Boys golf: MSL race looks to be a dogfight again
How will the Mid-Suburban League boys golf race shake out, you ask?
Probably much like the 2020 COVID-19-adjusted slate that saw quite the competition at the top of the loop with Barrington, Hersey and Prospect each going 10-1 in duals with Fremd and Conant rounding out the top five.
However, Conant won the MSL tournament, throwing a wrench into the final standings. Barrington, Hersey and Prospect mirrored their regular-season finish in the final tally, but Conant shared third with Prospect and Fremd dipped a place to fifth.
Defending champion Barrington returns seniors Brock Dickson, Dylan Dunne and Owen Naugthen, along with sophomore Walker Grelle (a third-generation BHS golfer). All four played in the sectional last season. If there had been a state meet, the Broncos would have qualified with a second-place sectional showing. "All four are expected to play a key role this year," Barrington coach Bryan Tucker said. "Last year, all of them medaled at various matches. They will all challenge each other every day for the No. 1 spot." Seniors Josh Wickstrom and Tyler Hoffman also will help. Naugthen and Dunne finished seventh and eighth respectively at the MSL tournament.
Hersey had equal success, sharing the MSL East with Prospect, winning a regional title and finishing third at the sectional, which would have punched a state ticket. The Huskies, who graduated three golfers now playing sports in college, return sophomore Chad Tramba and junior Jake Cohen, who both were active on the summer circuit and both won events.
"I expect us to be very competitive, and as our skills and course management knowledge expand during the regular season, we will be in contention for team advancement during the state series," Huskies coach Dan Caporusso said.
Prospect will be led by varsity-tested sophomores Luke Kruger (37.5 for 9 last year) and Patrick Raupp (39.5). "Luke has had a tremendous summer shooting under-par multiple times and competed very well in competitive tournaments," Prospect coach James Hamann said. "Patrick works extremely hard on his game and has had multiple strong finishes in tournaments this summer. We have great senior leadership and a team with a lot of depth. We expect to compete with the best teams in the area."
Conant shot 298 to win the program's first MSL tournament title. Back are sophomore Nicolas Simon (MSL tournament runner-up), senior Armen Galovich and all-conference junior Aashir Patel.
Fremd will be led by junior Joey Towns (38.4 for 9 a year ago), while Buffalo Grove returns Loyola-Chicago-bound Dori Lee (12th in the state in 2019; 3-time all-MSL) and all-MSL pick Ryan Beerheide. Lee tied for second at the MSL tournament and is the highest-returning place-finisher in the MSL MVP race from 2020. "Dori and Ryan are two of the best players who have ever played at Buffalo Grove High School," Bison coach Peter Duffer said. Three-sport sophomore Connor Woodin, junior Tyler Imhof, Nathan Barbakoff, Reilly Allen, Matt Allaire and Alex Gordon also will aid the Bison's efforts.
Schaumburg's key golfers include seniors Vassilios Davis, Matt Holbeck, Elliott Yoon and Aiden Wide, along with sophomore Gavin Hinkle. Juniors Frank Lesner and Tyler Wengronowitz lead Rolling Meadows, while senior Cooper Moellenkamp, juniors Nick Lamberg and Peter Pantazis and sophomore Charlie Carlson lead the way for Elk Grove and coach Brian Bucciarelli. Josh Lim is Hoffman Estates' top golfer, while Alex Harcarik will a key scorecard contributor with Koa Cruz, Adam Collier and Matt Russell looking to contribute as well.
In the East Suburban Catholic, St. Viator coach Jack Halpin was succinct in his outlook for the Lions. "This year's team should compete on the state level," he said. "Viators is back."
Seniors Grayson Hill and Charlie Bullock lead the way, while junior Grayson Dossett and sophomore David Koziol also are returning starters. Juniors Matt Voris, Ryder Schuch and CJ Rascher, along with freshmen Ryan Kallaway and Danny Vrabik are Viator key newcomers.
Maine West will be led by the likes of juniors Charlie Parcell and Anthony Nabor, while Leyden welcomes freshman Antonio Petrucci to the varsity, plus returns seniors Johnny Blomquist and Giancarlo Passanante, as well as sophomore Santiago Ruiz.