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28 | August 10, 2017 | The lake forest leader SPORTS LakeForestLeader.com From the Sports Editor Fall beckons another action-packed season Erin Redmond e.redmond@22ndcenturymedia.com Where did the summer go? It seriously feels like just yesterday we were gearing up for graduation day and planning interviews with our local athletes to see where they were going next. And then I blinked and fall sports were upon us. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. This time of year is one of my favorites. There’s an unrivaled buzz in the air, the anticipation of brand a new season about to start. There are fresh-faced freshmen looking forward to their first high school game and seasoned juniors and seniors ready to show them the way. And let’s not forget about those sophomores. They’re out to prove there’s no such thing as a sophomore slump. New coaches have taken the reins and others are returning, both approaching the season with optimism and excitement. And I get to be a part of it all. How cool is that? Of course you’ll see me on the sidelines on Friday nights for football and who wouldn’t be excited about that? But there are so many other great sports that fall ushers in. For the girls, tennis and field hockey will be in full swing. They’ll make a splash in the pool as the swim and diving season returns and tear up the court during volleyball games. As the leaves change and the weather cools down, it creates the perfect conditions for our co-ed golfers and crosscountry runners. Being a newbie to the area, I can’t wait to check out some of the beautiful courses and places both will be competing at this fall. Our local soccer players return to the pitch for the boys season, too, so you know there will be no shortage of action. And cheering them all on and providing some high-flying, captivating performances will be the cheer and pom squads. Needless to say, I’m pumped. Yes, I’ve been through plenty of fall sports seasons, but this one is brand new to me. I can’t wait to see what the athletes of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff bring to the table. I’ll see you out there, sports fans. HOCKEY From Page 31 coaches and made it even better for them.” Walsh is no stranger to winning, having led the Scouts to 10 state titles as a coach and one as a player during her senior year at Lake Forest. She helped her team reach at least the semifinals for 21 of her 22 seasons and established a winning tradition at the school. Scout pride Almost all of Walsh’s field hockey career was spent with Lake Forest, having played three years in high school following a brief stint as a cheerleader. She continued her playing career at the University of Kentucky, where she played club field hockey. After graduation, Walsh came home to Lake Forest and it wasn’t long before the field hockey program reached out to her and offered a position as JV coach. She was promoted to varsity assistant the following year and served that role for 13 years before being named head coach in 2008. Having a coach with a background such as Walsh’s meant a lot to her players. Knowing Walsh had once worn the Scouts uniform, too, rising senior Catherine Nicholson said, made it all the more easier to buy in to the program. “Not only did she have Scout pride — which we all have just by going to the school — but she also knows how the program works, she knows all the traditions; she lived through them,” Nicholson said. “...I know it made it a lot easier on me and a lot of my friends during the tryout process that they themselves went through. They know exactly how we’re feeling. It was very cool ... it made everything a little easier.” Changing times The field hockey program has undergone several changes during Walsh’s tenure, but she said she was excited to see things evolve with the times. Starting out as a 22-year-old coach, Walsh said it was sometimes difficult to strike “a balance of authority” with her players who, at the time, were just a few years younger than herself. But as she grew into her role, she developed her own coaching style, one that has transformed into a player-first mentality. “We’ll definitely miss her. What’s different about her coaching style is she puts a lot of focus on who’s working hard, not necessarily who’s the most skilled and that was something I really respected,” Nicholson said. “If you were pushing yourself everyday in practice ... it went noticed. I think that I’ve had lots of coaches where all the little things go unnoticed.” The speed of the game, Walsh said, was also something that changed under her regime. For years, the Scouts played on the front lawn of the school, a backdrop she considers the “most beautiful in the state.” But as more schools got turf fields, other field hockey teams began making the change away from playing on grass. So when <strong>LF</strong>HS installed a turf field at its West Campus, Walsh said it was only natural they play there, too — but not everyone agreed. “We started shifting over to the turf for the varsity and eventually we completely abandoned the front lawn,” she said. “People were like ‘how are you getting rid of that tradition? What are you doing?’ The level of play is so much more dynamic and fast and entertaining and fun for the kids. It was a no-brainer. That change in the sport really kept us going and it was really exciting to see all those changes. I had to learn new skills to teach and new ways of doing things.” And of course, the girls wearing the Scouts uniform has changed countless times over the course of Walsh’s career. <strong>LF</strong>HS began tryouts for this season on Wednesday, Aug. 9, and Walsh said that process was always one of her favorites of the year. “Every year it’s different; that brings new excitement every year,” she said. “Even after 22 years, it was still exciting. Last year we were really pumped with who we had. We had 16 seniors and we brought in a couple new puzzle pieces and worked really hard to make them as successful as they were. Doing that every season really kept me going as a coach.” A lasting legacy While the Scouts have established themselves as a powerhouse in the Illinois field hockey scene, one of Walsh’s proudest moments was helping her team establish themselves as a force in the Midwest. The Scouts annually play in the Huskie Invitational, a tournament that regularly draws teams from Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. Walsh said the level of play is amplified at this tournament and the squad would always get “our butts kicked” by the teams from Louisville. That all ended in 2011, however, when the Scouts finally won the tournament on penalty strokes. “That was so exciting for the girls; they lost their minds,” Walsh said. “It was something that we had wanted to do for years. ... This was one that we could never win. We always struggled with it and we won.” All the struggles were worth it, Walsh said, and that she would do it all over again. But for now, she will focus on being a mom and being around for her kids as much as possible. Walsh said she knows she won’t be able to stay away and plans on attending a few of the Scouts’ games this season as a spectator, though she knows it will be very strange for to assume that roll. That said, she still hasn’t ruled coaching out of her future entirely. “It has been fun and challenging,” Walsh said. “I really hope the sport continues to grow. Who knows? Maybe 10 years down the road when both my kids are in college, you just might see me back on the sidelines.”
LakeForestLeader.com sports the lake forest leader | August 10, 2017 | 29 Golf More than just golf at BMW Championship Erin Redmond, Sports Editor When the BMW Championship descend on Conway Farms next month, it will bring more than just golf with it. The tournament, which is the third of four playoffs in the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup, will see 70 of the world’s best golfers competing to make the final field of 30 and a crack at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. British Open winner Jordan Spieth, defending BMW Championship winner Dustin Johnson, 2015 winner Jason Day. Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler are all slated to play in the tournament, which runs Sept. 12-17. In addition to watching the big-name golfers, there will be plenty to do for spectators at the BMW Championship. Vince Pellegrino, senior vice president of tournaments for the Western Golf Association, said there will a plethora of interactive areas for golf fans to showcase their skills and compete for a shot at prizes. New to the event this year is a hole-in-one opportunity on the driving range, where spectators can attempt to hit a holein-one and be entered to win a brand new BMW. The tournament has also partnered with TopGolf Crush, giving attendees a change to hit golf balls into targets, earn points and see how they stack up against the pros. “Besides having the best 70 players in the world compete, which is very special, we have a couple interactive areas that BMW puts on for the spectators,” Pellegrino said. “... [They are] a really, really neat addition and it gets spectators out there hitting golf balls. ... They’re going to give away prizes for the most points and they’ll have a beat the pro opportunity as well. Besides seeing the latest BMW models on the golf course, they’ll have a couple opportunities to hit actual golf shots through these interactive displays.” Tournament weekend coincides with the start of the NFL and college football seasons. And while attendees will undoubtedly be there to watch golf, there will be a beer garden with TVs broadcasting all the football games in case attendees want a respite for the PGA action. The BMW Championships are also at the same time that Oktoberfest begins in Munich, Germany. And, Pellegrino said, the tournament would be remise if it didn’t join in on the celebration. “We’ll have a beer garden and...a variety of German beer selections and beer garden-themed food and beverages [such as] Bavarian pretzels and bratwurst and things like that,” he said. But if none of that appeals to you, Pellegrino said the site lines offered on the course are unrivaled. He recommends attendees especially make their way to holes 17 and 9 for “really incredible viewing of the best players in the world.” On top of all that, the BMW Championship is a charitable event, donating funds to the Evans Scholars Foundation. The charity funds scholarships for caddies, with the average value of an Evan Scholarship totalling $100,000. In 2016, 935 Evans Scholars attended 20 universities across the country. And since 2007, the BMW Championship has donated more than $24 million to the Evans Scholars Foundation, according to the tournament’s website. “It’s the playoffs and an exciting golf course to watch the best players in the world. I think not only are you seeing the best, but you’re also contributing to charity,” Pellegrino said. “... I think you can feel great about not only if you buy tickets or hospitalities to the BMW Championship, [but you’re also] benefiting a great cause in the Evans Scholars Foundation because all proceeds benefit this charity.” For more information or for tickets, visit www.bm wchampionshipusa.com. Faster, easier ways to save. Welcome to the modern world. Call 1-800-950-2182 to see how much you could save on car insurance. Not available in all states. Savings may vary.
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