As the regular season nears its conclusion, New Trier golf has high expectations for October.

After finishing second at the IHSA State Tournament last season, the Boys Golf team is looking to build on their past success.

“We’ve had a very successful season,” said head coach Pete Drevline. “Of the 18 events we have had, we’ve won 16, so I’m very pleased with the overall season.”
What makes the Trevians so dangerous is their depth. Led by senior captains Jack Junge, Will Connelly, and Will Seaman, this is a cohesive unit with eight guys who could be number one golfers on any team.

The rest of the team is rounded out by juniors Andrew Huber, Nick Iserloth, Ethan Schmitt, and Matt Murlick, as well as sophomore Justin Choi.

Junge used an interesting, yet telling metaphor, to describe the roster.

“We are deeper than the bottom of the ocean at its deepest point,” he said.

Junge, Connelly, and Iserloth, who were three of the Trevs’ top four golfers at the State Tournament last season, provide experience for this deep squad.
“Having experience from last year to draw back on is huge,” said Connelly. “About half of our team didn’t play in states last year so relaying tips to them is a big advantage.”

“We’ve got the core back from last year,” Drevline added. “These guys have been very focused and they have one common goal, to get better each and every week and really working towards playing their best golf in October.”

Connelly is confident in his team’s chances to improve from their second place finish last year.

“Although most teams have a couple great players, our team, from top to bottom, is capable of playing great golf,” he concluded.

The girls golf team wrapped up a similarly dominant season on Oct. 1, clinching the Central Suburban League conference championship at Sunset Valley.

“We went 8-0 in our conference and we won several tournaments. I think we’re playing well at the right time of the year,” said head coach Scott Fricke.

New Trier is led by junior Louise McCulloch, the individual CSL conference champion, and seniors Lauren Holly, Becca Lindblad, and Lois Suh. Additionally, senior Lauren Sigurdson, juniors Haley Hultquist and Rayna Kwo, and freshman Rachel Rhee have all been crucial to the team’s nearly flawless season.
“This season, all the practice from the summer and the work we have done as a team has really helped me succeed,” said McCulloch.

A fourth place finish at State last season came as a bit of a disappointment after winning state in 2012. Holly, Lindblad, and Suh were all members of that team two years ago, and they know what it will take to bring another state championship to New Trier.

“Since we’ve been there before we know we can do it again, especially since we’ve kept working and improving since 2012 and 2013,” said Holly. “We are all really motivated and ready to go.”

The experience from last year’s run will also be very beneficial. This team has plenty of knowledge of the state championship course, which is played at Hickory Point Golf Club.

“As a team we all really know what to expect and are hopeful we’ll make it down again,” added McCulloch. “Then we’ll just try our best and have fun with it.”
Fricke, however, is taking things one step at a time.

“You just have to get to the state tournament,” he said. “We’re in a very difficult regional and sectional so we have to advance out of those, but once you get to state you have to play well; it’s about knowing the course and having confidence in yourself and your teammates.”
Holly embodies the calm and confident nature of this team.

“We’ve practiced hard and we have stayed focused,” she concluded. “We have a lot of confidence and we support each other as a team.”