Szokol closes out stellar New Trier career

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New Trier's Elizabeth Szokol, chiping onto the green during regionals, capped her high school career by tying for seventh at the Class AA State Meet. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media

Updated: November 21, 2011 9:14AM

As the wind whipped and hard shadows started to form over the 18th green at the Hickory Point Golf Club in Forsyth on Saturday, New Trier’s players were playful, almost giddy, at what had just happened.

Though the Trevians failed in their quest to repeat as IHSA Class AA state golf champions, the celebratory mood was appropriate, said their coach, Scott Fricke.

“We got the kids together and told them: ‘You’ve got a lot to be proud of,’ ” Fricke said.

Behind senior star Elizabeth Szokol, and juniors Callie Nelson and Ellie McGuire, the Trevians posted a two-day mark of 650 to finish seven strokes behind state champion Prospect. Nelson and McGuire actually posted better two-day totals than the Knights’ No. 2 and 3 players.

Szokol (158) finished tied for seventh, while Nelson (159) and McGuire (162) placed 11th and 15th, respectively.

The difference in the overall standings? Prospect senior Allison Walsh, who fired a 3-under-par on the front nine en route to a two-round total of 149 and a state championship.

“You have to give Allison Walsh a lot of credit — to shoot that kind of score in very difficult conditions, where it was very difficult to hit the greens in regulation,” Fricke said.

Freshman Lois Suh and junior Nerissa Deneberg rounded out the Trevians’ top six.

The joyous mood among the Trevians was genuine. The day was a coronation of the last four years for Szokol and Dana Gullen. During their era, New Trier finished third, second, first and second in the state championship series.

That is some kind of achievement. “We weren’t at all unhappy about not repeating again,” Szokol said. “Not everybody can finish second in the state.”

Szokol and Gullen both underwent profound evolutions in their high school careers, Fricke said. Szokol has committed to play at Northwestern University next year, and Gullen is undecided.

“They’ve become not only great players, but terrific people,” Fricke said. “When they were both freshmen, they were so quiet, I could barely get a word out of either one. Now they’ve blossomed and really developed socially and (in) their interactions with everybody.”

Szokol said it was a natural growing process.

“I was pretty quiet when I was younger, but I became more outgoing and really loved played with everybody on the team, and I had a great time,” she said.

Though sectionals was played under ideal conditions, the two-day state finals were volatile and unpredictable because of the constant and swirling wind.

“It just meant making constant changes and adjustments,” Szokol said. “I had to select clubs that were 30 yards (of) difference than what I normally use when the wind was facing you.”

Fricke said the collective level of talent was the strongest he’d seen in years.

“I think, coming in, I felt like there were seven or eight teams capable of winning a state championship,” he said. “The caliber of play and the parity was the best I think I’ve ever seen.”

New Trier twice defeated Prospect during the regular season, including at the Knights’ own invitational. Prospect won the other four times the two squared off.

“I knew they were coming on and we knew they were a very tough team,” he said.

As usual, at New Trier, the future is very bright. Four of the top six return next year, and Fricke said they have a very strong freshmen contingent. For now, the celebrations continue.

“It was a great way to end my career,” Szokol said.