High School Golf Glory: The 2025 IHSA State Finals Delivered Unforgettable Moments—Here’s Who Came Out on Top
The 2025 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) golf state finals were nothing short of electrifying, showcasing the best young talent across Bloomington-Normal and Decatur. From clutch performances to razor-thin tiebreakers, the competition was fierce—and the results are in. Here’s everything you need to know about the champions, the near-misses, and the standout players who made this year’s finals unforgettable.
The Big Winners: Peoria Area Shines Bright
Dunlap’s Nolan Eccles and Bureau Valley’s Wyatt Novotny stole the spotlight, each securing individual state championships. Their victories highlighted a strong showing from the Peoria region, which sent 24 individual golfers and four full teams to the finals. But here’s where it gets controversial: Was the tiebreaker system fair? Washington’s boys’ team finished second in Class 2A after tying Normal U-High with 596 strokes—only to lose the title because U-High’s fifth golfer edged theirs by a slim margin. Should team depth outweigh total score? Sound off in the comments!
Trophies & Medals: Who Took Home the Hardware?
The IHSA awarded trophies to the top three teams in each class (1A, 2A, and 3A for boys; 1A and 2A for girls), while the top 10 golfers in every division earned medals. Below, we break down the results—including a few surprises that’ll make you rethink which teams to watch next year.
Class 1A Boys
Location: Prairie Vista Golf Course, Bloomington
- Team Champions:
1. Teutopolis (623 strokes)
2. Fulton (634)
3. Port Byron Riverdale (637)
- Top Medalists:
1. Wyatt Novotny (Bureau Valley, Sr.) – 144
T-2. Coen Pennington (Teutopolis, Sr.) & Nolan Murphy (Illini West, So.) – 146
T-4. Lian Lodding (Harvest Christian) & Owen Van Zuiden (Fulton, Jr.) – 148
Class 2A Boys
Location: Weibring Golf Club, Normal
- Team Champions:
1. Normal U-High (596, won tiebreaker)
2. Washington (596)
3. Wheaton Academy (307)
- Top Medalists:
1. Nolan Eccles (Dunlap, Jr.) – 137 (dominant win!)
T-2. Carson Tribout (Althoff) & Brody Allen (U-High) – 140
Class 3A Boys
Location: The Den at Fox Creek, Bloomington
- Team Champions:
T-1. Winnetka New Trier & Evanston (589) (yes, a rare co-championship!)
3. Elmhurst York (607)
- Top Medalists:
1. Lester Low (Evanston, So.) – 137 (watch out for this sophomore!)
2. Isaac Rumler (Moline, Jr.) – 138
Girls’ Divisions: Record-Breaking Performances
Class 1A: Mount Carmel’s team victory (624) was anchored by two top-3 medalists: Zeme Moore and Miley Kennard (both tied at 152). But the real story? Sarah Hyten (Father McGivney) blew past the field with a 146.
Class 2A: Oswego East’s Alli Wiertel (So.) fired a jaw-dropping 136 to claim the title—10 strokes ahead of her nearest competitor. Is she the next phenom? Let’s debate!
Final Thoughts & Your Turn
From tiebreaker drama to underclassmen rising to the occasion, the 2025 finals proved golf is alive and thriving in Illinois. But we want your take: Should team championships hinge on fifth-golfer scores? Who was the most surprising standout? Drop a comment below—agree or disagree—and let’s keep the conversation going!
For full coverage, follow Adam Duvall (@AdamDuvall) on Twitter.
