St. Viator eyes state repeat
Arlington Heights is quickly staking claim to a new name - at least as far as boys golf is concerned.
Titletown.
Defending Class 3A state champion St. Viator shot 286 to win its third consecutive sectional championship Monday at Glenview Park Golf Club, while Hersey senior Chris James claimed the invidual medalist crown by firing a 2-under par 68 at the 6,133-yard, par-70 course.
"People have been hyping us and looking at us all year," said Viator junior Danny Stringfellow, who led the Lions with a 69 at the Glenbrook South-hosted sectional.
"Our goal from the beginning of the season was to make it back to the state tournament, and give ourselves a chance (at another championship.)"
New Trier (290) finished second to advance to this weekend's state meet at the "Den" at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington.
St. Viator's Matt Vitale (70), Joey Carlson (73) and Brad Klune (74) all contributed, as the Lions look to make history in their attempt to win back-to-back state titles.
"It's a good feeling to make it back downstate," said Vitale, who started slowly but came on strong midseason."
"Early in the season when we were struggling, the kids kept saying 'don't worry, coach, our focus is on the state tournament,' " said Viator coach Jack Halpin.
"I kind of shrugged my shoulders and said 'okay', but they did it. They came through."
Hersey carded a school-record 296, but the Huskies finished on the outside looking in by 6 shots in the battle for the two state team berths.
"Since the IHSA reduced the number of sectional state qualifiers (from three teams to two), it means a lot of deserving kids will miss out on the state tournament experience," said Hersey coach Dan Caporusso.
"If you look at the quality of this field, you could say this was actually 'the' state championship, so you could say we finished third in state."
Huskies senior Johannes Seemann (72) qualified along with James as individuals.
According to James, Caporusso's advice midway through James' round gave him the edge he needed.
"Coach told me to bear down, that it was all mental," James said. "He told me to think about my shots, and not my score."
"He's a great story," said Seemann of James.
"He had some good practice rounds, and today he put it all together."
Seemann will making his second journey to the state meet, having qualified two years ago as a sophomore. He said that that fellow seniors John McIlree and Jimmy Morrow will make the trip to Bloomington despite not advancing as competitors.
"We want to experience it together," Seemann said.
Leyden's Konrad Deka left no doubt that he would be a force to be reckoned with at the state meet.
The senior excelled with an emphatic 1-under 69 to match Stringfellow for the day's second-best score, qualifying for a state berth after missing by 1 shot as a sophomore and junior.
"I'm proud, relieved," Deka said.
"I was striking the ball well today, and hitting greens in regulation. Then some putts went in, and some didn't."
Mid-Suburban League tournament medalist Sean Jones of Fremd will make his second trip to Bloomington after carding a 71 at Glenview. Maine South's David Atas (73) notched the final state qualifying score.