Health & Fitness
Girls Golf Makes School History, Places 3rd at State
Players finish higher in competition than any other girls' sports team at Highland Park High School.
The made school history by placing third at the IHSA AA Girls State Golf Tournament in Decatur on Saturday.
“It’s the highest finish that any girls sports team has had in the history of sports,” Cathy Nachman, the varsity coach, said.
Players battled 30-40 mph winds on Friday and were eight strokes behind third place at the end of first day play.
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“They just were determined to go out and do the best they could the second day,” Nachman said.
The team rallied back on Saturday, overtook Loyola Academy and finished in third place.
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“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Jane Seder, HPHS senior and golf player, said. “It just felt really awesome.” Seder is one of seven players who represented the Lady Giants at state. A total of 112 players competed.
HPHS finished with a total score of 661, which is 31 strokes better than its previous year. The team also has conference, regional and sectional titles to be proud of.
“This whole season has just been the best that we’ve ever had,” Nachman recalled. The Coach has been involved with high school sports since 1969. “It is truly a gift that they’ve given to the whole school, the whole community,” she added.
Seder attributes the team’s success to hard work and teamwork. “Every single person on the team contributed,” she said. “We all worked hard, we all came together, we all had confidence in each other.”
Seder along with seniors Nicole Feierberg, Jacki Berardi and Michelle Reisin will be heading off to college next year, which leaves Nachman with some big shoes to fill.
“I knew I had a really good thing when these seniors were freshmen,” said Nachman, who has a great deal of confidence in the rest of the team. “My hopes for next season are to continue this run.”
Returning players that competed in state include Tina Berardi, Liza Kraff and Kelli Ono.
Player Statistics: First Day Score - Second Day Score
Freshman Kelli Ono: 82 – 80 (Tied for 15th place).
Senior Nicole Feierberg: 86 - 76 (Tied for 15th place).
Senior Jacki Berardi: 86 – 83
Senior Jane Seder: 85 – 86
Junior Tina Berardi: 96 - 83
Sophomore Liza Kraff: 90 - 86
