Scouting DuPage County girls golf
Top area teams: Hinsdale Central, Waubonsie Valley, St. Francis, Wheaton Warrenville South, Neuqua Valley, Naperville North.
Top area athletes: Alex Lederhausen (defending Class AA champion), Hinsdale Central, sr.; GiGi DiGrazia, Driscoll, jr.; Hannah Buck, Neuqua Valley, jr.; Molly O'Connor, WW South, jr.; Tory Blumenshine, Waubonsie Valley, sr.; Amanda Bruski, Naperville North, sr.; Sam Postillion, Hinsdale Central, so.; Rachel Janicek, Benet, sr.; Caitlyn Miklasz, Waubonsie Valley, senior; Katie Dorsch, St. Francis, sr.
Scouting report: Waubonsie Valley, the champion of the historically rich Upstate Eight Conference, returns with its collective eyes on the prize of a trip downstate. The Warriors fell just short last fall at the Neuqua Valley sectional.
"We are very pleased and impressed with how they're playing right now," Waubonsie Valley coach Laura Jones said. "They are actually more determined than last year."
Michelle Meifert and Emily Densmore are critical to the Warriors' hopes to repeat this fall. Neuqua Valley has Buck to anchor its fortunes, and Lake Park hopes to break into the upper echelon behind junior Melissa Rosenberg.
"Waubonsie is probably looked at as the favorite," Neuqua Valley coach John Keller said. In the DuPage Valley Conference, Wheaton Warrenville South stormed the league, but graduation losses make a Tigers repeat less than certain.
"It should be pretty even," WW South coach Art Tang said. "If I had to pick one, I don't know who to pick."
WW South has a pair of promising underclassmen in Amy Wood and Sarah Skurla, and senior Meg Illiff could be the Tigers' wild card. Bruski returns to lead Naperville North with a state appearance under her belt, and first-year coach Greta Williams has Marisa Miko and Elisa Palluau for additional firepower.
"I wouldn't count Naperville North out of anything," Naperville Central coach Jane Thompson said.
The veteran Redhawks mentor has Katie Stephan and Liz Kent to bolster her cause. "Graduation hurt us -- this is a classic rebuilding (scenario)," Thompson said.
Wheaton North and West Chicago also have designs on a top conference finish. Parity is the likely victor this fall on the links.
"When I look at the DVC, I don't see one team that is way ahead of anyone else," Williams said.
St. Francis could be the surprise team of the area; the Spartans opened the season in impressive fashion by capturing the 19-team Rock Falls Invitational on Thursday. The Spartans have a deep squad with Dorsch, Caitlyn McDonald, Morgan Walsh and twin sisters Emily and Maggie Kilrea. For added measure, freshman Kayla Stueland could put St. Francis over the top.
Reigning state runner-up Hinsdale Central is the overwhelming favorite in the West Suburban Conference, and Benet has to overcome the departure of two-time state qualifier Lauren Furiasse. The Redwings' other state veteran, senior Janicek, is slowed by a wrist injury.
Key dates: Providence Invitational at Broken Arrow in Lockport (Sept. 15); Naperville North Invitational at Naperbrook (Sept. 22); conference tournaments (Sept. 26, 27).
Player most likely to dethrone Lederhausen: Marian Catholic senior Sam Sloan, who won six summer tournaments and led the state ladies open after two rounds.
Predicted team state champions: Class 1A, Effingham St. Anthony; Class 2A, Homewood-Flossmoor.
-- Kevin McGavin