 last season), who are ranked No. 1 in the preseason by illpolo.com. Fenwick, which won its eighth state title, 6-3 over St. Ignatius, was scheduled to begin its title defense Monday with a home match against McAuley.
Following the graduation of leading scorer Colleen Barron, goalie Lexi Buglio and six other seniors, juniors Wallace, Erin Kulik and Shannon Forst will be counted on heavily by coach Jack Wagner. Wagner said this is his youngest team in a decade. There wasn’t a single junior on the roster of last year’s state championship team.
“We have a nice group of sophomores and a couple of freshmen,” Wagner said. “It will take a while to figure out how we are going to play. That’s part of my job. They’ll realize it’s a team. I’m pretty excited I will do a lot of coaching this year.”
With Wallace back, the Friars should have scoring punch. She had 83 goals last season and was Fenwick’s second leading scorer behind Barron.
Wagner took a gamble two years ago by starting Wallace as a freshman and she became an all-state selection as a sophomore.
“We’ll look for her (to score),” Wagner said. “We need her to do as much out of the water as she does in the water. She’s our No. 1 experienced player. She will make sure everyone understands her job.”
OTHERS TO WATCH
Julia Cohen, Lyons
The three-year varsity starter is the top returning scorer with 44 goals for Lyons (17-10), which is ranked No. 8 by illpolo.com after losing 11-1 to Fenwick in the sectional finals. “Julia is a leader in and out of the pool,” Lyons coach Lauren Burel said.
Kelly Frumkin, Fenwick
The Friars’ only freshman on last year’s state championship team scored 26 goals despite playing mainly defense. Frumkin was named to illpolo.com’s preseason second team. She will be joined for the first time by her sister Maggie, Fenwick’s lone senior.
Jordin Hale, Oak Park-River Forest
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The Huskies (25-3) won the West Suburban Conference championship behind its standout senior goalie, an illpolo.com preseason first-team selection. OPRF is ranked No. 9 after losing in the sectional semifinals. “Jordan takes every play to heart,” OPRF coach Beth Perez said.
Nina Relias, Hinsdale Central
The senior returns for her third varsity season for the Red Devils (13-13 and is Hinsdale Central’s most experienced player. “It will be fun to play with all my friend for one last season,” Relias said.
Caroline Walsh, Lyons
Walsh scored 32 goals last season and led Lyons in steals and assists. The senior is expected to form a potent combination with Cohen. “They work well with each other and most often lead the attack on offense,” Burel said.
Twitter @geomwilcox