The 2011 girls golf season was the most successful in Ashtabula County history as Geneva ran the table going 25-0, reaching the district tournament as a team.

Additionally, Eagles’ freshman Danielle Nicholson won the Division I state championship in dramatic fashion, with a sensational back nine to gain the come from behind win.

Lakeside also had a successful season as Krista Johnston reached the Division I district tournament.

Gone is Johnston, but Nicholson returns for the Eagles with a supporting cast capable of getting them back to the district tournament.

Also in the Star Beacon coverage area, Madison will have a girls team for the first time in the school’s history.

So, while last year was a historic season for the area’s female golfers, this year has the possibility to be even better.

The following is a breakdown of each team and what their respective coaches think of the 2012 season, which kicked off last week with the Karl Pearson Invitational.



Conneaut

Coach J.C. Lenk returns for his fourth season with the Spartans, coming off a 9-8 season, Conneaut boasts an extremely inexperienced roster that will have to adjust to varsity high school golf quickly.

Senior Alex Thome is the only returning letterwinner for the Spartans.

“With such an inexperienced team, our main goal this year will be to learn the game,” he said. “And to gain confidence and consistency each day we play.”

Other key contributors to Conneaut’s success this season will be sophomores Jenna Porfilio and Angela Cole.

Newcomers Andrea Picardo, Lauren Kardholey and Hailee Butts will contribute as freshman as well.

The Spartans play as an independent, but are a member of the NEOGGCA (Northeast Ohio Girls Golf Coaches Association), which Lenk believes will be a competitive conference this year.

“There were many seniors that played last year so the conference leaders will be those who step up the most,” he said. “Geneva has a good core of returners as does Lakeside so I expect them to have another outstanding year.

“After that I think it will be another competitive year for all in the NEOGGCA.”



Edgewood

In her fifth season as leader of the Warriors program, Barb Lambert returns to lead a veteran squad that returns five letterwinners from 2011’s 1-15 team.

Back are seniors Jenny Howell, Arieal Seaman; juniors Emily Petro, Mercedes Burns; and sophomore Bailey Anderson.

While there are several returners, Lambert feels with just two returning seniors the team will struggle with some inexperience this season.

“We have a young, inexperienced team — just two returning varsity seniors,” Lambert said. “The girls are working hard to improve their game at practice and with lessons.”

Regardless of experience, Lambert likes the group she has this year.

“We have an exciting group of girls who love golf and that will translate into winning this year,” she said. “We have a league of good teams who play well.”

Like Conneaut, the Warriors don’t have an official conference but will play in the NEOGGCA.

Lambert feels her team will compete in the conference better than last season, when it finished 1-13.

 “We believe in ourselves and know that we will improve in our league matches this year,” she said.



Geneva

The Eagles had the best season in the area last year, going undefeated and winning the Premier Athletic Conference.

Coach Rob DiPofi, who is in his fifth season at Geneva, took home the Star Beacon’s Ashtabula County Girls Golf Coach of the Year award last season as he helped lead the team to a 25-0 (6-0 in PAC) record.

With defending Division I state champion Nicholson returning for her sophomore season to lead the Eagles, the outlook for the 2012 season looks positive for Geneva.

Also returning are senior letterwinners Cami Dodge, Megan Lara and Nicole Grimmett.

If the Eagles can improve their sports game this year, DiPofi likes his team’s chances.

“Keys to our team’s success would include improving in the area of chipping and putting,” DiPofi said. “(Our) willingness to be good teammates, adapting to new roles for the season and making the time to get better at their weaknesses will be important.

“We clearly want to be better by the end of the season than where we are now.”

As far as the PAC is concerned, DiPofi said he’s unsure what the league will offer as far as competition.

He does welcome the prospect of playing against Madison this year.

“I am not sure what to expect in the PAC,” he said. “I am excited that Madison has a team, which now gives us five in the league. South always has a good team and Jack Zenz from North and Bill Neuhofs from Lakeside will get the most out of their team members.”

The Eagles started off the year in spectacular fashion, setting a school record in winning the Karl Pearson Invitational with a 324.



Jefferson

In his first season with the Falcons, coach Jason Hagerdon has a small, but talented group to work with in 2012.

Jefferson returns just two letterwinners, both juniors —Amanda Thompson and Alexis O’Neil.

Also, the Falcons have senior Christa Reeve as well as sophomore Sam Allega.

Hagerdon sees the team’s short game as the most needed area of improvement.

“(We) need to improve on all aspects of our short game,” he said.

As far as the All-American Conference is concerned, Hagerdon didn’t have much to say.

“First year, just learning,” he said.



Lakeside

 Coach Bill Neuhofs returns for his ninth season with the Dragons and will have to lead a very inexperienced squad that returns just one letterwinner from last year’s 10-4 team (senior Lindsey Wheeler).

The key for Lakeside will be development throughout the season, according to Neuhofs.

“The main key is for the girls to continue to develop their golf skills,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of experience but they are working hard to improve.”

Other key contributors for the Dragons will be sophomores Emily Bekcwith, Kaitlyn Koski and Cassie Dunn.

Freshmen who look to figure prominently in Lakeside’s success will be Kayla Browning and Toni Stranman.

As far as the PAC is concerned, Neuhofs sees Geneva and South at the head of the pack (so to speak).

“Geneva and South should both be pretty good again this year. I hope we can finish near the top,” he said.



Madison

In their first year as a program, the Blue Streaks will look to build with a roster of six players under first-year coach Mike Smith.

Leading the group are seniors Taylor Pitts (who won the closest-to-the-pin challenge at the 2012 Karl Pearson Invitational), EmilyBinder; junior Behtany Hess; sophomores Kasie Berris, Julia Zuosecz; and freshman Olivia LeSeur.

With it being Madison’s first year as a program, Smith is keeping expectations simple – hoping to see improvement each time the Blue Streaks step on the course.

“Being our first year, we would love to see improvement each match and our top two girls that played boys last year show great leadership,” he said.

Without any experience to draw on, Smith said he couldn’t really say what he expected from the PAC play, simply saying, “it’s all new.”



Perry

Coming off a 7-8 campaign in 2011, coach Rich Miller takes over a Pirates roster that has four returning letterwinners from a year ago — senior April Dotson; junior Danielle D’Abate; sophomores Allissa Miller and Madison Duke.

Miller believes his team has a lot of potential for success in 2012 and beyond.

“We have a young team with a lot of potential,” he said. “We will need some scoring from our first year players, for a successful season.”

After finishing fourth in the CVC last year with a 3-3 record, Miller believes if his team continues to improve it can be in the mix.

“With only three experienced golfers from last season we have our work cut out for us,” he said. “The CVC is a very competitive conference, but with hard work and practice we will show our presence.”



St. John

Returning for her fifth year with the Heralds, Jami Anderson has three returning letterwinners from last year’s 3-15 squad to work with.

Back are seniors Alicia Lewis, Maria Kovacs and sophomore Evelyn Anderson.

Joining them will be sophomore Sara Fowler and freshman Gillian DiPofi.

Anderson believes her team’s key to success will be her girls’ willingness to put in the time necessary to improve.

“As always, our team’s success this season will depend on the amount of practice time the girls are willing to put in,” she said. “In addition, we have to get consistent scoring from our returning letterwinner. Alicia Lewis plays a big role this year as a senior.”

As a member of the NEOGGA, Anderson wants her team to focus on improving upon last season’s record in the always competitive conference.

“The NEOGGCA will be competitive as always,” she said. “Our goal at St. John is to continue to improve our record as a team from last year and also improve our individual scores.”