Lady Demons face numbers problem this fall
By Andrew Horschak
Sports Correspondent
Posting a low number is the objective of every golfer.
That isn’t the case, though, when it comes to fielding a high school golf team.
“Our numbers are the lowest since I’ve been the coach,” said 14th-year Burlington girls coach Wayne Herrick, referring to the eight players in his program.
While the Demons are short on depth, they have experience. The junior trio of Lilly Capozzi, Kya Kafar and Raelee Koehnke were all full-time varsity contributors as sophomores.
Capozzi, an honorable mention All-Southern Lakes Conference selection a year ago, had a team-best 50.1 scoring average and missed qualifying for the WIAA sectional as an individual by two strokes.
“She came on strong last year,” Herrick said. “Hopefully, she continues to pick up where she left off. I would imagine that she’s going to improve her average just because of her experience and playing at that competition level.”
Juniors Hannah Ketterhagen and Taylor Myszkewicz are also expected to bolster the varsity lineup. They played at the junior varsity level last year.
Capozzi or Kafar will occupy the No. 1 spot.
“They both look fairly good,” Herrick said. “I think they could have a battle for being No. 1 and No. 2. It all depends on how they feel about being No. 1 and No. 2. Sometimes, for some girls it’s important for them to be No. 1. Other times, girls don’t want to be No. 1 because there’s a little pressure involved.”
The Demons, who lost Quinne Herolt and Ashley Storck to graduation, placed fifth in the seven-team WIAA regional at Oak Ridge Golf Course. Host Milton won the crown and eventually finished third in the State Tournament at University Ridge.
Burlington will look to improve on last year’s fifth-place conference finish in what could be a more balanced SLC.
“I think Union Grove and Westosha and Wilmot will be really good,” Herrick said.
Union Grove, the four-time defending SLC champion, has to replace four-time Player of the Year Mari Suokko, who has taken her game to NCAA Division II Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.
“It might be closer with the loss of her,” Herrick said. “They ran away with meets last year. They dominated our conference.”
After holding their first official practice on Monday, Aug. 8, the Demons opened the season by participating in an invitational hosted by Badger on Thursday, Aug. 11 at Hawk’s View Golf Club in Lake Geneva.
“It’s kind of a fun meet,” Herrick said about the opener on the par-3 course.
Burlington plays its first home match against Delavan-Darien on Thursday, Aug. 25 at Browns Lake Golf Course. The SLC Tournament is slated for Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Rivermoor Country Club in Waterford.
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