Girls golf: Wauconda takes swing at girls golf
Former Wauconda golfer Annette Yandall qualified for the IHSA girls sectional three times (2012-14), but she didn't have any female teammates.
Rather, she played in boys matches during the regular season.
Now, Wauconda finally has its girls golf team.
Juniors Maddie Carver and Caitlin Hriljac and freshmen Cheyenne Jacobs, Liv Romer and Kenna Wisniewski comprise the Bulldogs' 2019 roster.
Wauconda will play its home matches at Prairie Isle Golf Club and hosts Grant on Friday.
"As a young team and new program this year, it will be exciting to see where the girls set the bar for the future," said coach Michael Buhr, who's also Wauconda's head wrestling coach. "We do expect to be in the mix for the NLCC championship and are excited to have several girls competing in regionals for the first-time ever."
Warren looks to reload: Warren qualified for a Class AA sectional last fall but lost four players, including Chloe Morrissey. Morrissey, a senior and sectional qualifier since her freshman year, is not playing high school golf this fall.
Junior Sydney Bornhorst and sophomore Mia Bornhorst teed it up for the Blue Devils in the regional at Shepherd's Crook last year and lead a group that also returns senior Diya Iyer and sophomore Kylee Wiltse. Warren has added freshmen Alaina Goeden and Mia Cosnotti. Juniors Maddy Fezatte and Megan Flesher, freshmen Ally Badgley, Gracie Haupt and Josie Leibfried, and junior Antrita Manduva also look to crack the varsity lineup.
"We have a strong group of returning players along with some new talent that will make this season exciting," coach Leigh Ann Mondrawickas-Boncher said. "Many of the girls have worked hard in the off-season in an effort to bring their game to the next level for the high school season. There is a lot of positive energy and the team is looking forward to a fun and competitive season."
Pedersen back for Antioch: Senior Emily Pedersen missed the golf season with an ACL injury last fall. She's back this season to help lead a young squad that graduated Samantha Brown (two-time sectional qualifier) and Karley Rogalski.
Pedersen teed it up on varsity as a freshman and sophomore.
"It hurt to lose the two seniors that we did last year," Sequoits coach Bill Hamill said. "Not just for their scores but their leadership. However, it is nice to have Emily Pedersen back this year. She will fill the leadership role this year as the team captain and keeping all girls on track."
Madi Maish leads a junior group that also includes Ally Olsen, Kaleigh Ulm and Natalie Rogalski. Antioch's roster also includes sophomores Emily Roberts and Ashley Lubkeman, and freshmen Lily Gange, Sydney Parker and Julia Kraus.
"Rogalski, Gange, Parker and Kraus are all newcomers that come with some previous golf skills," Hamill said. "Madi Maish has really worked on her game from last year and has spent much time on the range and course."
Maish was the medalist in Antioch's recent match against Lakes with a 45, as the Sequoits shot a 196 to win by a stroke.
"The sophomores have come a long way with their game as well as understanding how to play a course and not just hit," Hamill said. "The freshmen are a nice addition to the program and have skills that will transition into nice scores and play."
Grant still young: Grant returns a majority of its top players from last year, while also gaining some exciting newcomers, coach A.J. Havenga said.
Mia McDermed and Jordin Stribling are the senior veterans on a team that also returns juniors Linda Bottalico and Kendall Goldberg, and sophomores Beya Flores, Maddy Gammel and Audrey Mazur.
The Bulldogs have added seniors Emme Brockman and Lauren Lee, sophomore McCalyn Flores, and freshmen Kelsey Glunz and Abbi Themanson.
"With the majority of our team in either their first or second year playing golf, we are looking to build on the improvements we made last year," Havenga said. "We are hopeful that another year of playing experience will continue to produce lower scores and more confidence on the course."