The Minooka High School girls' golf team has established a dynasty in the Southwest Prairie Conference. The three-time defending league champions are the overwhelming favorite to win the league title a fourth straight time.
The Indians return seniors Allie O’Matto, Sammi Thompson and Krystal Paramo and juniors Rachel Herzberger and Deaven Hudson from the Indians’ Class AA regional championship team of 2010.
“(The returners) put us in a nice spot,” Minooka coach Joe Host said. “Those girls have two, and some of them three, years of experience. Hopefully, that plays into our favor.”
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Herzberger, Thompson and O’Matto were all-SPC a year ago and
are members of the pre-season all-league team this year, along with Paramo.
According to this year’s SPC Report preseason coaches’ poll, Minooka and Plainfield Central equally have a shot at winning the 2011 boys title. Minooka has finished second to Plainfield Central each of the last two seasons.
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“Somebody has to beat the defending champs before anyone else can be considered the favorite,” Minooka coach Brian Petrovic said of the Wildcats. “They’ve won the overall conference title for the past several years over us and I think you have to give them all the respect they’ve earned. They also have their top two players back from last year."
The returners include sophomore Jason Chobar and seniors Tom
Uraski, Carson Neushwander and Dan Zych. Freshman Kent Hudson could crack the top four, as well as junior Nick Bell.
“It’s really going to come down to how well our juniors can step up and play on the varsity level,” Petrovic said. “We have a good solid nucleus of four players back from last year squad, but the other seven are new to varsity competition and 18-hole events.”
The Indians’ home course is Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club, 24355 W. Bluff Road, Channahon.
The boys soccer team has found the sledding difficult the past three seasons. A year ago, the Indians went 4-15-4.
“We had a young team last year who took their lumps,” Minooka coach Chris Brolley said. “But, they are ready to show the soccer world they’re ready to compete this season.
The top returners for Minooka include forwards, junior Joey Koenig and senior Tony Velazquez; senior midfielders Trent Kreis and Eric Orndorf; junior defender A.J. Bever and senior goalie Matt Whickersham.
Forward Giacomo Raimondi and midfielder Sergio Reyes are sophomores making the jump to the varsity.
“They have the talent to put together a very successful season if they play as one,” Brolley said.
