Oswego East student-athlete of the week-Katelin Hong

Junior Katelin Hong fell short of her goal of making the state tournament last year when she had a disappointing round in the sectional tournament. Since that loss, Katelin has committed herself to the golf course and positioned herself as the top golfer in the SPC. Not only has Katelin put in the work to be one of the top golfers, but her work in the classroom, and philanthropy outside of it, is what makes her this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

In 4th grade, Katelin’s dreams looked different as she was an avid gymnastics athlete, moving to Texas to train in a world-renowned gym, hoping to make the Olympics. By 5th grade, she had decided that was not the dream she wanted to pursue, and with her younger brother Logan having picked up golf, her parents urged her to get involved in the sport as well.

That relationship helped develop a stronger bond with her family and sparked an interest and love in a new sport. “Katelin and Logan can train as partners and decipher each other’s swing mechanics,” says Jason Hong, Katelin’s father. He adds, “They challenge each other to shoot a low score and play competitive skill challenges. The time they spend together practicing and playing golf strengthens their bond as siblings.”

After falling short in the sectional tournament last season, Katelin spent most of the summer working to improve her game, saying, “I played tournaments once or twice a week in the summer, and my brother and I try to practice every day, with a rest day each week.” She credits her brother as motivation for working hard when she does not feel like it, saying, “When I don’t want to practice, I want to make sure he doesn’t outwork me. He will take videos of my swing and help me come up with drills to improve.”

Head coach Brian Chandler has noticed the improvement in Katelin’s play, saying, “She always stays late and continues to practice after our time is over and dedicates some of her free time playing courses we would only play in sectionals and state.” He continues by saying, “Katelin is a great teammate and her work ethic is unmatched. She took the lead for our senior night, organizing the gifts and writing heartfelt letters to our seniors.”

Katelin’s hard work has paid off, as she has already met her goal of shooting under par during a home match (-1 against Yorkville), as well as a -1 against Plainfield Central and -1 against Plainfield East. Katelin leads all golfers in the SPC with 24 points across match play.

It is her success in the classroom, as well as her work and volunteering outside of the school, that makes Katelin so special. She has challenged herself each year with rigorous courses such as advanced placement (AP) Literature, AP Physics, AP U.S. History, and Honors Pre-Calculus. Katelin’s determination and dedication to being the best student she can has helped her earn no grade lower than an A in any class she has taken at OE.

Despite a busy schedule between golf and challenging academics, Katelin is also a co-captain of the Science Olympiad team at OE, where she was able to go to a state tournament last season and place first in an event.

One of her teachers also recommended she join the organization, Youth Engagement and Philanthropy (YEP), a group dedicated to raising money and awarding grants to help the community and has earned the position of chair, which is the equivalent of the President of the group. “YEP has taught Katelin she doesn’t have to wait until she’s an adult to help the community flourish,” says Jason. He adds, “She’s learned to be a strong advocate for what she’s passionate about and gained much confidence as a leader. She’s been most proud of being able to share ideas and collaborate with others.”

Katelin is unsure of where specifically she would like to attend college but will be prioritizing academics over golf, with the hope she can do both. She is interested in majoring in something environment-related, something she has cared about for as long as she can remember. “Katelin understands the climate and environment have an enormous lasting impact,” says Jason. He goes on to say, “This is why she started the process of planning a community garden at OE. It’s one small step in her effort for the community and environment.”

Her AP Literature and Composition teacher from sophomore year, Tammy DiPrima, believes she has the make-up to thrive in any field, saying, “Katelin is so genuine. She works hard and is not afraid to ask questions. She is one of the most tenacious students I’ve had. She is a caring friend and reaches out to others to make them feel welcome.” She adds, “Katelin will excel in whatever she decides to do. She is very smart and personable; she will be an excellent problem-solver. Her tenacity and strength of will would be an asset to solving large, complicated problems.”

Before Katelin goes on to solve the major issues of the world she has her sights set this season on helping her team to 1st place in the conference. “I really want that plaque,” says Katelin. Individually, she would like to win MVP of the conference and redeem herself by making it to the state tournament. As someone who has already accomplished so much, her advice for future Wolves to reach their potential is to, “get involved with as many sports and clubs as possible, because it really helps you find your place in the school and make friends.” There is little doubt Katelin will continue adding to her list of accomplishments, both here at OE and through her service in the community.