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Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Mark Schwartz
Last season: Tied for fifth in Eastland Sectional
Top returners: Caroline Kuttner, sr.; Natalia Salazar, sr.; Nora Schwartz so.
Worth noting: The Chargers’ lineup once again may be small, but they’re hoping the experience throughout the lineup will prove they can compete with the best. Salazar is the only returner with state experience, qualifying for the Class 1A state tournament with an 87, but failing to make it to the second day. If Salazar makes it again, she’ll be the first Charger to qualify for multiple state tournaments. Kuttner and Schwartz also will be looking to make the trip downstate after being within seven strokes of the final qualifying spot. Newcomer Sarah Beggs looks to be a reliable fourth golfer.
“The Lady Charger program in recent years has had very small rosters yet the players have posted some impressive scores and some surprisingly good tournament finishes,” Mark Schwartz said. “The Lady Chargers’ team goals include qualifying for the sectionals and finishing top five in conference.”
Batavia
Coach: Tim Kauffmann
Last season: Tied for seventh in Burlington Central Sectional
Top returners: Avery Sheehan, so.; Maddie Celing, so.; Rachel Carlson, so.; Aubrey Reagan, so.
Worth noting: The Bulldogs head into the season with a young roster. Five of their top six players from last season graduated. Sheehan burst onto the scene in her freshman season, finishing second in the DuKane Conference tournament. She was seven strokes off the final qualifying spot in the sectional.
“We are a very young team and will be developing throughout the year,” Kauffman said. “Our top four varsity members will look to compete in conference and hopefully will make some noise on the season.”
Burlington Central
Coach: Sean Meyer
Last season: Tied for ninth in Sycamore Regional
Top returners: Riya Gangavarapu, jr.; Gisele Shahzada, jr.
Worth noting: Three of the Rockets’ top five return from last season. Sectional qualifier Ariana Riep graduated and is a big loss for Central, but Meyer hopes that Gangavarapu, Shahzada and Lexi Gibson can step up and fill the holes.
“We have a young group with girls returning from last year that can put together some good scores to pull off some wins this year,” Meyer said. “We’ve really been stressing to the girls to take it hole by hole and shot by shot to keep themselves collected and sharp throughout the season.”
Geneva
Coach: Kevin O’Brien
Last season: Eighth in Sycamore Regional
Top returners: Joanna Brylka, jr.; Paige Flanigan, jr.; Gianna Grubb, jr.
Worth noting: After having a team that consisted of only underclassmen last season, the Vikings hope to take a big step with all of their starters returning. Brylka, Flanigan, Grubb and Francie Myszkowski will provide upperclassmen support. Sophomores Peyton Theisen and Olivia Schreiber will look to build on their freshman campaigns.
“We hope to be competitive in the DuKane Conference race this season,” O’Brien said.
Kaneland
Coach: Bryan Kunstman
Last season: Sixth in Sycamore Regional
Top returners: Kailey Kunstman, jr.; Addison Runestad, jr.; Brighton Davoust, jr.; Addison Braverman, so.
Worth noting: While not brimming with experience compared with some of the other rosters, the Knights will be a team to watch as the season progresses. Kailey Kunstman earned all-conference honors and finished four shots shy off an appearance at sectionals. Her sister Emma is a freshman with experience who hope to fill the void left behind by Braelyn Davoust, who graduated. Bryan Kunstman hopes Braverman and Runestead will blossom.
“We are approaching this team with a two-year time horizon to get the girls where they need to be to play competitive golf,” Bryan Kunstman said. “The longer-term goal is to build the program back to where we will be able to field a varsity and JV team and these girls will be the vanguard toward that end. Ultimately we seek to win state championships, so stay tuned.”
Rosary
Coach: Nick Bonifas
Last season: Sixth in Providence Catholic Regional
Top returners: Livi Brennan, sr.; May Thomas, sr.; Levi Eddy, jr.;
Worth noting: The Royals have shown sparks of brilliance over the past couple of years, but this may be the year it all comes together. Brennan and Thomas were Rosary’s top two in average scores. Brennan finished as the top individual qualifier at regionals with a 95. While the loss of Vivianna Ruby is big, Bonifas knows Eddy can step up.
“We have a great group of kids that can compete with larger schools in the area,” Bonifas said. “The coaches are excited to see our top players strive to make sectionals and beyond. We have many developing players who promise to keep the program strong in the future.”
St. Charles East
Coach: Jarod Gutesha
Last season: Sixth in Glenbard North Regional
Top returners: Manuela Ramirez, sr.; Charlotte Tassone, jr.; Olivia Vosburgh, jr.; Emma Jones, sr.; Ivana Virden, sr.; Avery Andelman, jr.
Worth noting: The Saints return all six of their top players from last year. Ramirez finished third at regionals last season with a 76, placing behind eventual Class 2A runner-up Jenna Shilts of Benet Academy and Wheaton North’s Bridget Craig, who was 10th. While Ramirez didn’t make it out of sectionals, she’ll look to lead a now all-upperclassmen team that is filled with experience.
“We will be a competitive team this season,” Gutesha said. “We should compete for the DuKane Conference title and then be ready for postseason play.”
St. Charles North
Coach: Steven Dodd
Last season: 14th in Burlington Central Sectional
Top returners: Rylee Huddleston, sr.; Hanna Kizman, sr.; Izzy Crosse, sr.
Worth noting: After an offseason that saw the North Stars play in more than 60 tournaments since May, Dodd said he could not be more excited for what’s in store for his team. Huddleston and Kizman are coming off campaigns in which they qualified for the sectional. They ended as the top two finishers for the North Stars at the Burlington Central Sectional. Key additions include freshmen Abby Gizewicz and Kayla Beu, who consistently have been putting up scores in the 70s during the offseason.
“With a roster of 33 players, 10 incoming freshmen and seven returning seniors and the improvements that players have worked so hard to achieve, we’re ready for an exciting season,” Dodd said.
St. Francis
Coach: Jim Knasel
Last season: Fifth in Burlington Central Sectional
Top returners: Molly Brennan, sr.; Brigid Brennan, jr.; Elizabeth Hornicak, jr.; Cali Simpson, so.; Hannah Grivetti, so.; Addison Morreale, so.
Worth noting: While the Spartans lost their top two players from last season, including state qualifier Emma Hollarbush, they return a lot of experience to the roster. The Brennan sisters, Horniack and Simpson were part of the team that was only 20 shots off qualifying for state. Knasel said to keep an eye out for freshman Mary Jo Collie.
“With a solid core of returning experience, we’re optimistic that the girls have improved their skills over the summer and will continue to progress as the season unfolds,” Knasel said.