Lucia Vazzana
Riverside Brookfield High School seniors Lucia Vazzana and Tali Schultz would enjoy reaching their first Class 2A girls golf state meets in their fourth varsity season. Like a golf round, there are several important steps along the way.
“As a senior, I am anticipating a great season, but I am also aware that it’s the last one and to not put too much pressure on it,” Vazzana said. “I think it’s important to realize that it’s OK to have fun while also staying serious.”
The seniors and sophomore Harper Jesswein were key components in last year’s 2024 success that included winning the one-division Upstate Eight Conference title in the Bulldogs’ debut for their first conference title ever. Sophomore Fiona Lombardi also was part of the lineup at the UEC Meet, where the Bulldogs’ 362 won by two strokes. The Bulldogs then were fifth at the Hinsdale Central Regional (398). They continue to seek a top-three regional finish to advance to sectionals as a team for the first time in program history.
“The goal is to hopefully continue to repeat as conference champs, hopefully a little deeper run at the state level,” RBHS coach Doug Schultz said. “Team sectionals would be amazing. I feel two, three can get downstate [individually] if they have a good finish.”
There are numerous options to round out the lineup, which include junior Violet Furey and sophomore Kate Hamilton. Seniors Jessica Kot, Angie Calvetti and Ava Morg are four-year program members.
The program is up to an all-time best 33 from last year’s record 25. The growth is mainly from freshmen and five new juniors, some of whom previously played volleyball.
“It’s exciting to see the size of the group,” Schultz said.
Tali Schultz
A three-time individual sectional qualifier, Vazzana shot 100 at last year’s Sandburg Sectional after a 91 at regionals. Schultz (103), a 2023 sectional qualifier, and Jesswein (104) missed joining the playoff for the final individual berth that graduated sister Taryn Schultz (100) reached but did not advance. The Schultz sisters and Coach Schultz are not related.
“As a senior, I’m motivated for a good season because I really enjoy golf and the team we have at RB,” Tali Schultz said. “The dynamic without Taryn will be different because she was one of our top golfers, but I think we’ll be able to adjust and do just as well as we did last year.”
Based on UEC duals and conference meet results combined, Vazzana (No. 2 overall), Schultz (No. 8) and Jesswein (tied for No. 10) ranked among the league’s top 10 for 2024.
“As a team, success would be displayed through steady improvement throughout the season for all players and maybe even the conference title for the second year,” Vazzana said. “Individually, I would like to make this season the strongest yet, and I can do that with consistent scores and hopefully a trip to state.”
LTHS girls golf
Senior and two-time individual state qualifier Amelia Van Vuren leads an experienced lineup that was fourth at the 2A Hinsdale Central Regional (356) and one stroke from Downers Grove South, the last advancing team.
Junior individual sectional qualifier Mekayla Genovesi and senior sisters Winona Waite and Bea Waite also return from the regional lineup. Other team members include seniors Danica Bezanis, Brynn Evans and Grace Townsend, juniors Lilly Heflin, Mikaela Jones and Jocelyn Mulder, sophomores Dulce Rodriguez, Caroline McNaughton and Dagny Stromborg and freshmen Molly Collins, Stella Cordova, Veronika Dlugopolski, Ava Hoag, Lucy Newton and Adella Romanelli.
At 2024 state, Van Vuren tied for 55th with a 166 (83-83) and was joined by graduated Isabella Evans. In 2023, Van Vuren was 72nd with a 176 (85-91) at state, when the Lions finished 10th as a team. Brynn and Isabella Evans are not related. At last year’s Sandburg Sectional, Van Vuren shot 78 to tie for seventh. Genovesi’s 87 was one stroke from the playoffs for the 10th individual state berth.
At the West Suburban Conference Meet, the Lions were sixth (365) and tied for fourth in the final overall standings with York. Van Vuren (81) earned top-20 All-WSC medalist honors with fifth on a scorecard tiebreaker. Genovesi (91) was two strokes from the last all-conference score.
In Thursday’s season opener, Van Vuren finished 14th (77) at the Plainfield North Invite at Whitetail Ridge.
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