Matching last season's success won't be easy for the Althoff boys golf team, but coach Dan Polites feels the Crusaders have the talent to do it.
Althoff posted a 21-0 dual match record in 2010 while winning six tournaments and placing third in the Class 2A state tournament. The Crusaders won the South Seven Conference tourney, ending Centralia's championship string at six, while winning the regional and placing second in the second behind state runner-up Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin.
Regular season titles included the St. Clair County Tournament, the O'Fallon Panther Classic, the Mascoutah Invitational and the All-Catholic Tournament. Althoff placed third in the Champaign Centennial Invitational and the Alton Tee Off Classic.
"We had a team that finished second at state in 1994 and third in 1995, so we tied for the second-best finish in school history," Polites said. "It was a pretty memorable season."
Graduation losses from that squad included three-time state qualifier James Leopold and Patrick, who was the Crusaders' No. 4 player. Four of the top six return: senior co-captains Sam Lidisky and Austin VonAlst, junior Jimmy Murphy and sophomore Michael Johnson.
"I think that's a good a top four as you'll find on any high school team in this area," Polites said.
Rounding out the top eight are sophomore Alex Kellogg, junior Taylor David, senior Paul Durante and sophomore Grant Strieker.
"I told the team we need to improve in the five through eight spots, but that's a pretty constant thing in high school golf," Polites said. "Going to state last year, our top four know what it's like to have successful at this level. Coaching a team runs in waves and right now it's awfully nice to have a run like this."
Heading into Tuesday's match against Mount Vernon at Green Hill, Althoff was 8-1 in dual matches. The Crusaders tied Belleville West for first place at the Goalby/Haas Invitational Aug. 18 at St. Clair Country Club, but lost a sixth-score playoff when Johnson had to stop playing due to heat exhaustion.
Althoff placed first at the Alton Tee Off Classic Aug. 16 at Spencer T. Olin, winning the 22-team event for the first time. The Crusaders won the South Seven Preview Aug. 24 at Hickory Ridge and defeated Belleville West by 11 strokes to win the St. Clair County Tournament Aug. 22 at Tamarack. Althoff's team total of 293 featured scores of 71 by Lidisky, 73 by Johnson, 72 by Murphy and 77 by VonAlst.
"That's a terrific score," Polites said. "West has a very good team, so to beat them by 11 strokes is quite an accomplishment.
"If the five through eight guys continue to get better, I like our chances for the postseason. Our ultimate goal is to get back to Bloomington for the state tournament, but first we have to get through the regional and the sectional."
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