Scouting DuPage County girls golf
Top area teams: Hinsdale Central, Wheaton Warrenville South, Naperville Central, St. Francis, York, Downers Grove South, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North, Downers Grove North.
Top players: Christy Callahan, jr., Elaine Krebs, sr., Benet; Colleen Duffy, jr., Kendall Farnsworth, sr., Colleen Mahoney, sr., Downers Grove North; Meredith Richard, sr., Downers Grove South; Jennifer Macko, jr., Fenton; Mia Pagliuca, sr., Abby Ciccone, jr., Glenbard East; Kristi Quinlivan, sr., Hannah Taylor, soph., Glenbard South; Meredith Berk, jr., Brooke Kochevar, jr., Claire Lupo, sr., Glenbard West; Erin Ahern, sr., Danielle Brown, soph., Rosanna Lederhausen, soph., Carlee Schwartz, jr., Hinsdale Central; Sarah DeGeeter, jr., Emma Ondik, sr., Megan Philipp, sr., Hannah Zeeb, jr., Naperville Central; Paige Wollensak, sr., Naperville North; Terese Long, soph., Chelsea Sumida, sr., Alisha Patel, sr., Neuqua Valley; Grace Pinns, sr., Kayla Stueland, sr., Megan Van Thournout, sr., St. Francis; Cherise Mangal, sr., Courtney Williams, soph., Meghan Turley, sr., Waubonsie Valley; Natalie Kinsey, sr., Wheaton North; Emily Johnson, jr., Katie Novosad, sr., Sarah Skurla, sr., Renee Solberg, soph., Wheaton Warrenville South; Linda Frederick, sr., Megan Scott, sr., York.
Scouting report: When Jenna Pearson and Erika Oldenkamp were paired together in the final round of the Illinois Open last month, the symbolism could not have been more striking for the local girls golf scene: not much has changed since they were fierce but friendly rivals at WW South and Hinsdale Central eight years ago. As the new season commenced this week, the schools' staying power in the sport is as unwavering as ever. Nine of the 12 players who competed for the schools' downstate experience last fall return to seek another shot at the Class AA state championship. "We want to get back downstate and better our sixth-place finish," Hinsdale Central coach Janelle Marconi said. "(The players) have a great foundation for the game." Lederhausen is the last of four siblings who have starred for the Red Devils. Skurla begins her senior season for WW South, which finished fifth last year, as the acknowledged leader of the Tigers in their bid for a third consecutive trip to the state tournament. "Wheaton Warrenville South is always strong," Naperville North coach Greta Williams said. "(Skurla) is a good anchor for that team." Art Tang, the WW South coach, has assembled a tight-knit crew whose ball-striking capabilities separate them from other programs. "The top-three returning girls (Skurla, Johnson, Solberg) coming back is pretty exciting," Tang said. "(Novosad) is going to be the wild card. The top three girls are really solid; it's going to take one of the three remaining girls (to produce the fourth score). I think Naperville Central is probably real strong."
WW South and Naperville Central are the unquestioned favorites in the DuPage Valley Conference. The Redhawks return five players, headed by Wong who had an exceptionally strong summer, from a sectional-qualifying squad last year. "(Wong) is playing smarter, playing more mature - that's what you want," said Naperville Central coach Jane Thompson. "I am solid one through six, and that's a good problem to have." The Redhawks captured the Naperville city tournament on Wednesday, but Thompson has no illusions about unseating WW South for league supremacy. "They are repeat performers," Thompson said of the Tigers.
Williams will rely heavily upon Wollensak and freshman Taylor Arenson at Naperville North. "We actually made cuts for the first time," Williams said of the unexpected large turnout. "We have some girls with a lot of potential, but they need time to develop." The Upstate Eight Conference will continue to be a one-division league for girls golf despite the inclusion of Batavia and Geneva. Waubonsie Valley senior Mangal is a candidate for a breakout season. The Warriors' top player eased to victory Wednesday at the Naperville County Club. "We should be competitive in the conference," said Waubonsie Valley coach John Farnum. John Keller expects his Neuqua Valley squad to become a work in progress. "I don't expect us to play our best golf at the beginning of the season," Keller said. "I think we have a chance over time to round into form to be competitive."
Benet has designs in the East Suburban Catholic Conference behind the likes of Krebs and Callahan. "I think we're going to be pretty good as soon as we show a little bit more consistency," said Benet coach Tony LaScala.
St. Francis' Kayla Stueland has made three consecutive finals appearances; the accomplishment is particularly noteworthy as an at-large qualifier. "She definitely wants to get back downstate again," St. Francis' Matt Walsh said of his top player. The Spartans' Van Thournout and Pinns are also back from a sectional-qualifying squad last fall. "We just want to be competitive in the invites," Walsh said.
Since golf was resuscitated at the four Glenbard high schools beginning two years ago, there is little doubt as to the main beneficiary. Glenbard West junior Kochevar is as accomplished a player as her twin brother, Kyle. The Hilltoppers' southpaw captured St. Ignatius' sectional title. "I think we're going to finish high in the conference," Glenbard West coach Sarah Jung said. "Each year (Kochevar) has really improved."
The dissolution of the Western Sun Conference did not ease the restrictions on Glenbard South. "It's still disappointing for us because we don't have a conference," coach Kevin Berner said. "R-B (Riverside-Brookfield) is the only school in our new conference (the Metro Suburban) that has a team. Still, I think, in fairness, that we are going to have a good season."
Fenton does not have a girls program, but the Macko sisters, Jennifer and Kim, are competing for the boys varsity and underclass teams. Fenton boys coach Pat Tantillo said the elder Macko, a junior, is a legitimate contender for a starting spot on the Bison varsity. "Boy-girl, senior-freshman, it doesn't matter to me," Tantillo said.
Glenbard East will have Pagliuca to anchor its fortunes this season. "We feel like we have taken another big step," Glenbard East coach Scott Miller said of the Rams' second season. "That's what we're looking for is to get better every year." For the first time in its history the DuPage Valley Conference will have a full compliment of schools playing; Glenbard North will play a full league schedule after a year of exhibitions last season. In the West Suburban, Downers North senior Mahoney is the last of three returning at-large state qualifiers. "Her goal is get back to state again," Downers North coach Jackie McCormick said of her top player. "She has an all-around good game; there is not a weakness anywhere."
Key dates: Aug. 28, Hersey Invitational, Sept. 4, Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational, Sept. 11, Waukegan Invitational, Sept. 18, Providence Invitational, Sept. 18, Rockford Guilford Invitational, Sept. 25, Naperville North Invitational, Week of Sept. 27, Conference championships, Oct. 2, Rosary Invitational.
Predicted state champions: Class A Effingham St. Anthony, Class AA Homewood-Flossmoor.