Girls golf: Scouting the Fox Valley
Illinois' prep athletic landscape was undeniably altered by the pandemic.
As the local girls golf season commences, there are lingering issues surrounding the sport directly related to the relaxation of safety protocols.
"We are struggling looking for a course," Batavia coach Tim Kauffmann said of securing practice and dual-match facilities.
"We don't even have a course to practice on," Geneva senior star Reese Clark said. "I don't blame the courses; they have to protect their members."
But there is also a sense the contingency plans and alternative arrangements the pandemic engendered will be greatly eased this fall.
Clark, for example, will not have to contend with widely different conditions in attempting to unseat Catie Nekola, the last link to the 2018 Class 2A state-championship St. Charles North team, like was the case a year ago when the DuKane Conference tournament was held on separate days.
The four local members of the DuKane Conference - Batavia, Geneva and the two St. Charles high schools - as well as its twin individual faces - Clark and Nekola - have renewed hope for normalcy with the return of a state tournament.
"They are both great players, and I would love to see our kids push them," St. Charles East coach Jared Gutesha said of Clark and Nekola.
The Saints (324), with their top four of Allison Edgar, Emily Charles, Ella Tassone and Abby Buechele, began their season with a runner-up finish to a powerful Barrington squad at the Broncos' Invitational on Thursday.
Charles and Edgar fired respective rounds of 76 and 77 for St. Charles East.
"We have all but one of our team back from last year," Gutesha said. "We should be a very competitive team this year."
In addition to Clark, Geneva will counter its opponents with Rosa Demory, Sydney Cournaya and Nora Novak.
Clark is adamant not to turn the season into a referendum on her three-year individual battle with Nekola.
The two seniors are both ranked in the top-five in the state.
"Catie and I are definitely friends," Clark said. "We are paired together all the time. We have the same swing coach (Pat Lenski). We have similar games."
Kauffmann will seek to make league inroads behind Kylie Sloan, Brooke Miara, Lauren Sudler and Amanda Naylor.
"We will be in the middle of the pack," Kauffmann said.
In the Fox Valley, there does not appear to be a clear-cut favorite.
"Inexperience is something we will have, but I look for the girls to improve this fall," Jacobs coach Paul Anderson said.
Anderson is hopeful seniors Autumn Kovach and Lana Tousey will be exceptions.
Burlington Central senior Maya Gusciora was sixth at the league tournament last fall; coach Kyle Nelson echoed Anderson.
"We are not returning four of our top five golfers from last year and have a very young roster," Nelson said.
The Rockets, the defending champion, have junior McKenna Berglind and freshman Natalia Gusciora to augment the latter's older sister.
Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South and Crystal Lake Central cannot be dismissed as the schools form a co-op.
C-G underclassmen Delaney Medlyn and Estrella Bernal should see plenty of action.
"They want to work hard and get better," co-op coach Kyle McCaughn said.
Dundee-Crown coach Emma Ageneau has a true elder statesman in senior Sonora Rodriquez; Magen Laas, Sophie Morawski and Taylor Fleury all figure to receive a baptism by fire as Charger underclassmen.
The five U-46 high schools - Bartlett, Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin and Streamwood - will compete as a single program in the Upstate Eight Conference under the tutelage of Storm PE teacher Tanner Gardon.
Kaneland will have a full-fledged program for a second straight year as junior Katharine Marshall led the Knights to an Interstate Eight Conference championship last fall.
For the three single-A Catholic schools, St. Edward senior Ivy Burnett is one to watch.
"We have five girls in the program, and Ivy is head and shoulders above all of them," St. Edward coach Paul Netzel said.
Rosary began its season in an auspicious manner on Thursday; the triumvirate of Morgan Witte, Brooke Stumm and Molly Reagan paced the Royals' admirable sixth-place finish at Plainfield North.
Michelle Beggs is the most decorated player in Aurora Central Catholic program history.