
2026 IHSA playoffs: Steve Soucie’s Class 5A playoff analysis and picks
By Luis Martinez
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La Salle-Peru co-op senior Sam Nauman is coming to the end of a decorated swimming career this weekend as she competes at the IHSA state meet for the fourth time in her career.This year will be a bit different, however, as Nauman won’t be the lone Cavalier swimming at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.The preliminaries are Friday, with the top eight advancing to Saturday’s A finals and swimmers 9-16 qualifying for Saturday’s B finals.Nauman will swim the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke but will also compete in the 200 medley relay along with senior teammates Anna Weitl and Finley Jobst and sophomore Dawsynn Kettman.“The emotions have been high,” Nauman said about her high school career winding down. “There were a lot of tears at senior night. There were a couple tears at sectional. This group of girls, we’ve all just formed really good connections and we all really, really love competing with each other, so coming into the state meet in individual events and with a relay