La Salle-Peru girls swim team targets state success under new coach
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The La Salle-Peru co-op girls swimming team is carrying momentum from a landmark season into a new era under first-year head coach Brent Thomas. Coming off a campaign that produced the program's first All-State honoree and a runner-up finish at the Normal Community Sectional, the Cavaliers are aiming higher this fall.
Thomas, who spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the co-op boys program before being appointed girls head coach in May, inherits a roster largely intact from last year’s breakout. “The team has been working hard, digging in and focusing on the season ahead,” he said. “Our big goal this year is to send as many swimmers as possible to the next level.”
At the center of those ambitions is senior Sam Nauman, a Henry-Senachwine student who made history as the Cavaliers’ first All-State selection. She placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and 10th in the 200-yard individual medley at last year’s state championship, earning enough points to lift La Salle-Peru to 25th overall. Nauman, a three-time state qualifier, is on track to become a four-time qualifier this season. “We’ll be looking to send her back to the same events,” Thomas said. “But we’re still working to develop her as an athlete as she moves into her post-high school career.”
The returning core extends well beyond Nauman. The 200-yard freestyle relay team—comprising Nauman, Clara Weitl (La Salle-Peru), Finley Jobst (Serena), and Dawsynn Kettman (Ottawa)—returns intact after a second-place performance at sectionals. Clara Weitl also anchored the 200 medley relay alongside Lillian Clayton (Ottawa) and Addisyn Budnick (Ottawa), which also took second. Individually, Jobst was sectional runner-up in the 100 butterfly, and Weitl finished third in the 200 freestyle.
Depth comes from a group of newcomers including Mozelle Truss (Ottawa), Bella Pinter, and Natali Moriarty (both La Salle-Peru). Thomas emphasized the importance of developing a well-rounded lineup. “We’re trying to develop the most well-rounded team we possibly can,” he said.
Leadership duties fall to a strong senior class. “Our captain, Sam Nauman, along with returning seniors Anna Weitl, Clara Weitl, and Finley Jobst, have done a great job providing leadership and setting the tone for the rest of the team,” Thomas noted.
A major focus during the preseason has been forging a unified team identity among athletes from four different schools. “It’s important that they see themselves as one team,” Thomas said. “We started building that culture over the summer with a team picnic and have continued it during the season with team dinners after practice. Those opportunities to get to know one another, build friendships, and develop team chemistry will help us throughout the season.”
The Cavaliers opened their schedule with a second-place finish in the nine-team Sterling Invitational on Saturday, a strong early indicator of their potential. With proven talent, rising newcomers, and a cohesive culture taking shape, La Salle-Peru looks poised to build on last season’s success and perhaps reach even greater heights.
Article commentary
The La Salle-Peru co-op girls swimming program represents a fascinating case study in the challenges and rewards of multi-school collaboration. Pooling athletes from Henry-Senachwine, La Salle-Peru, Ottawa, and Serena, the team must overcome logistical hurdles while fostering a shared identity. New head coach Brent Thomas appears to understand this intimately, having spent four years as an assistant with the boys co-op before stepping into the lead role. His emphasis on team-building activities—from summer picnics to regular team dinners—shows a deliberate strategy to bridge geographic and cultural divides. Individual brilliance often elevates a program, and senior Sam Nauman is that catalyst for the Cavaliers. Her fourth-place finish in the 100 backstroke and 10th in the 200 IM at state last year did more than earn points; it signaled that a co-op team from smaller schools can compete at the highest level. Nauman’s pursuit of a fourth state qualification is remarkable, but the broader goal of sending multiple swimmers to state reflects a shift from a star-driven to a team-driven mentality. Thomas’s comment about developing her for post-high school swimming hints at a long-term view that benefits both the athlete and the program’s reputation. Depth will determine how far La Salle-Peru can go. The return of the entire 200 freestyle relay and key contributors like Finley Jobst and Clara Weitl provides a strong foundation. Newcomers such as Mozelle Truss and Bella Pinter add necessary bench strength. The team’s second-place finish at the Sterling Invitational is an early positive sign, but the real test will come at sectionals where last year they were runners-up. Improving that result will require continued development across all events. Culture-building in a co-op setting is often underestimated. When swimmers attend different schools, practice schedules, bus logistics, and even team apparel coordination can become complicated. Thomas’s proactive approach—using summer gatherings and post-practice dinners to build chemistry—addresses these challenges head-on. Successful co-op teams often cite a “one team” mentality as the key to overcoming institutional barriers. If La Salle-Peru can maintain that unity, they have the talent to make a deeper postseason run. Looking ahead, the program is on an upward trajectory. The combination of a proven state qualifier, a solid returning core, and a coach focused on holistic development bodes well. The challenge will be sustaining success as Nauman graduates and new leaders emerge. For now, the Cavaliers are thinking big—and with the foundation Thomas is building, those ambitions seem well within reach.