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Coach Renee Slone will have seven talented freshmen on the roster this fall
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July 17, 2008
Read about the five November signees HERE
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois women's golf head coach Renee Slone announced the addition of two walk-ons to her team for the upcoming season. Maureen Liddy (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) and Nora Lucas (Glenview, Ill./Loyola Academy) will join the Fighting Illini this fall as freshmen.
Liddy and Lucas join five other talented freshmen on the Illinois roster as Abby Cotter (Noblesville, Ind./ Noblesville H.S.), Katelin Dilger (Palmdale, Calif./Quartz Hill H.S.), Hailey Koschmann (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest H.S.), Samantha Sloan (Lansing, Ill./Marian Catholic H.S.) and Kaitlyn Wampler (Normal, Ill./University H.S.) all signed letters of intent last November and will join the Orange and Blue this year. The big freshman class will be a huge part of Slone's 2008-09 squad as only two players return from last year's senior laden team, senior Nancy Featherstone and sophomore Raquel Hopton.
"I am looking forward to the next four years with these seven young ladies with great anticipation," said Slone, who is entering her third year as head coach. "They will be the nucleus of this program and set the standard for our future. Given that we have just two returning players, their impact will be immediate. There certainly will be a transition period that takes place, but these players have already started bonding and developing relationships to assist each other. They have all experienced great success and are looking forward to working together to move this program to the next level."
PROFILES OF THE NEWEST ILLINI
Maureen Liddy // Notre Dame Academy, Green Bay, Wis.
Led Notre Dame to back-to-back WIAA Division I state titles in 2006 and 2007 ... Earned First Team All-State honors in 2007 after finishing third overall at the state meet with rounds of 74 and 78 ... Earned medalist honors at conference, regional and sectional meets as a senior in 2007 ... Named Area Player of the Year with a 76.2 scoring average in 2007 ... Finished eighth individually at the 2006 WIAA State Championship ... Four-time All-Area and All-Conference selection ... 2007 high school team captain ... National Honor Society member .. High Honor Roll student 2004-07 ... High school coach was Brian Bobinski.
Coach Slone on Maureen:
"Maureen knows what it takes for a team to accomplish its goals as she played a key role in leading her team to two Wisconsin High School State Championships. She enjoyed a great year in Wisconsin last season winning numerous tournaments and countless awards throughout the state. I look for her to use this experience to unite the team toward our mission."
Nora Lucas // Loyola Academy, Glenview, Ill.
Tied future Illini teammate Samantha Sloan for fifth place at the 2007 IHSA Class AA State Championship with rounds of 73 and 74 ... Led Loyola to a fourth place team finish at the state meet and to conference, regional and sectional titles as a senior ... Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Individual Champion and team MVP as a senior in 2007 ... All-Conference selection and Team Captain in 2007 ... Winner of the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) "For the Good of the Game" Award, which honors sportsmanship and strength of character, in 2006-07 ... Winner of Chicago Park District Open ... Graduated Magna Cum Laude ... Vice President of Senior Class ... High school coach was Jim Jackimiec.
Coach Slone on Nora:
"After playing varsity basketball and golf during her freshmen and sophomore years, Nora focused solely on golf starting her junior year. Once she made a commitment to golf she started to enjoy greater success and showed vast improvement in her scoring. Nora is quickly gaining experience through competition at the state, regional and national levels. She brings an easy-going manner to the team that will be an asset in pulling everyone together.
