Marian Catholic returns Downstate with experience

Updated: October 13, 2011 9:04PM

Last season, Marian Catholic’s girls golf team was one of the surprises at the Class AA state tournament, finishing sixth despite not starting a senior.

It was a welcome return to prominence for a program that reached state three consecutive years from 2005 to 2007, finishing second in ‘05 and third in ‘07. But in retrospect, the success may have been a year early.

“We’re really excited,” Marian senior Sylvie Brick said. “It’s nice that we made it Downstate again as a team. Last year, we made it down and I think this year we have a little higher expectations.”

It wasn’t a dominant sectional at Old Oak in Homer Glen for the Spartans this week, but it was good enough to advance.

The Spartans shot a 334, 17 strokes shy of sectional champion Hinsdale Central, but 13 strokes ahead of third-place Lyons.

“We know we didn’t play our best, and we still made it [Downstate],” Brick said. “We’ll take a few days and practice. We all know what we have to work on, just little things. As long as we go in there and just do our best, that’s all you can really ask for.”

Brick led the way for the Spartans with a 78 in Monday’s Class AA Marist Sectional. Junior Bree Veazey recovered from a rough front nine for an 81 and sophomore Nina Nicpon recorded an impressive 80.

Those players are always in the mix at the top of the lineup for Marian, breeding a healthy competition amongst the ranks.

“Nina did absolutely amazing and we are so proud of her,” Veazey said. “We all kind of challenge each other.

‘‘I look at [Brick] and say, ‘That’s a good role model.’ So we look at each other as role models, not as opponents. We’re all together and we cheer each other on. We’re very together. We love each other.”

Now a year after being a surprise team at state, Marian is poised to be among the contenders for the state title.

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