High School Sports Notes
October 14, 2012 6:30PM
Updated: November 16, 2012 6:09AM
GIRLS GOLF
The second round weather cancelation of the Girls AA State Golf Finals kept Lincoln-Way East from mounting a Saturday comeback, but for East and coach Mary McGivern, the final round nix wouldn’t rain on the parade of a fantastic season.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better season,” McGivern said. “We had six seniors who had wonderful careers. We have great talent coming back, so we’re looking forward to the future, but we’re going to look back and relish the good memories from this season.”
The four graduating seniors that competed at state were Anna Palermini, Hannah Petraitis, Katie Reno and Emily Rush.
East finished 12th overall with a 359 at Hickory Point in Decatur. Normally a two-round tournament, Friday’s scores would stand after uncompromising weather on Saturday.
“We had a school and community that was so proud of us, and we just wanted to represent them well and do the best we can and have fun.”
“Our best golf was still out there to be had,” McGivern said.
Petraitis and Reno became the first girls in program history to compete on two teams to make the state finals. The pair played on the 2009 team that finished ninth in state.
Logan Malloy
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Plainfield South won the team title and Minooka’s Joey Santillo was the individual champion in the Southwest Prairie Conference meet Saturday at Plainfield Central.
Santillo covered the Wildcats’ course in 15 minutes, 8.82 seconds while Plainfield South’s Dan Lathrop was runner-up (15:17.64) to lead the first-place Cougars.
Plainfield South claimed the title with five runners among the top 20: Lathrop (2nd), Jake Fitzgerald (6th), Misael Tobias (10th), Cody Dyer (12th) and Frank Pasqua (18th).
Progress made this season by Joliet West and Joliet Central indicates better days should be ahead for both programs. “Our goal to start the season was to get five guys under 17 minutes,’’ West coach Brian Newman said. “It turns out we’re up to nine guys now. They’ve really come together.’’ Hugo Hernandez (12th), Dan Treasure (19th), Paul Koerner (26th), Theo Prieboy (34th) and Sean Youell (38th) were the scorers for fifth-place West at Saturday’s SouthWest Suburban Blue meet. Joliet Central was seventh led by Salvador Lazaro (22nd), Caleb Hannah (27th), Caine Cimino (33rd), Jose Aguilera (35th) and Vince Moreno (46th). Lazaro and Hannah were newcomers to the team this year.“We’re much better than we anticipated coming into the season,’’ Central coach Doug Cherry said. “I like our depth throughout all the levels.’’
Tim Tierney
GIRLS SWIMMING
For the past three seasons, Plainfield co-op has qualified one swimmer each year for the state meet.
With sectionals less than a month away, coach George Sam’s squad hopes one is not enough.
“The girls are realizing we’re not just there to compete,” Sam said. “They know we can win some events. We’ve sent someone to state three years in a row, but this year we’re looking for more than one individual and maybe relays.”
Junior Caroline Kelly qualified last season for state in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing 41st. Also swimming well for Plainfield this season has been McKenna Avery, Carly Kramer and Emily Thomas.
Avery has the potential for a breakout postseason after coming up just short of qualifying last fall in the 50-yard freestyle.
“McKenna doesn’t want that to happen again,” Sam said.
Plainfield co-op will swim at the Independent Conference meet on Oct. 27 and the Metea Valley Sectional on Nov. 10.
“Our times have leveled off a bit, but I’m happy with where we’re at,” Sam said. “We’re at that tipping point. We want to see the girls in tight races and win it.”
Tim O’Brien
GIRLS TENNIS
As expected, the final matches at the Joliet West sectional were as close as they were dramatic.
Three of the four championship and third-place matches went three sets and the other went to a tiebreaker in the second set.
When the smoke cleared, Joliet Catholic senior Harley Hutchison captured the sectional title with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Joliet senior Caitlyn Shea. Lockport sophomore Carolyn Plecki beat Providence freshman Hannah Davis 6-7, (4-7), 6-2, 6-1 in the third-place match in the singles bracket. Lockport senior Kelsey Forkin and sophomore Kat Samardzija beat twins Maggie and Kelly Ruane of Providence 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the doubles final.
Lincoln-Way Central’s doubles team of senior Grace Hilgenbrink and junior Sarah Florek battled through three, three-set matches, a tough field, weather and injuries to take fourth place and advance to the state meet at the Lincoln-Way East sectional.
“Sarah hurt her back in one of early-morning matches, but was able to fight through it,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Sue Schneider said. “With a couple of days of rest, we are hopeful that Sarah will come back strong and ready to play even better.”
Dennis Nelson
