Scouting DuPage County girls golf
Top teams: Naperville North, Hinsdale Central, Wheaton Warrenville South, Waubonsie Valley, Naperville Central, Glenbard West, Benet, Lake Park, Wheaton Academy, York.
Top athletes: Addison Trail: Brooke Bolsinger, fr., Sara Gagliano, sr., Mikaela Olvera, soph., Julia Strazecki, sr.; Benet: Molly Bannon, sr., Sam Coffey, sr., Tess Jacobs, jr., Jana Maras, sr., Reagan Rodenboster, fr., Caroline Wing, sr.; Downers Grove North: Carrie Kumiega, sr., Margaret Miller, sr., Olivia Weaver, sr.; Downers Grove South: Teagan Custer, sr., Meredith Mahoney, sr., Lindsay Tom, sr., Maya Tunney, sr.; Fenton: Jamie Minard, sr.; Glenbard East: Kali Burke, jr., Sarah Dizieza, soph., Mackenzie Lyons, jr., Cassie Payne, sr.; Glenbard North: Madison Gordon, soph., Ariana Martinen, soph., Brooke Westra, fr., Bailey Wind, sr.; Glenbard South: Ellyn Andree, jr., Camryn Fitzmaurice, sr., Stephanie Price, jr., Kathy Yun, sr.; Glenbard West: Anne Bertane, sr., Sam Moody, sr., Isabella Rosley, jr., Lily Stutelberg, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Gillian Filer, jr., Roshannah Gaur, sr., Madison Labedz, sr., Grace Owens, jr., Natalie Spitzer, jr.; Hinsdale South: Alissa Banks, jr., Gina Cavalli, sr., Mackenzie Hill, sr., Kaylee McKinney, sr., Jackie Wojcik, sr.; IC Catholic Prep: Bella Roelle, fr.; Lake Park: Marisa Carusiello, sr., Nicole Hansen, sr., Brook Schenck, jr., Marisa Vandini, jr., Nicolette Varbero, jr.; Lisle: Emily Mao, jr.; Metea Valley: Grace Buchta, jr., Madison Neihardt, jr., Anita Padman, sr., Savannah White, sr.; Montini: Katie Bukovsky, soph., Megan Laughlin, soph., Julia Brooke Morgan, jr., Abby Petersen, soph.; Naperville Central: Erin Fang, jr., Mia Kurkechian, sr., Emma Lim, soph., Neha Vinesh, soph., Kate Walgren, sr., Becki Zhang, soph.; Naperville North: Mara Flaherty, jr., Emma Lin, soph., Hannah Martin, soph., Emily Nay, soph., Lauren Nay, sr., Avani Shah, jr.; Neuqua Valley: Lauren DiGrazia, jr., Ali Efnor, soph., Karsen O'Keefe, jr., Maddie Rogers, soph.; St. Francis: Elizabeth Grivetti, soph., Katherine Lemke, fr., Cameron Marr, fr., Hailey Strickland, sr.; Waubonsie Valley: Kerrigan Boose, sr., Kate Libby, soph., Natalie Schwab, jr., Arushi Singh, sr., Emily Skowronski, soph.; West Chicago: Kendall Farm, fr., Katie Gramit, sr., Meghan Koester, sr., Kyra Saflarski, sr., Julia Wasserstrom, jr.; Wheaton Academy: Margaret Harmon, jr., Francesca Herlehy, fr., Anna Rose McCarthy, sr., Grace Vickers, sr.; Wheaton North: Sasha Danielson, jr., Abby O'Connell, jr., Grace Quinn, fr., Taylor Stapinski, sr., Maddie Stevens, sr.; Wheaton Warrenville South: Grace Ellison, soph., Sarah Hauenstein, sr., Caroline Kolet, jr., Clare McDonald, sr., Hadley Moritz, sr.; Willowbrook: Arielle Alibudbud, sr., Sophia Parillo, sr., Julianna Paulsen, soph.; York: Bella Bartolome, jr., Elle Borchardt, fr., Annie Grass, sr., Jenna Koeppen, sr., Mia Spedale, sr., Katie Wegman, sr.
Scouting report: The 2016 Class 2A golf tournament featured one of the deepest fields in memory. Wheaton Warrenville South was making its seventh appearance as a team since 2008. The Tigers were third the year before to earn their first trophy in program history. WW South had not defeated two-time defending state champion Hinsdale Central in any of their meetings during the regular season. "We didn't go in with too many expectations," WW South leader Hauenstein said. "We just wanted to put up a good score and see where it put us. I think we surprised ourselves. We knew it was our last chance to do something great." WW South eclipsed 300 at Hickory Point on the outskirts of Decatur to take the first-day lead and never looked back in denying Barrington and the Red Devils by 7 and 8 shots, respectively, with its two-day total of 605. It was the first state championship for any girls sport in school history for WW South. "All of my girls played at the highest level they ever had," said WW South coach Art Tang. "Everything came together at the right time."
Hinsdale Central had to settle for its second third-place trophy in four years sandwiched around its only state titles in program history. "Wheaton Warrenville played extremely well," Hinsdale Central coach Nick LaTorre said. Two-thirds of the Tigers' state lineup graduated, but Hauenstein and fellow senior Moritz anchored the WW South titlist squad with sixth and top-14 finishes. The Hauenstein postseason performance last fall generated notice from the next level. Hauenstein committed to the University of Illinois last winter. "It was my No. 1 choice," Hauenstein said of her Big Ten home state school. "I was very excited when they offered me the (scholarship) in January." Hauenstein, the defending DuPage Valley Conference and Glenbard East regional champion, and Moritz will be under the microscope for the Tigers this fall as a lack of varsity experience by the other projected starters is inescapable. "It will definitely be a different (team) atmosphere," said Hauenstein, who will seek a fourth consecutive state appearance this season. But the Tigers' senior is ready to accept the challenge. "I learned a lot of stuff this summer about my game," Hauenstein said. Tang readily admits the depth that has carried the program to the highest levels will be tested this fall. "It's definitely going to be a different year this year," Tang said.
The individual large-class state tournament had a decidedly underclass feel to its top performers last year, giving Hauenstein and her fellow elite seniors reason for pause. "The class behind me is incredible," Hauenstein said of Illinois' current juniors. Local coaches are adamant WW South will still be a formidable obstacle this season. "There is going to be a big group of real solid teams, I think," Neuqua Valley coach John Keller said. "Naperville North and Wheaton South, from our area, are the two powerhouses. You always know those two schools are going to be up there."
Naperville North, sixth in state last fall, returns four seasoned players in the Nay sisters, Flaherty and Martin. In all probability, the Huskies will rate an edge over WW South for the final conference championship as a nine-member league. The Huskies feature a common formula first cultivated by legendary coach Ed Rosenthal, who once directed the program to 19 state appearances in a two-decade stretch. "We are deep again," said Naperville North coach Greta Williams. "We had a record number at tryouts. We are deep all the way through varsity through JV. Any of the girls who played (at the Naperville City Tournament on Tuesday) can score for us." Emily Nay has legitimacy as the Huskies' top player as well as an all-state candidate. "We have a solid team," Nay said. "We have a chance to break some school records. I think we have a chance to have many (different individual) scores come in." Flaherty will be one of the top juniors in the area. "(It) just gives us a lot of motivation," Flaherty said of a possible return trip to the state finals. "It's a really big goal of ours to maybe get a state trophy."
Hauenstein is the not the only DuPage Valley Conference golfer who will compete in the Big Ten upon graduation. Waubonsie Valley star Singh, like Hauenstein, also looks strong. The Warriors' three-year standout will shortly sign a letter of intent to Indiana. The Warriors retain five members from their regional championship team from a year ago. "State is definitely on the top of my list," said Singh, top 30 a season ago. "I definitely want to do better (individually). We're trying to win all of our (dual) matches. That's one of our priorities." Boose is another previous state veteran for the Warriors. "It would be nice to get (Singh and Boose) back to state, either as individuals or as a team," Waubonsie Valley coach Jack Farnan said. "To do it as a team, we're going to have to really improve. It would be nice to see them finish how they started (state qualifiers as freshmen)."
Lake Park senior Hansen could certainly make claims for area athletic singularity. No other female golfer in the area can duplicate her feat of individually qualifying for state meets in both golf and track and field. The Lancers' star employs her athleticism to overpower golf courses with her long tee shots. The two-time state qualifier will continue to play at Purdue next fall. "There has never been a Big Ten golfer from Lake Park on the girls side," Lake Park coach Jeff Henrikson said. "Her athleticism has definitely helped her to where she is at." Hansen has two state appearances to her credit. "I am just more confident with my game now," Hansen said. "I had a lot of mental improvements. This year my goal is to place at state. I am also hoping to lead my team." Like many in the sport, Hansen has parlayed a strenuous summer schedule into an envious opportunity at the next level. "I had worse scores (this summer compared to last year) but played tougher courses," Hansen said.
Naperville Central had a markedly youthful appearance last fall, but longtime coach Jane Thompson will have at-large sectional qualifiers Lim, Vinesh and Walgren back in the fold. Wheaton North will have an identical scenario with the return of regional advancers Danielson, Stapinski and Stevens.
Benet had a historic campaign on the 20th anniversary of its founding last fall. The Redwings qualified for the state tournament for the first time behind the sensational 5-under-par 67 Lauren Beaudreau fashioned at the Lockport sectional last October. But Beaudreau, who guided Benet to seventh overall with her runner-up performance at Hickory Point, elected not to come out this season to concentrate on playing a national schedule. "This changes everything," said Wing, the lone Benet state returnee, on the Redwings' team dynamic. "She is definitely going to be missed on this team." But Wing also realizes her potential role has changed dramatically. "This is a really good opportunity for me to show some leadership," Wing said.
The seven local programs in the single-division West Suburban Conference are once again collectively trying to unseat Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils return Gaur and Labedz to anchor their fortunes. "We try to focus on the process and hope to play our best golf at the end of the season," LaTorre said.
Glenbard West senior Moody joins Singh and Hansen as a returning at-large state qualifier. But first-year Hilltoppers coach Mary McGrane also has sectional returnees Bertane, Stutelberg and Rosley. "I think we can compete with the best in the area," McGrane said. "I think we have the talent. It all depends on the girls. We have to play our game and see where the scores land." York is another program with improved regular and postseason aspirations behind Wegmann, a sectional returnee, and the rest of its projected starting lineup. "I think we are going to do really well," York coach Barb Tilden said. "These girls really picked it up from last year. It's going to be a good year." Wheaton Academy has been more than competitive since being elevated to Class 2A in recent years. The Warriors will attack this fall behind seniors Harmon and Vickers. "I really think Margaret has a great chance to make it to state," Wheaton Academy coach Chip Dykema said. Wheaton Academy will be prohibitive favorites to win another Metro Suburban Conference championship. "We have won that several years in a row," Dykema said of the Warriors' recent league performances. Montini will field its first exclusively girls team in school history this fall. "I would hope the girls will fall in love with the game," Montini coach Colleen Marks said. "Basketball and softball only last so long. Golf is a game they will improve upon over a lifetime." Former IC Catholic Prep state champion Maddie Hunt (Northern Illinois University) was the lone area representative in the Class 1A state tournament last fall. St. Francis' Grivetti and Strickland were the only returning local players who made the Class 1A sectional cut last fall.
Key dates: Aug. 19, Joliet Central Invitational; Aug. 19, West Aurora Twilight; Sept. 9, Waukegan Invitational; Sept. 9, Bishop Mac Invite; Sept. 16, Providence Catholic Celtic Swing; Sept. 16, Rockford Guilford Invitational; Sept. 23, Naperville North Rosie Invitational; Week of Sept. 25, conference championships; Sept. 27, Waubonsie Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Invite.