It’s good to have friends.
When Manteno boys golf coach CJ Boudreau’s idea of starting a girls team at the school came to fruition in 2024, he picked up a core of freshmen who this year, as sophomores, helped make history. The Panthers not only won the Illinois Central Eight title but a regional championship as well.
“The girls were all friends and it’s easier to come out with friends than to come out on your own,” Boudreau said. “Some might say, ‘I don’t want to go out because I don’t know anybody.’ That might be a block for some of the girls. This made it a little less stressful. It worked out where this recruited itself.”
The Panthers won the Class 1A Dwight Regional with a 405 — four shots ahead of Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley — Sept. 30 at Dwight Country Club despite not having a golfer finish in the top five.
Sophomore Genevieve Kvasnicka finished sixth and led the Panthers with a 93. Sophomore Ava Fundukian had a 101, freshman Olivia Bukowski had a 105, and senior Sophie Peterson and Camryn Haines each had a 106.
Boudreau appreciated the consistency shown by his players.
“We were level,” he said. “That makes a good team. When I won regional as the boys coach a couple of years ago, I had four guys who were consistently in the low 40s. I knew I was going to get a consistent score and I wasn’t scrambling. That’s really helpful.”
The Panthers were scheduled to compete in the Pontiac Sectional at Wolf Creek Golf Course on Oct. 6.
Individually at Dwight, Beecher’s Fiona Hagan-Storbeck (97) and Illinois Lutheran’s Julia Jacobucci (103) advanced to sectional play.
Serafin, Bobcats advance
Beecher’s Peyton Serafin was the individual medalist and the Beecher boys golf team advanced to sectional play at the Class 1A McNamara Regional on Oct. 1 at Kankakee Elks Country Club.
Serafin shot a 76 to lead the pack and Beecher had a 343, seven shots behind champion McNamara. Ben Anaclerio shot an 83, Charlie Nowak a 91 and Jacob Benck a 93 for the Bobcats, who were scheduled to advance Oct. 6 to the Timothy Christian Sectional at Oak Brook Golf Club.
Peotone’s Gavin Costanzo qualified individually with a 96.
At the Class 2A Joliet Catholic Regional at Inwood Golf Course, Manteno’s Landon Bukowski (79) and Ty Carlile (87) qualified for the De La Salle Sectional at the White Pines Golf Club West Course.
In Class 3A, Crete-Monee made a long trip to the Pekin Regional and junior Terrence Blevins Jr. advanced with a 80 at Lick Creek Golf Course. He will participate in the Lockport Sectional at Wedgewood in Plainfield.
Elias honored
Crete-Monee graduate Terry Elias Jr., a senior linebacker at St. Xavier, was named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29 for his play in a 31-10 victory over Lawrence Tech on Sept. 27.
Elias had 13 tackles including three for losses, a sack and a forced fumble. It’s the third time in his career he earned the award.