DuPage County boys golf season preview
Top teams: Waubonsie Valley, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central, Hinsdale Central, Benet, Glenbard West, Wheaton Warrenville South, Downers Grove South, Wheaton Academy.
Top golfers: Ben Bauers, jr., Jimmy Jaskoske, jr., Addison Trail; Matt Giblin, sr., Benet; Tristan Burnham, soph., Alex Rateike, Downers Grove North; Mike Bobenicek, sr., Brett Balestri, sr., Matt Koreniek, sr., Downers Grove South; Oliver Dubon, soph., Fenton; Tyler Berry, sr., Russ Freeman, jr., Andrew Hilgers, jr., Glenbard North; Will Lear, sr., Adam Turner, jr., Josh Turner, sr., Glenbard South; Kyle Kochevar, jr., Glenbard West; David Whiney, soph., Jarrett Kreger, sr., Hinsdale Central; Jake Kindelin, sr., Chris Kopp, jr., Hinsdale South; Patrick Haggerty, sr., Immaculate Conception; Troy Butler, jr., Brian McKeown, sr., Lake Park; Eric Lederman, sr., Montini; John Doyle, sr., Peter Mandich, soph., Naperville Central; Nick Buege, sr., Raymond Knoll, soph., Spencer Tanaka, sr., Naperville North; Austin Reichart, sr., Jason Roach, soph., John Walsh, sr., Neuqua Valley; Chris Garcia, sr., Mike Melka, sr., Matt Mochel, sr., St. Francis; Mike Hennel, jr., Chris Ridolphi, jr., Timothy Christian; Dylan Despot, sr., Alex Koulos, jr., Alec Meyer, jr., Thomas O'Bryan, sr., Brian Salerno, sr., Josh Stefanski, sr., Waubonsie Valley; Robbie Windisch, sr., West Chicago; Lars Olson, jr., Elio Vento, jr., Wheaton Academy; Tee-K Kelly, jr., Jeremy Rhoades, sr., Jason Plepel, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Sam Otto, jr., Richie VanVoorhis, sr., Wheaton North; Jake Gunst, sr., Billy Hoff, jr., York.
Scouting report: Waubonsie Valley coach Dave Owles does not have same luxury he had a year ago. Waubonsie Valley, without a senior in its starting lineup, was the final qualifier out of the Class 3A West Aurora regional last fall. The Warriors parlayed their extended life at the St. Charles East sectional, stunning the field to earn their first state berth in six years. "This year is going to be different," Owles said. "There are going to be expectations." At the season-opening Bob Sterr Invitational on Monday at Naperbrook Golf Course, Waubonsie Valley served notice of its undeniable legitimacy. O'Bryan, the sectional champion, set a new school record with a sizzling 6-under-par 66; the Warriors posted a level-par 288 team performance to claim the team title. Owles said it was a matter of unfinished business. "We didn't play particularly well at state (last year)," Owles said. "They didn't do as well as they could have, so they're eager for another chance."
The Aurora and Naperville communities are once again loaded with top-notch talent. Knoll is one of the top sophomores in the state at Naperville North, and the Huskies edged Waubonsie Valley at the Naperville city tournament Wednesday. Of the 10 returning area players who competed at the state tournament last fall, Knoll was the lone competitor in the top 15. Tanaka, meanwhile, is the defending DuPage Valley Conference champion. Neuqua Valley is the defending Upstate Eight Conference champion, and the Wildcats' Walsh and Reichart should be prominently featured in the newly christened Valley division of the league. "If we go by tryouts, I'm really encouraged by what I have seen," Neuqua Valley coach Spike Grosshuesch said. "It's nice to know that you have kids who can shoot low." Metea Valley will ride its first crop of juniors this fall. Naperville Central has a sophomore keeper of its own in Mandich, and the Redhawks' Doyle is poised for a breakthrough. "With two returning sectional qualifiers (Mandich and Doyle) we should contend with the better programs in the area," Naperville Central coach Barry Baldwin said.
The two Naperville high schools and WW South are the unquestioned frontrunners in the DVC. WW South returns Tee-K Kelly, who qualified for state as an at-large competitor. The Tigers' Plepel and Rhoades are equally potent. "I don't like to look too far ahead, but we are on the same page (as the West Aurora regional championship team last year) to reach our potential," WW South coach Jimmie Selleck said. "At this point it is a singular focus. I think the energy on the team is good."
West Chicago senior Windisch is in midseason form after posting a 1-under-par 70 at Geneva on Thursday.
In fundamental respects Hinsdale Central in general and the West Suburban Silver in particular have been the area standard bearers for exceptional play in the last decade. But the talent-rich Red Devils have to rebuild five-sixths of their lineup due to graduation losses. Silver coaches have anointed Lyons Twp. as the favorite this fall, but the Red Devils' resilience cannot be discounted. "I think we can compete in the conference," Hinsdale Central coach Jess Kruger said. In a conference where talent abounds, Kochevar bears an unmistakable pedigree for success.
The son of a golf pro, the Glenbard West junior seeks a third consecutive trip to the state finals. "I'm sure (Kochevar) would like to be somewhere in the top 10 (at state) this year," Glenbard West coach Paul Hezlett said. "I've got some hopeful juniors (Dan Schlesser and Trevor Toulouse) who could blossom."
In the Gold Division perennial favorite Downers Grove South, which features all-state candidate Bobenicek, captured the prestigious Larkin tournament Wednesday. "Our depth as a bigger school carries over," Downers South coach Jay Baum said of the Mustangs' seven consecutive conference championships. Addison Trail junior Jaskoske is a legitimate challenger to Bobenicek for league honors. "(Jaskoske) is just real good around the greens," Addison Trail coach Tom Hubner said of his top player, who opened the season with an invitational win in Joliet. "His short game has really come around. I think we're going to be better (as a team) than we were last year."
Wheaton Academy shared the Class 2A championship last fall with powerhouse Normal U-High. The Warriors return Vento and Olson from their first state title by a male program. "We have players who have never had to step up before," Wheaton Academy coach Bob Broman said. "Last year we enjoyed being the favorite every time we teed it up. I always tell the boys that the golf course is our opponent." St. Francis, Fenton, Glenbard South and Montini are also eyeing berths in the middle division of the state playoffs. With the dissolution of the Western Sun, Glenbard South is the newest member of the Metro Suburban. "We are really excited about our new conference and would really like to win it," Glenbard South coach Scott Iliff said. In the smallest class Haggerty seeks a third straight trip to the finals for Immaculate Conception. "(Haggerty) will compete for medalist from everything from dual meets to the state tournament," IC coach Don Sujack said. "He had a very productive off-season."
Key dates: Sept. 4, Fenton Invitational; Sept. 11, Batavia Invitational, Sept. 15, Aurora City Tournament, Sept. 18, Dundee Crown Invitational, Sept. 25, Hinsdale Central Invitational, Week of Sept. 27, Conference championships Predicted state champions: Class 3A, Lake Forest; Class 2A, Normal U-High; Class 1A, St. Thomas More.