Lions’ Mladjan, Recker share all-state water polo honors

Senior Maya Mladjan’s fourth varsity girls water polo season for Lyons Township High School started rough with missed matches because of illness and a concussion following an auto accident. Even with another physical setback, the Brookfield resident couldn’t have finished much better.

Mladjan and junior teammate Bella Recker were named first-team all-state after helping the Lions place second in state – the program’s second-highest state finish to their 2010 state championship.

“I would say it was a complete 180 [turnaround],” Mladjan said. “I had a little bit of a [left] shoulder injury so I wasn’t even playing that much leading up to state but then comes state and you’re just bam right in the center of the action.” 

LTHS senior goalie Delaney Judkins was third-team all-state. LTHS coach Megan Jacobs was named Coach of the Year.

Mladjan was second in goals this season (74) and had 32 assists and 52 steals even with limited play and being a key defensive player. She also was first-team all-state in 2024 after 122 goals, 40 assists and 68 steals, second-team all-state in 2023 and third-team all-state in 2022. 

This postseason, the right-handed Mladjan stepped up even while battling pain in her left shoulder. The injury is gradually healing as she and Recker play with the Northern Illinois Polo Club based at Stevenson, annual site of the state finals. 

“I just played through it [at state]. The adrenaline just came. It was (my non-throwing) left shoulder so I would say I’m kind of lucky,” Mladjan said. 

“I hope that I’ve inspired [my teammates] to become better players and to take some of the things that I’ve talked to them about. Hopefully [our season] can inspire the JV players to also try their best and be able to make it to the state championship next year and even the following years.” 

Recker, among six non-seniors on the 10-player first team, had a team-best 96 goals, 48 assists and 58 steals. In 2024, she and Judkins were second-team all-state.  

“I’ve been working really, really hard and it was nice to see all of that pay off [with first team],” said Recker, who hopes to play collegiately. “It just makes me very excited because that means the work is paying off and I can’t wait to improve this summer.” 

She became an even stronger offensive weapon after a team-high 113 assists in 2024 while being second in goals (85) with 39 steals. 

“I think a lot of that has to do with confidence and being aware that I am capable of converting. It’s also a testament to my teammates being able to communicate and not only set me up but give me the opportunity. I would attribute a lot of my goals to them,” Recker said. 

“[Our season] just surpassed my expectations. I was not necessarily nervous but not sure what to think because we lost two key players. Being able to build that communication and increased level of play as the season went along was exciting and fun to be a part of.” 

Earning Lyons Township first-team all-sectional honors were Mladjan, Recker and Judkins (241 saves, 68 save percentage). 

Second-team all-sectional were Riverside Brookfield senior Liv Dobbe and LTHS junior Bebe Wright (43 goals, team-high 68 assists and 83 steals). LTHS junior Avery Watanabe (28 goals, 40 assists, 23 steals) was honorable mention. Jacobs was the sectional’s Coach of the Year. 

Mladjan will play at Michigan alongside older sister Emilia, a 2023 LTHS graduate and former all-stater. Judkins will play at McKendree College in downstate Lebanon.

Boys water polo

LTHS senior Sami Rabah was named second-team all-state and LTHS junior Ben Kozak was third-team all-state. Rabah had team bests of 49 goals, 43 assists and 27 steals. Kozak had 33 goals, 26 assists and 20 steals.

For the Lyons Township All-Sectional Team, Rabah and Kozak were first team, RBHS senior goalie Marty Beiliauskas and LTHS junior Wes Musgrove (40 goals, 26 assists, 21 steals) were second team and LTHS senior goalie Zayn Rabah (133 saves) received honorable mention. Bieliauskas achieved RBHS documented records for saves in one season and one game.

After winning the 2024 state title, the Lions lost in the sectional final with a relatively inexperienced lineup. This was their first season not reaching at least the state quarterfinals since 2014.

The Lions lost to Brother Rice 19-14. Sami Rabah scored six goals in the 11-5 sectional semifinal victory over St. Rita the night before despite battling a shoulder injury from the previous week.

“He was not going to let that slow him down,” said LTHS coach Doug Eichstaedt after the loss to Brother Rice. “I thought we made a lot of improvements from the beginning of the year and scoring 14 goals would usually lead to a win. [Brother Rice] played a great game and continued to make plays, especially when we would get the game back to one to two goals. They always had an answer.”

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