High school girls golf: Season preview capsules

Fox Valley Conference

Crystal Lake Central co-op

(with Cary-Grove and Crystal Lake South)

Coach: Kyle McCaughn (first season)

Top returners: Lauren Kalamaras, (C-G) sr.; Brittany Reid (C-G), sr.; Julie Newton (CLS), jr.; Mariah Krueger (CLS), sr.; Rylie Schurter (CLC), so.; Hannah Puma (CLC), jr.

Key newcomers: Kathryn Bevill (CLC), fr.; Emily Mueller (CLC), fr.

Worth noting: McCaughn, who was the coach of the Crystal Lake South girls basketball team from 2002 to 2014, takes over for Kathy Speaker, who retired after 11 seasons. Kalamaras and Reid were all-conference for the Tigers, who went undefeated in the FVC en route to their second straight conference title and winning a regional championship. The Tigers’ top two golfers last year, Larisa Luloff and Emily Jean, graduated.

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Laurie Herb (ninth season)

Top returners: Kylie Kost, sr.; Mikayla Frey, jr.; Leah Andersen, jr.

Key newcomers: Alyssa Trebatt, fr.; Hannah Gestrich, fr.; Mia Smiley, so.; Julia Czubacki, sr.

Worth noting: The Chargers lost two to graduation but return Kost, D-C’s best individual finisher at regionals last season. They also get back a strong pair of juniors in Frey and Andersen.

“We are looking forward to working with our captain, Kylie, and our returning players, Mikayla and Leah, who are all looking very strong,” Herb said. “We are also looking forward to the experience and talent out new players will bring to the team.”

Huntley

Coach: Ann Christiansen (seventh season)

Top returners: Nicole Gordus, jr.; Caroline Giorgi, jr.; Katie Weidner, so.; Gabriella Veljkovic, sr.; Lexi Lowitzki, sr.;, Molly Danca, jr.

Key newcomers: Natalia Veljkovic, fr.; Faith Bartter, so.

Worth noting: The Red Raiders finished fourth in the FVC but lost only one to graduation. Nicole Gordus won Player of the Year in this summer’s McHenry Country Junior Golf Association’s girls junior division, winning seven events. Giorgi and Weidner each advanced to sectionals last year.

“The girls are looking forward to the golf season starting,” Christiansen said. “It should be a fun and exciting season.”

Jacobs co-op (with Hampshire)

Coach: Megan Placko (second season)

Key returners: Sydney Goll, sr.; Julia Beaugureau, sr.; Emily Klein, sr.; Stephanie Fiorentino, jr.; Nicole Durben, jr.

Worth noting: Jacobs got stronger as the season progressed, taking fifth in the McHenry County Tournament and third in the FVC Tournament , with only the Crystal Lake Central and Grayslake co-ops finishing ahead of the Golden Eagles. Durben earned all-conference honors as a sophomore.

“We are looking forward to improving on last year’s successful season,” Placko said. “We have strong players returning and some new talent.”

McHenry

Coach: Sean Sterner (third season)

Top returners: Maddie Ogden, jr.; Hannah Ogden, jr.; Hannah Altman, sr.

Key newcomers: Joely Pugliese, so.

Worth noting: The Warriors are led by junior twin sisters Maddie and Hannah Ogden. Maddie was one of two all-conference golfers for McHenry last season, while Hannah was the team’s only individual to advance to sectionals.

“I was impressed with the girls’ work ethic during our summer practices,” Sterner said. “Maddie and Hannah [Ogden] have made a lot of progress since their freshman year, and I am looking forward to seeing all of the girls improve throughout the season.”

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Pattie Hie (14th season)

Key returners: Makenna Schmitz, sr.; Lindsey Warren, jr.; Megan Diskin, jr.

Top newcomers: Morgan Taylor, fr.; Sophia Pascente, fr.

Worth noting: Schmitz leads a 14-player Wolves team with a lot of new faces. Diskin is the only Prairie Ridge golfer in her third season on the team, while Schmitz is the top returner for the Wolves, whose top three scorers at last year’s conference tournament have graduated.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with this great group of girls,” Hie said. “I have seen improvement in our returnees, and I am excited about the potential in our six newcomers.”

Big Northern Conference

Harvard

Coach: Doug Sijersen (seventh season)

Top returners: Sarah Brookner, sr.; Elizabeth Wright, jr.

Worth noting: The Hornets lost two seniors and their top golfer, Kayleigh Isonhart, to graduation. She was Harvard’s only sectional qualifier.

“Our strengths are the experience and leadership of Sarah and Elizabeth,” Sijersen said. “We are critically short of numbers this year, which will be a major challenge.”

Johnsburg

Coach: Chris O’Niel (seventh season)

Top returners: Emma Johnson, sr.; Jenna Seaver, sr.; Natalie Flynn, jr.; Lauren Winter, so.; Julia Warden, so.

Worth noting: The Skyhawks get back almost their entire roster with five returners and five newcomers, losing only one to graduation. Johnsburg was fourth in the BNC. Johnson was named to the all-conference team and Seaver was honorable mention. The Skyhawks had a strong showing in the postseason, placing second in regionals.

“I am looking forward to a successful season and building off a second-place regional finish with most of our scorers returning,” O’Niel said. “There will be a great mix of experience and youth.”

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Brandon Creason (seventh season)

Top returners: Mackenzie Hahn, jr.

Key newcomers: Megan Klode, so.; Lauryn Davis, fr.; Emily Mrozek, so.; Haylie Regnier, jr.

Worth noting: The Rockets were the only local team to advance to state last year, finishing fourth overall. R-B ran the table in the Big Northern Conference East Division, winning every match and winning the BNC Tournament by 24 strokes. The Rockets lost 2014 Northwest Herald Girls Golfer of the Year Blake Betke, but Hahn is back after finishing 10th at the Class A state tournament.

“This will be a rebuilding year,” Creason said.

Marengo

Coach: Nate Wright (eighth season)

Top returners: Nina Reed, jr., Jessica Ruelius, jr., Alyssa Pfaff, jr., Paige Schulze, jr., Madyson Peters, sr., Natalie Reed, sr.

Key newcomer: Mackenzie Smith, fr.

Worth noting: Marengo finished eighth at the BNC Tournament with graduate Monica Millard earning honorable mention. The Indians return six varsity starters, including two seniors and four juniors, and lose only one.

“The ladies put in a lot of time over the summer,” Wright said. “They are hoping to play some of their best golf this year and see that hard work pay off.”

East Suburban Catholic Conference

Marian Central

Coach: Erin Carver (first season)

Top returners: Sophia Archos, jr.; Maria Mercurio, so.; Mia Belle McNeill, sr.; Hannah Gillespie, sr.

Key newcomers: Ally McNulty, so.; Lucca Kenyon, so.

Worth noting: Carver, who coached the boys team for 10 seasons, replaces Paula Watson. The Hurricanes finished sixth in their first season in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Archos, a Northwest Herald All-Area second-team selection last year, had a top-10 finish at the BNC Tournament and was one of two Hurricanes named all-conference.

“I look forward to working with this great group of girls,” Carver said. “They are very serious and hard working and will definitely work together as a team.”