The girls golf season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Kane County Chronicle coverage area.
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Mark Schwartz
Top returning players: Nora Schwartz, sr.
Top new players: Amelia Vagnoni, fr.
Worth noting: Schwartz last year became the first Aurora Central Catholic girls golfer to win a regular season tournament (the Stillman Valley Invite, with a score of 79) and became ACC’s first regional champion with a score of 81. She went on to place fourth at sectionals and 29th at state, and was named all-conference in the GCAC.
The Chargers have just two golfers this year, not a full team, but the two girls are ready to make waves, scheduled to compete in six 18-hole tournaments and many triangular matches.
“Senior Nora Schwartz will contend for a top-5 finish in the GCAC; additionally, she seeks to become the first golfer in ACC history to go downstate three times,” coach Schwartz said. “She’s a staunch competitor—a three-sport athlete (golf, basketball, soccer) with great composure, power off the tee boxes, and a finely-tuned short game. Freshman Amelia Vagnoni’s strength is her calm approach and her swing tempo. She will adjust nicely to the high school game and should place well in regionals.”
Coach: Timothy Kauffmann
Top returning players: Avery Sheehan, sr.; Maddie Celing, sr.; Aubrey Reagan, sr.
Top new players: Reese Burns, jr.; Ellie Nichols, jr.
Worth noting: Batavia as a team took fourth at regionals last year and had one individual qualify for sectionals. That would be Sheehan, who this season is seeking to become a four-time sectional qualifier and punch her ticket to state. Celing was playing her best golf at the end of the last season and looks to be a solid No. 2. Reagan could be a key contributor while Burns and Nichols will be competing for the fourth score.
“We have lost three varsity members this year so a few new faces and scores will have to step up and contribute this year,” Kauffmann said. “With five returning players we have a a solid core that will look to compete in conference and all around.”
Coach: Kevin O’Brien
Top returning players: Peyton Theisen, sr.; Angie Dressen, so.
Top new players: Sadie Johnson, fr.; Gemma Steuart, fr.; Catelin Faith, fr.; Molly Tracey, fr.
Worth noting: O’Brien said he has a very young team but hopes to be competitive in the DuKane Conference.
“We have a talented group of freshmen and I am excited to see them compete this fall,” O’Brien said.
Coach: Lauren Hoss
Top returning players: Lexie Henry, jr.; Lyla Franchesini, jr.; Isabella Kurkjian, sr.
Top new players: Jillian Becker, fr.
Worth noting: Rosary last season had the program’s best postseason finish as a team since 2013. The Royals won a Class 1A regional title with a 385 at Marengo Ridge and took third at the sectional meet at Forest Hills Country Club to quality for state. Henry took second at regionals and 10th at sectionals, and made the cut for the second day at state, and leads five returning players. Franchesini dropped 3.5 strokes in her first varsity season and shot a season-low round at regionals. Kurkjian was Rosary’s Most Improved Player last year.
“As a small program, we are always grateful and proud of the dedication our players show every day of the season,” Hoss said. “Our returning varsity and JV players have demonstrated that balancing the hard work, the successes, the defeats, and the fun that competitive golf offers is possible.”
Coach: Jarod Gutesha
Top returning players: Emily Guerts, sr.; Avery Szuch, jr.; Ella Lester, sr.; Paula Ramirez, sr.
Top new players: Audrey Gruel, so.; Amelia Mangual, sr.; Allison Kuk, sr.
Worth noting: The Saints graduated 12 seniors from last year but Gutesha said there is a strong core of players looking to take over and contribute. Guerts is a four-year varsity player that Gutesha expects will be at the top of many leaderboards. Lester competed in several varsity invitationals. Gruel is expected contribute to the team score.
Coach: Steven Dodd
Top returning players: Kayla Beu, jr.; Abby Gizewicz, jr.; Raina Cho, so.; Finley Zanders, so.; Taylor Nelson, sr.
Top new players: Bella Mobile, fr.
Worth noting: The North Stars won a team regional title at Sycamore Country Club. Beu was regional medalist and Gizewicz took third. Beu took second at sectionals. Beu finished 12th at the state tournament and Gizewicz was 19th. Beu finished finished in the top 10 of all of her IJGA tournaments this summer with two first places finishes. Gizewicz had 13 top 10 finishes in IJGA tournaments this summer.
“I’m hoping for a stronger push to make state finals as a team this year after missing out last season,” Dodd said. “We had a big gap in scoring between Kayla/Abby and our third score. I know that the team now realises that they can’t just rely on our top two for us to advance as a team. I have a group of very motivated Juniors, some of whom were JV players last year who have been taking lessons, practicing and competing so much during the off season and will be pushing for varsity spots next week.”
St. Francis
Coach: Jim Knasel
Top returning players: Hannah Grivetti, sr.; Mari Joe Collie, jr.; Addison Morreale, sr.
Worth noting: The Spartans posted a 9-1 dual meet record last year and placed third at regionals to qualify for sectionals. Grivetti is a fourth-year varsity player and the team’s No. 1 golfer entering the season. Morreale is also a fourth-year player and Collie in her third season.
“We return three solid starters from last year’s team, which gives us a strong foundation heading into the season,” Knasel said “Our biggest challenge will be finding a fourth player who can consistently contribute in our lineup. We have several talented players moving up from last year’s JV team who will compete for that spot.”
Editor’s note: Burlington Central and Kaneland did not provide preview information.