Neuqua feels Metea's pain
John Keller remembers the first season vividly.
"The first year was virtually all beginners," the Neuqua Valley girls golf coach said of the Wildcats' maiden season in the fall of 1997. "I was thinking, 'Boy, what have we got ourselves into?'"
Yet within four years Neuqua Valley was a powerhouse in the sport, finishing state runner-up in 2000.
"It was an incredible run, to have three straight top-four finishes in the state," Keller said.
A dozen years after the Wildcats' inaugural season, the program encountered its newest district rival, Metea Valley, Wednesday afternoon at Fox Bend in Oswego. The Wildcats' Chloe Nettleton, in her fourth year on varsity and entrusted with the demanding task of replacing four-time state qualifier Hannah Buck as the face of the program, was medalist for the second day in a row with a 47 to lead Neuqua Valley to a 201-225 victory in Upstate Eight Conference action. The Wildcats improved to 3-2 overall and in the league.
"I don't know what was going on with my swing," Nettleton said after a poor finish derailed a steady start over her first six holes. "I have been going through a lot of changes with my swing. I'm just trying to play the same (with Buck graduated and the top returnee from a sectional-qualifying team). There's no added pressure."
Nettleton was coming off a 40 Tuesday at Bartlett Hills. Neuqua Valley has been without the services of No. 2 player Theresa Long all season with a rotator cuff injury, but the Wildcats' Chelsea Sumida and Alisha Patel braved the daunting greens at Fox Bend with matching 50s. Nina Bulat and Savannah Baily had 54s to complete the Neuqua Valley scoring.
Despite not having any upperclassmen at its first-year school, Metea Valley (1-4, 0-4) is not shying away from playing a varsity schedule in selected sports. Freshman Anna Petersen paced the Mustangs' cause with a 54, followed by Amy Lundstram, Natalya Schleebs and LaTira Brown.
"I have been playing since the first or second grade," said Lundstram, the Mustangs' No. 1 player who ended her afternoon with a pair of smoked drives at the final two par 4s. "But I didn't start taking it seriously until the last year."
"That is our goal - to play in the state series (as a team)," said Metea Valley coach Mark Jager, who is carrying a four-player varsity roster. "Our No. 1 goal is to improve the school, to let people know we're out there and establish a solid core."
"It will be amazing how quickly (the Metea Valley) girls get better," Keller said. "It can happen if you get the right group."
- Kevin McGavin
Boys golf
Wheaton Academy 130, Marmion 148: UNLV-bound Blake Biddle of Wheaton Academy (5-0) shot a 6-under-par 29 at Pheasant Run, with two eagles and one bogey.