Top 5 Storylines to Keep an Eye on in the NewsTribune Area – Shaw Local

With the high school golf season in full swing, there are several exciting storylines to keep an eye on in the NewsTribune area this fall. From ending a girls state tournament drought to watching returning state qualifiers and potential contenders for Player of the Year awards, there is plenty of anticipation and excitement surrounding the upcoming season.

One of the most intriguing storylines to watch is whether the area’s girls state tournament drought will come to an end this year. It has been a decade since a girls golfer from the NewsTribune area qualified for the IHSA state tournament, with Princeton’s Arraia Hicks being the last to make the trip to Decatur. However, there are strong contenders this year who could break this dry spell. La Salle-Peru senior Allie Thome, the 2023 NewsTribune Girls Golfer of the Year, had a successful summer, winning the girls division in the Illinois Valley High School Summer League. Fieldcrest senior Jessica Schultz also showed promise last season, finishing just three strokes shy of advancing to state.

Another storyline to follow is the journey of Wyatt Novotny from Bureau Valley and Landen Plym from Hall, both of whom have played in the IHSA Class 1A state tournament in the past. Novotny, who was the area’s lone state qualifier last year, made the cut for Day 2 and placed 64th. Plym, a two-time NewsTribune Boys Golfer of the Year, narrowly missed the state cut last fall but did advance to state as a sophomore. Both players will be looking to make a return trip to the state tournament this season.

In addition to Novotny and Plym, there are several other boys golfers in the area who were on the cusp of qualifying for state last season. Henry-Senachwine junior Carson Rowe missed a state berth by just one stroke, while Novotny’s teammates, seniors Landen Birdsley and Colin Stabler, were also close to making the cut. In Class 2A, La Salle-Peru and Mendota have returning sectional qualifiers in Michael Milota, Riley Cetwinski, Dane Doyle, and Brody Hartt, respectively.

As for team performances, the Bureau Valley boys squad was the only area team to advance to a sectional as a team last fall. With their entire starting lineup back, led by Novotny, the Storm will be aiming to repeat this feat. Fieldcrest, Hall, and Henry-Senachwine were all close to advancing last season and will be looking to make a strong push this year. On the girls side, La Salle-Peru and Fieldcrest are poised for a potential run to sectionals with strong returning players and promising newcomers.

Lastly, the battle for NewsTribune Players of the Year awards will be one to watch this season. In the boys category, Hall’s Landen Plym and Bureau Valley’s Novotny are front-runners, with Henry-Senachwine’s Carson Rowe also in contention. On the girls side, L-P’s Thome, Fieldcrest’s Schultz, and Princeton’s Addie Carr are expected to be strong contenders for the top honors.

Overall, the high school golf season in the NewsTribune area promises to be an exciting and competitive one, with plenty of talent and potential for memorable performances. Keep an eye on these five storylines as the season unfolds, and be sure to follow along as the players and teams strive for success on the course.