LWE’s Kenny recalls Zen moment
Senior remembers how earning medalist honors ‘flipped the switch on for me’
Lincoln-Way East senior Maddie Kenny experienced the same struggles most athletes do during their first year on the varsity. Could she competeat this level? Is she good enough?
Those doubts lingered last season until Kenny fired a 39 against conferencechampionSandburg in September to earn medalist honors.
Itwas a turning point.
“I wasn't in the top four golfers most of last season,” Kenny said. “But that showed me I can do it. It kind of flipped the switch on for me.”
The switch hasn't turned off. Kenny has been a steady contributor this season for the Griffins.
She practically lived at Green Garden Country Club during the offseason, honing her swing with the help of instructor Randy Wexter.
“I knew I had to put in more time in the offseason if Iwanted to finish in the top four,” Kenny said. “He changed the tempo of my swing. I was essentially there every day of theweek.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Mary McGivern confirmed the extra practice has paid off.
“She's strong off the tee, her irons are very strong and her approach shots are very good,” McGivern said. “She has confidence.”
McGivern agreed last season's performance against Sandburg gaveKenny a big boost.
“That showed her what she's capable of doing,” McGivern said.
When Kenny was a freshman, she didn't spend much time worrying about club selection.
“I only played with my 7-iron,” Kenny said with a laugh. “It's the only club I had confidence in. Me and (teammate) Annie Hackett were medalists almost every time on the JV our freshman and sophomore years.”
At the end of her sophomore season, Kenny expanded her club
selection and learned to understand the benefits of course management.
It has been a steady rise to developing into one of the Griffins’most consistent players.
“Maddie is steady and reliable,” McGivern said. “We can always count on her.”
This season, Kenny is averaging a 43 for nine holes. She earned medalist honors with a 40 against Bradley.
She also excels in the classroomwith a 3.8GPAon a 4.0 scale. She intends to major in pre-dentistry with an eye on becoming an orthodontist.
Depending on whether the college she chooses offers golf, she might go out for the team aswell.
“I would like to play in college,” Kenny said. “But education comes first.”
Tinley Park coach Chuck Moore had high hopes for this season.
With seven seniors returning, led by Brittany Osterman, Emily Praski and Ella Oakley, the Titans had the experience and depth to turn the corner as a program.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, District 228 delayed the start of the fall season to Sept. 14 and would only allow intradistrict games to be held.
“I’ve been coach for 13 years and there have been many yearswhere I’vewondered if we would have enough players for a team,” he said. “We were looking
Missed opportunity:
forward to beating teams we normally didn’t beat.
“But I’m not going to allow this situation to take away what these girls have built.”
As it stands, the Titans are 3-0, including two wins over Oak Forest and a win over Bremen’s boys team.
Seniors Ashley Tipping, Kayla Stone, Madison Dunn and Alexa Simonsis also have been integral parts to the rebuild, according to Moore.
“This is a great group of girls,” he said. “They’ve been committed and fun to coach.”
Did you know? With the exception of 2012, Sandburg has had at least one individual qualify for the statemeet every season since 2010. As a junior last season, Athena Kwon finished a team-best 18th in Class 2A.