Downingtown East looks to challenge Unionville for Ches-Mont supremacy
By Neil Geoghegan
ngeoghegan@21st-centurymedia.com
@NeilMGeoghegan on Twitter
The best girls’ golf team in the Ches-Mont league in 2020 was also the best in the entire state of Pennsylvania: Unionville. But the Longhorns aren’t a shoo-in to do it again this fall.
Downingtown East pushed Unionville a year ago and finished as the team runner-up in the Ches-Mont and District 1 tournaments, and the Cougars could be the frontrunner this time around. The Longhorns lost three seniors from the state title run, while East is led by Ava O’Sullivan, one of Pennsylvania’s top returning seniors. O’Sullivan is the reigning league and District 1 individual champion.
“Having lost just one player to graduation from last year’s squad, we look to build on our recent success and challenge for the Ches-Mont and District titles,” said Cougars’ head coach Matt Grinwis.
O’Sullivan registered a 72.4 scoring average in ’20, placed third overall in the PIAA Championship and has already signed to play at Division II Converse (S.C.) University. East also has two other district qualifiers in sophomore Mia Pace (82.2 scoring average) and junior Silvana Gonzalez (89.0).
“Ava — whose game was in top form last fall and has only gotten better since — will lead the way,” Grinwis said. “Mia and Silvana will follow closely behind. And seniors Ava Lichok, Maria Crowe and Emily Scavuzzo each have hopes of qualifying for Districts and provide us with experience and depth.”
At Unionville, head coach Joe Sudimak has a particularly strong junior class, including Mary Dunigan and Kaitlyn Ferrer, who are co-captains for 2021 and were key contributors in last season’s championship. Dunigan is a two-time All-Area pick and fired an even-par 72 to grab second place at Ches-Monts.
Fellow juniors Mira Patel, Cecilia Nutter, Sammy Diver and Ella Zuchero are also back, and senior Clair Liu returns after sitting out last season.
“We want the girls to have fun every time we tee it up, and we are placing special emphasis on the mental approach to the game,” Sudimak said.
If anybody else can break through and challenge for the league crown it is probably Downingtown West. The Whippets boast two experienced seniors in Hannah Critchley and Clara Huston, who will share team captaincy.
Junior Celia Beslin is looking to take on a greater role, but the key for West may come down to the progress of freshmen Lauren Leshko and Rachel Schuda. Leshko earned medalist honors in the 2021 tryouts.
“With solid senior leadership, and a strong set of underclassmen, we are looking to contend for a Ches-Mont title,” said head coach Andrew Braun.
Senior Victoria Kim is expected to lead the way once again for West Chester East, but the Vikings don’t have a girls’ program and she competes with the boys. She won the PIAA 3A individual championship as a junior, and is the two-time reigning Daily Local News Player of the Year.
Great Valley has one of the area’s oldest girls’ programs, but the Patriots are just a bit too young and inexperienced to contend. The top three players are expected to be four-year seniors Nichole Kim, Ava Matty, Anna Schadl.
In Athletic Association of Catholic Academies (AACA) action, Villa Maria went 8-5 a year ago and was the league runner-up. The Hurricanes are led by senior Elizabeth O’Connell, who averaged in the low 40s for nine holes and was an All-AACA pick.
Junior Riley Mulhern and senior Joey Gaglioti are also capable of scoring in the 40s.
“We expect to improve upon last year’s record with significant summer scoring improvement across the roster and with a large turnout for tryouts from sophomores and freshmen,” said head coach Matt Poole.
There is also a new girls’ golf program in Chester County, but don’t be surprised if Conestoga quickly becomes a consistent contender in the Central League. Seniors Sophia Brubaker and Suzie Ahn, junior Maggie Hawkins and sophomore Brynne Mushlin are the top prospects.
