This school year’s girl’s golf program at Plainfield East has already shaped up to be record setting, and it possesses hopes of reaching the state tournament.

With highlights such as taking home the Lady Cat Cup as well as a second place finish at the Joliet invite, the team has a real belief that the state tournament at Hickory Point Golf Course is in sight. 

“The team that we have right now and the scores that are coming in at the beginning of the season could get us to state, could get us to regionals, to sectionals, and in the state tournament as a team,” said Erin McGinnis-Janozik, head girls golf coach. 

One factor of the multiple record low scores as a team this season has been freshman standout Taylor Miller, who took home first place in her first ever high school golf tournament, obtaining a score of 71 at the Plainfield North Invitational Aug. 15. 

“Everyone wants to be there, everyone wants to contribute to our score, and I feel like the competitiveness of myself brought a different type of competitiveness to the team,” Miller said.

The team has created an environment where freshmen and newcomers to the team are able to acclimatize quickly thanks to a number of leaders from a variety of grades. 

“Our senior group is tremendous, each one of them brings a different dynamic to the team, but our underclassmen leaders like Hope Trosclair and Kendall Battle, they have been consistent in their effort and leading by example which has been a real treat to watch,” said William Murphy, assistant coach.

Murphy joined the team as assistant coach for the first time this season. He places an emphasis on the mental part of the game as well as the physical side of things. 

“He’s new to our program this year, and it’s been one of the best transitions that we’ve ever had, he brings positivity, mental health awareness, and focus on stress and promoting that we’re student athletes,” said McGinnis-Janozik.

The athletes are confident in their ability to not only qualify individually, but qualify as a team.

“I want our team to make state, I really think we can do it, individually, I want to make it pretty far in the postseason too, but overall, I look at it more as a team aspect,” said Alyssa Siegfried, senior.

The squad’s regional match takes place Oct. 1, while the sectional will be Oct. 7, and the state meet will start Oct. 18.