DECATUR — Sandburg set the goal before the season to finish in the top five at the state meet, and the Eagles followed through.
Sandburg tied perennial power Prospect for fifth place at 102-over par at the Class AA state meet at Hickory Point in Decatur. Last year, Sandburg placed 11th.
“I’m unbelievably proud of the girls,” Sandburg coach Todd Allen said. “They did a fantastic job. We’ve been talking for a couple of years of trying to move into that upper echelon of teams in the state.”
Leading the way, as she has the past four years, was Bradley-bound senior Frankie Saban. Saban followed up her 81 on Friday with an 83 on Saturday. Her two-day total of 164 put her in a tie for 35th in the individual standings.
“If I had to give credit to someone, I think she is the one that brought us to that upper level. Her hard work and her dedication kind of rubbed off on everyone. She had an unbelievable four years. I’m going to miss her a lot. She did a great job representing our program and putting us on the map.”
Saturday, sophomore Emilyee McGiles (tied for 53rd) shot an 82 and junior Emily Cosler (tied for 43rd) added an 84 for Sandburg.
Lincoln-Way West senior Alexis Biedrzycki returned to the state tournament after playing in a national AJGA event a year ago. Biedrzycki capped her high school career by placing third individually with a two-day total of 148. She shot a 75 on Saturday. Her up-and-down round featured five birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey.
“Yesterday (a 73) I felt pretty comfortable out there,” Biedrzycki said. “Today was kind of all over the place, in my opinion. For me, it’s always the putter. I need to go home and work on it. But I felt pretty good overall about the tournament.”
Biedrzycki finished behind two-time state champion Jessica Yuen (142) and Illinois-bound Waubonsie Valley senior Bing Singhsumalee. Biedrzycki is now headed to Michigan State to continue her golf career and education.
“It was a good way to end high school,” Biedrzycki said. “Being able to come back this year and play was pretty nice.”
Lincoln-Way East senior Kelly Sterling finished her accomplished high school career by tying for sixth place with Carbondale senior Paige Bird. Sterling shot a 77 on Saturday, giving the UIC recruit a two-day total of 153.
T.F. South junior Maggie Sloan found herself in a three-way tie for 22nd with her two-day finish of 161. Providence sophomore Alyssa Gromala finished in a tie for 57th with a two-day total of 170. Lockport senior Kalya Garritson was 96th (191).
In the Class A meet across town at Red Tail Run in Decatur, Beecher senior Jessi Ackman tied for 25th with a two-day score of 167.
