Iowa high school girls’ golf 2022: Area players and teams to watch

Here are some of the Gazette area individuals and teams to watch during the 2022 Iowa high school girls’ golf season.

Golfers to watch

Addie Berg, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — First-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division, first-team all-Metro, tied for 14th at Class 4A state meet, Rotary Pribyl champion, posted 40.39 combined adjusted average, scored 74.71 per 18.

Makenna Conrad, jr., Washington (Iowa) — Tied for 12th at 3A state tournament, all-Southeast Conference player as a sophomore, had 44.61 combined adjusted average, shooting 43.80 (nine holes) and 86.25 (18).

Leyla Grawe, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy — First-team all-MVC Valley Division, first-team all-Metro, recording a 48.42 combined adjusted average, shot 93.80 per 18 holes.

Kaylie Kelchen, soph., Lisbon — Tied for 12th at 3A state tournament, Tri-Rivers East Division medalist, managed 49.54 combined adjusted average, including a 48.56 nine-hole average and 94 per 18 holes.

Leigha Pacha, sr., Iowa City West — First-team all-MVC Valley, posted 46.98 combined adjusted average, shot 44 per nine holes and averaged 90.5 in six 18-hole rounds.

Isabella Pettersen, soph., Iowa City Liberty — Placed third at the 4A state meet, first-team all-MVC Mississippi and divisional Player of the Year, owns MVC’s top returning combined adjusted average with 39.66, shot 74.71 for 18 holes.

Teagan Schaefer, sr., Williamsburg — Tied for 13th at 2A state tournament, all-Wamac performer, placing third at the conference Super Meet, boasted a 46.10 combined adjusted average, shooting 88.88 per 18 holes.

McKenna Stackis, soph., Western Dubuque — First-team all-MVC Mississippi, placed 16th at 4A state tournament, led the Bobcats with a 43.73 combined adjusted average.

Teams to watch

Cedar Rapids Washington — The Warriors are the defending CRANDIC champions. They graduated six seniors from last year, but have nine this season, filling in around all-Metro and all-conference performers Mya Messenger and Mackenzie Parks. Freshman Jane Petersen, the Pribyl’s Novice division winner, should make an immediate impact.

Western Dubuque — The Bobcats have five of six starters back, placing sixth at the 2021 4A state tournament. Ella Kluesner and Stackis were first-team all-conference players, while Hanna Kluesner earned honorable mention honors. Western Dubuque boasts the third-best scoring average in 4A with returning players.

Washington (Iowa) — The Demons have been one of the most successful programs in recent years. They won the 3A team title last spring, giving them four of the last six contested state championships and six total team crowns. Makenna Conrad, Kaylin Long and Alecia Goff are back with state experience. The Demons opened this season with 179, winning a triangular against Mid-Prairie and Columbus Community.

Lisbon — The Lions return three starters from last year’s Class 1A state qualifying team that won the TRC East. Depth is a concern, but the Lions have three strong scorers to lead the way in Kaylie Kelchen, all-conference performers Karlee Luneckas and sophomore Brooke Ellyson.

West Delaware — The Hawks return four starters from last year’s fifth-place state tournament team. They were second in the Wamac Super Meet and won the Wamac East Division. West Delaware was 44-7 overall last season and had a 199.53 combined adjusted average.