Breaking Down the MSL East Division

With the season now moving forward , I will start previewing conferences in the Northern Illinois area. In addition to the previews I will be creating articles that will highlight players from that conference. I will begin with the MSL Conference's East division. <p style="text-align: center"><strong>2017-18 Season Conference Standings</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center">Hersey 8-2</p> <p style="text-align: center">Rolling Meadows 8-2</p> <p style="text-align: center">Prospect 7-3</p> <p style="text-align: center">Wheeling 3-7</p> <p style="text-align: center">Elk Grove 3-7</p> <p style="text-align: center">Buffalo Grove 1-9</p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt">2018-19 Division Outlook/Team Capsules</span></strong></p> In the MSL East there are 6 very balanced teams which will make for a wide open race and very competitive season. Each team returns talented players along with newcomers who will make an impact for their team. Good Luck and Play Hard ! <strong><span style="font-size: 12pt">Buffalo Grove Bison </span></strong> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Steve Kolodziej</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Overall Team Record</strong> : 5-25</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Conference Team Record:</strong> 1-9</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Returning Players</strong> :</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jackie Bickhaus 5'6" G SR</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sydney Fortman 5'9" F SR</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Heide Schmit 5'9" G SR</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Hannah Young 5'6" G SR</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jackie Lavigne 5'9" F SR</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Kendra Lee 5'11" G/F Jr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Alyssa Ramos 5'8" G Jr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Macy Floro 5'7" G Jr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Zori Angelova 6'0" F Jr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Megan Fontanetta 5'5 Jr</span></div> <div></div> <div><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt">Coaches Comments /Team Overview</span></strong></div> <div><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt">Team Strengths this season</span></strong></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">These girls have had 2 years of Varsity experience and are ready to make the leap. We will be very athletic, long and strong. We will have lots of leadership and a central focus on what it takes to win in this conference.</span></div> <div></div> <div><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt">Team Weaknesses this season</span></strong></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Consistent scoring from a balanced attack.</span></div> <div></div> <div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>One thing that we should know about your team </strong> :</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">We've got some serious potential to upset some teams this year if we can get off to a good start. Kendra Lee is a returning All-Conference and All-Area player that is getting some serious traction on the recruiting trails now that she has decided to play college basketball. She's got a huge ceiling.</span></div> </div> <div></div> <div>   <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Elk Grove Grenadiers </strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Head Coach : </strong>Jennifer Buxton</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Overall Team Record</strong> : 15-15</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Conference Team Record</strong>: 3-7</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Returning Players (please include players name , height , position and class)</strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Rachel Kandefer 6’0’’ Forward Senior</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Megan Murray 5’5’’ Point Guard Junior</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Isabella Tierney 5’8’’ Guard Sophomore</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Alyssa Trausch 5’9’’ Forward Sophomore </span></p> <strong><span style="font-size: 12pt">Coaches Comments / Team Overview </span></strong> <span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Strengths this season :</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt">Last year we had a lot of youth that had made great strides forward. We have 4 out of 5 starters returning. Many returning players with a solid year of time and experience will help us this season. We continue to have quickness and girls who love to cause havoc on defense.</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Weakness this season : </strong>We want to become more efficient on offense and increase our shooting percentage overall</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>One thing that we should know about your team : </strong>We want to build upon the solid ending in playoffs we had last year. We are tough competitors that are willing to put in the time to getting better each year</span>   <strong>Hersey Huskies</strong> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><b>Coach (season): </b>Mary Fendley 21st Season<b> </b></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><b>Last year’s Record: </b>15-13</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><b>Last Year Conference:</b> 8-2 1st MSL East, MSL Champs</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt"><b>Returning Players: </b></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Mary Kate Fahey Soph (All Conf, All-Area,)- Only returning starter.</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Emily Collins, Sr</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Janine Boyan, Jr</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Sydney Hemenway, Jr</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Marlena</span> Kot Sr.</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Maddie Jacobsen Sr. </span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Chelsea Manoj Sr. </span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Emily Born Sr. </span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt"><b>Newcomers: </b></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt"> Mary McGrath Soph</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt"> Aya El-Fiky Soph</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Jordan Carlquist Jr</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">Jessie Carlquist Jr</span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Coaches Comments/Team Overview</strong></span></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeueLTStd-Cn;font-size: 12pt">I don't think many people would have thought we could win the MSL again after losing 4 starters last year, but we did. Fast forward to this year, and we lost 4 starters again. We will try to battle against 5 other MSL East teams who all have a legitimate chance to win the division. There will be no nights off for any of us. Our schedule is stacked. We play some of the top teams in the state, including Maine West, New Trier, McAuley + the Montini Christmas tournament. </span></div> </div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt">Prospect Knghts </span></strong></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Head Coach :</strong> Marie Miller </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Overall Team Record :</strong> 16-10</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Conference Team Record:</strong>7-3</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Returning Players</strong> : </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Ashley Adams 4/5 Sr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Kayla Byrne 3/4 Sr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Abbey Danciu 3/4 Sr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jessica Kowalczyk 1/2/3 Sr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"> Stephanie Kowalczyk 1/2/3 Sr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Tia Sadlon 5 Sr</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Helen Siavelis 1/2/3 Sr</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Newcomers to the Varsity</strong> : </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Eliot Dojutrek 1/2 Soph</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Mia Gusloff 4/5 Soph</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sarah Skaggs 2/3 Jr</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Coaches Comments/ Team Overview</strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Strengths this season :</strong> Many returning players with strong senior leadership. </span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Weakness this season</strong> : Adjusting to new roles with a changing program and learning a new offensive system and defensive discipline.</span></div> </div> <div></div> <div> <div></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Rolling Meadows Mustangs</strong></span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Ryan Kirkorsky</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Overall Team Record</strong> : 24-7</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Conference Team Record</strong>:8-2</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Returning Players :</strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Mallory Brand, 6', F, Senior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Alexa Davis, 5'7, PG, Senior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Kristin Dillon, 5'6, G, Senior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Lily Greifenstein, 5'6, PG/G, Senior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Kathleen Maltese, 5'8, G, Senior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Elise Kowalski, 5'11, F ,Senior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Susannah Holifield, 5'10, F/G, Junior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Bridget Rolla, 5'7, PG/G, Junior (injured)</span></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Newcomers to the Varsity</strong> :</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Kelsie Campbell, 5'7, G, Junior</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sam Elenz, 5'7, G, Sophomore</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Moira Hickey, 5'6, G, Freshman</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Alison Sellergren, 5'7, G, Freshman</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Coaches Comments/ Team Overview</strong> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Strengths this season</strong> : Balanced scoring, pace of play, depth</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Weakness this season :</strong> Emphasis on rebounding on both ends. We lost junior Bridget Rolla to ACL injury. She was one of our leading scorers and rebounders from last season.</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>One thing that we should know about your team</strong> : We want to play a unique style of basketball on both ends of the floor.</span></div> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Wheeling Wildcats </strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Head Coach</strong> : Matthew Weber </span></div> <div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Overall Team Record :</strong> 15-14</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Last Season Conference Team Record:</strong> 3-7</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Returning Players </strong> : </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Nosa Igiehon (6'0, C/F, Sr)</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Morgan Collar (5'11, F, Jr)</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Chloe Drozdz (5'3, G, Jr), </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Tommy Helms (5'7, G/F, Sr)</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sophia Stanke (5'8, G/F, Jr)</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Lauryn Webb (5'10, C/F, Jr)</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Karina Gomez (5'6, G, Sr)</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Key Newcomers to the Varsity :</strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"> Sam Janulis (5'9, G/F, Fr), </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Naomi Metellus (5'4, G, Jr),</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"> Dani Moser (5'9, G/F, Fr), </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Nicole Niznik (5'5, G, Fr), </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt">Stephanie Peterson (5'9, G/F, Jr),</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"> Ashley Yasak (5'9, F, Fr)</span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Coaches Comments /Team Overview</strong></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Strengths this season</strong> : Returning 3 Starters from last year and 5 players with a lot of varsity experience. </span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>Team Weakness this season :</strong> Depth. Need freshman to grow up fast. </span></div> <div></div> <div><span style="font-size: 12pt"><strong>One thing that we should know about your team</strong> : A lot of multi sport athletes. </span></div> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div dir="ltr" align="left"> <div></div> <div></div> </div> <div>     </div>