Girls golf: Barrington primed to make another championship run

The last time the IHSA held a state tournament for girls golf was in 2019 when Barrington took second place and Fillies sophomore Mara Janess won the Class 2A individual crown.

In a shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19, the Fillies won their fifth straight Mid-Suburban League crown along with a regional.

With more than a handful of returning players back for what should be a full season this fall, the Fillies look primed to make another big run in the state tournament as well as defending their MSL crown.

Janess, now a senior and the defending regional champion (2020), along with 2020 MSL champ Sophia Sulkar, also a senior, will again play key roles for coach Tim Martin, who took the Fillies' top spot following hall of fame coach Jodi Schoeck's retirement in 2018.

"With the six returning varsity players, we have a nice mix of accomplished seniors and younger players who are eager to grow their legacy as part of the Filly golf program," Martin said. "We are excited about this season and look to build on what we accomplished last year with this group."

Other key golfers for Martin will be junior Simran Singh (third place in the MSL last year), sophomore Leah Gaidos), sophomore Sydney Terada and sophomore Bridget Butler. "They've all been working extremely hard on their games in the off-season," Martin said. "And they're looking forward to taking their golf game to the next level this year.

The Fillies were second in the sectional to Stevenson, the same team which they were the runner-up to in the 2019 state finals by 1 stroke.

Prospect, which has been dominating in the MSL East for the past decade, graduated four starters but returns two from its East and regional championship team.

Senior Abby Knott begins her third season in the Knights' lineup. She was 15th in the MSL last year, earning her a second straight all-conference honor.

Junior Kate Riesing (also all-conference) made huge strides last year and was the Knights' lower scorer on multiple occasions. "She has been playing tournaments all summer and should be ready to go," said third-year coach Brad Rathe, who will also be the head boys basketball coach and boys tennis coach this school year.

Other returning seniors fighting for spots are Madi McCarthy, Brianna Ciarmello, Stella Radford, Abby Diblik, Kate Braverman, Riley Creen. Junior Taylor Knott and sophomore Emily Torok could also be key contributors.

Senior Sydney Ohr, coming off a season where she tied the nine-hole school record with an even par 36 at Rob Roy last year, headlines the roster for coach Dan Vesper's Hersey squad which also included key players junior Julia Chudzinski, sophomore Ava Johnsen and sophomore Raegan Nelson.

Among the top golfers for Schaumburg coach Michelle Hinijosa are seniors Emily Akers (two-year sectional qualifier), Araha Uday and Jess Wise along with junior Margad Basansuren and freshman Kirsten Lee.

Seniors Jojo Stepek, Julia Konrath and Gabriella Plascencia headline coach Peggy Ellsworth's Wheeling group. "We will see how they do in the first week and build on that," said Ellsworth, the Daily Herald's all-area softball captain in 1984. "I am looking forward to another improved season where we can be more competitive this year."

Rolling Meadows coach Kris Yoo, a two-time Illinois state champion (2008-09) for Conant, welcomes back Margaret Lennon, Lauren Shiele, Jessica Perns and Natalie Von Oesen.

Palatine coach Bill LePage's Pirates include senior Emily Panczyk, senior Coralyn Johnson, junior Karly Reed and junior Maja Popovic.

At Fremd, coach Jeremy Malinowski sends out juniors Sarah Sim (sectional qualifier) and Grace Arango along with freshmen prospects Keira Brazeau and Gloria Lee.

At Conant, key contributors for veteran coach Megan Hebert should be junior Sadie Zorrilla, senior Sarah Carr, senior Ananya Gupta and newcomer Lauren Russell, a junior.

Senior Megan Steffens and junior Libby Wirtz are key players for Elk Grove coach Kristen Gierman while Buffalo Grove coach Jeff Grybash welcomes back senior all-conference players Eva Ruterschmidt (sectional qualifier) and Caroline Branas. "We are a very senior-laden team," Grybash said. "The girls have really focused on improving all aspects of their games this summer and we're looking forward to an exciting year."

At St. Viator, coach Mick Drewes' defending ESCC champs return four-year starter and all-conference Claire Van Bergen along with fellow seniors Maris Welgat and Sarah Hunt. Juniors Ava Reisinger (second-highest scoring average on last year's team), Charlotte Adler, Lauren Hunt and Kara Tschanz will be counted on heavily. "We have a couple of freshmen (Maggie Carlson and Lily Zicarelli) who will impact us immediately," Drewes added. Other seniors to be counted on are McKenna Ritchey, Linnea Kobbs and Jeneva Mercado. "

Maine West coach John Hauenstein welcomes back senior Angelika Dalmaso and junior Sophia Cupuro. "We were heavily loaded with seniors last season, and will be short on experience, so our girls will be met with a quick learning curve," the coach said. "Each match will be used to continually assess our development through the season. I'm looking forward to seeing which newcomers will step up and contribute this season. It should be a ton of fun."