Codo sets record, Naperville Central falls

It had been two years since Naperville Central had been to the girls water polo state quarterfinals, and just minutes after being eliminated the Redhawks already were planning for their next visit.

Naperville Central lost 11-7 Thursday to eight-time state champion Fenwick at Stevenson High School, but they couldn't have been happier about the experience.

"I'm sad about the season ending, but at the same time we came out of nowhere," said junior Kaela Codo. "We really did. A lot of people doubted us this season. It was a rebuilding year for us, for sure. Next year we have a lot of returning girls and so it's exciting to see that."

"We talked all week about the bigger stage being up here," coach Jeff Plackett said after his fifth trip to state with the Redhawks. "Any coach will try to tell you it's just another game, it's just another tournament, but it's not. The atmosphere is a lot different, and it's a collection of really young girls.

Naperville Central will lose only co-captains Krista Drapalik and Beth Ryan to graduation from this year's sophomore- and junior-dominated roster. Ryan celebrated her 18th birthday Thursday a day after graduation.

Codo will get a chance next year to break the school scoring record she set Thursday. She scored 6 of the Redhawks' 7 goals, giving her 140 for the season. Abby Kerth held the record at 134. Emily Rodgers also scored for Naperville Central.

"It means a lot, especially since it was Abby's because she's coached me since I was 11 or 12 years old and she's always been kind a mentor for me," Codo said just after being told about the record. "Beating her record is a really big deal to me. It means a lot. She's been a role model for me as a water polo player."

Codo scored the game's first goal, but Fenwick (22-6-1) scored the next three and had an answer every time the Redhawks (23-11) tried to draw even.

The defending champion's defense had Naperville Central's number, often intercepting cross-pool passes and heading the other direction.

"If you were at sectionals it was working so well for us. Just crisp," Plackett said. "They obviously had seen what we wanted to do. They stepped in to a number of those passes."

Codo stood out, but so did goalie Faith Vandercar.

"I thought Faith was fantastic again today," Plackett said. "Just the onslaught that she faced. Nice and composed. ... They had a couple of quick putbacks there in the first half of the second quarter, so they jumped out at us a little bit. It's hard to play catchup with a team that's won as many state titles as they have."

Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz