Who are the top IHSAA high school girls golf teams in the South Bend area this fall?

Posted by author August 7, 2024 Golf

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The shortest IHSAA season began Monday when girls golfers officially teed off. Just six weeks encompasses the regular season before sectionals start in mid-September, making the first week a busy one for teams before high school classes begin for most next week.

Before the action began, the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association preseason poll was released last week. Two South Bend area teams made appearances, with Northridge checking in at No. 11 and Penn tied for 12th with Homestead High School out of Fort Wayne.

What makes those two teams ranked, and who else from the area could stand out this fall? Here are the top teams and players to watch for in the South Bend girls golf scene in 2024.

2023 girls golf state finals: Delaney Wade wins all-state honors leading Penn to seventh place

Penn aiming for consecutive top 10 finishes at state

Penn is one of the more accomplished girls golf programs in Indiana, having won four state titles and placed in the top 10 at state on 16 occasions. Last year’s seventh place showing at state was its best finish in 11 years, though, and the Kingsmen are hoping to build off that performance this fall.

While replacing all-state golfer Delaney Wade at the top of the lineup will be tough, a pair of juniors are filling those shoes in Clare Tobin and Scarlett Biever. The two finished 31st and 38th, respectively, at state last year and will likely occupy the top two spots in the Kingsmen lineup throughout the next two seasons.

“I really enjoy watching them compete against each other for the number one spot,” first-year Penn head coach Brian Matthews said. “They just go back-and-forth. Any day of the week, they could be number one.”

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Another junior, Lilly Norris, returns from the state-advancing team as well. Also in the mix for varsity playing time are Alaina Demeyer, Rosemary Ryan, Nina Bauer and Kathy Lee.

“I like to take each one of these tournaments as a learning experience,” Matthews said. “I don’t mind if we play bad — I want to win the ones that count. So, we’re trying new swings, trying new things each tournament and not put as much pressure to win everything in front of you.”

Northridge returns experienced lineup from state appearance

Northridge made history last fall with its first team state showing, placing 12th out of 18 teams. With 80% of the lineup returning from that team, expectations are high for the Raiders to replicate that success.

“It’s exciting bringing back four girls from a state team and knowing they worked all winter and summer to get better,” Northridge coach Ken Brewster said. “The excitement is knowing we can definitely get there, and if you look at teams around the state … we’re right there again.”

Having only graduated Karisa Dyer means juniors Alex Reschly and Macy Riegsecker, along with senior sisters Lizzy and Addy Irving, are back for a Raiders program that won the Northern Lakes Conference title last year. Callie Miller has rounded out the lineup to start the 2024 season so far.

The top four has proven to be formidable this season already, winning the Homestead Invitational Monday and the Kingsmen Invitational Tuesday.

“Our big goals, when we sat down and discussed it: we want to win conference, sectional, regional and finish top-10 at state,” Brewster said. “Their dream goal — I always make them give me a dream goal — is to finish top five (at state). That’s their big dream, and they’re going to have to work at it. It’s one of those goals where, even if they seem out of reach, you have to set them so they continue to get better and work hard.”

Could South Bend Saint Joseph make some noise?

A team that has flashed early this season is Saint Joseph. The Huskies are led by junior Marley Dunham, who qualified for the state meet individually last year. With her experience comes an increased leadership role, according to first-year head coach Dan Mentock.

“She came in with a plan,” said Mentock of Dunham. “When I got hired, she came in exactly knowing what she wanted to do. She met with me days after I got hired and said, ‘This is what I want to do,’ from even picking the uniforms, getting the girls together for some team building activities. She’s definitely been a leader.”

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Those battling to join Dunham in the varsity rotation are her sister, Lucy, Reese Hull, Sydney Schmeltz, Bella Jeffrey and Maryella Wittig. They will likely be the top challengers to Penn in the Northern Indiana Conference and sectional meets later this season.

“I like the way we’ve started,” Mentock said. “Looking at it from last year, we were 24 strokes away from making the state tournament. I think we’ve got enough experience now that we can make up those strokes and get the team down to state.”