St. John, September 19, 2025
News Summary
Allie Huppenthal, a senior golfer at Lake Central High School, displays remarkable consistency and leadership as her team heads into the upcoming sectionals. With an 18-hole average of 77.4 and a standout performance at the DAC championships, she has established herself as a key player. Huppenthal balances her academic excellence with her athletic commitments, ranking in the top 1% of her class. With a focus on simplifying her game and maintaining mental composure, she aims to lead the defending champions at Sectional 2, held at Palmira Golf and Country Club.
St. John — A Senior Star Readies for Sectionals
Allie Huppenthal: calm, consistent and class-act tidy
There is a rhythm to Allie Huppenthal’s pre-round routine that feels easy to picture: a small mark on a golf ball, a steady playlist and a focus that shows up on the scorecard. Allie Huppenthal is a senior golfer at Lake Central High School, and she has been one of the steady hands carrying the Lake Central girls program into big moments this season.
Details matter to her. She marks her golf balls with blue dots and listens to classic rock music before every round, with Bruce Springsteen as a favorite. Those little rituals are part superstition, part comfort, but mostly part of a process that has delivered very reliable golf. She has shot in the 80s only twice all season, with an 18-hole average of 77.4, a number any high school golfer would be proud to hang their hat on.
Last year was a big team spotlight. Huppenthal was a key player in leading her team, the Lake Central Indians, to a 15th-place finish at the state finals last year, showing she can contribute when the pressure ramps up. This spring she turned heads locally and in the conference, and the hardware reflects it. She has been recognized as the 2024 Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) MVP, a short way of saying she’s been the one opponents circle when figuring out how to beat Lake Central.
Mental game and clutch bounce-backs
Credit for the improvement isn’t only in the swing. Coach Andy Gurnak noted her improved mental game and ability to recover from bad holes. You see that in tournaments where a single rough hole could spell disaster; Huppenthal has been able to reset and move forward rather than getting swallowed by one mistake. That trait showed up again at the conference tournament. At the DAC championship last week, Huppenthal finished as the runner-up with a score of 79, a tidy number that underlines her consistency against tough fields.
Her approach these days is compact and intentional. Huppenthal placed emphasis on staying grounded during her rounds, stating that it helped her improve her score. The result: steadier rounds and more trust from teammates when the scoreboard matters most.
More than golf: academics first
Off the course she is as driven as she is on it. Academically, she ranks in the top 1% of her class and aspires to attend Notre Dame next fall. That combination of excellence is exactly why coaches and teammates have taken notice. Coach Gurnak highlighted her exceptional academic achievements, stating she stands out more than any athlete he has coached.
She keeps perspective: Huppenthal views academics as her top priority, above sports, and credits golf for enhancing her time management and mindset. For athletes who struggle to juggle school and sport, her setup is a reminder that commitment to classroom work can and does power athletic success.
Sectionals countdown: keep it simple
As the Indians gear up for the next test, they’ll do it on home turf. Lake Central will host Sectional 2 on Monday at Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John, and the team will tee off with a target on its back because Huppenthal’s team is the defending champion in the sectional. The tone from the coach is confident and practical: this is about staying in the moment and playing one shot at a time. As her team prepares for sectionals next week, she plans to focus on simplifying her game and taking it one shot at a time.
At the heart of it, she’s the kind of senior every program loves to have. Coach Gurnak acknowledges Huppenthal as an outstanding senior leader whom her teammates look up to for advice and support. She has also made it personal: Huppenthal expressed a desire to be the leader she wished she had during her first two years in the program. That mix of results, routine and self-awareness is why her senior season is getting the buzz it deserves.
Quick snapshot for fans and rivals
Simple message for anyone watching: stay aware of the number 77.4, respect the blue-dot ritual, and know that come Monday the Indians will be fighting to repeat. She’s a player who blends brainy off-course habits with low-key on-course firepower, and that’s a winning combo until someone proves otherwise.
FAQ
Who is Allie Huppenthal?
Allie Huppenthal is a senior golfer at Lake Central High School.
How does Allie prepare before rounds?
She marks her golf balls with blue dots and listens to classic rock music before every round, with Bruce Springsteen as a favorite.
What was her contribution to last year’s state finals?
Huppenthal was a key player in leading her team, the Lake Central Indians, to a 15th-place finish at the state finals last year.
Has she received any conference honors?
She has been recognized as the 2024 Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) MVP.
What are her season stats?
She has shot in the 80s only twice all season, with an 18-hole average of 77.4.
What did Coach Andy Gurnak say about her?
Coach Andy Gurnak noted her improved mental game and ability to recover from bad holes.
How did she fare at the DAC championship?
At the DAC championship last week, Huppenthal finished as the runner-up with a score of 79.
What does she say helps her scoring?
Huppenthal placed emphasis on staying grounded during her rounds, stating that it helped her improve her score.
How is she doing academically?
Academically, she ranks in the top 1% of her class and aspires to attend Notre Dame next fall.
What did Coach Gurnak highlight about her academics?
Coach Gurnak highlighted her exceptional academic achievements, stating she stands out more than any athlete he has coached.
What comes first for her: academics or sports?
Huppenthal views academics as her top priority, above sports, and credits golf for enhancing her time management and mindset.
What is her focus heading into sectionals?
As her team prepares for sectionals next week, she plans to focus on simplifying her game and taking it one shot at a time.
Where and when are the sectionals?
Lake Central will host Sectional 2 on Monday at Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John.
Is Lake Central favored in the sectional?
Huppenthal’s team is the defending champion in the sectional.
How is she regarded by teammates?
Coach Gurnak acknowledges Huppenthal as an outstanding senior leader whom her teammates look up to for advice and support.
What leadership role does she want to play?
Huppenthal expressed a desire to be the leader she wished she had during her first two years in the program.
Quick Reference Table
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Allie Huppenthal |
| School | Lake Central High School |
| Ball mark / Music | She marks her golf balls with blue dots and listens to classic rock music before every round, with Bruce Springsteen as a favorite |
| Season consistency | She has shot in the 80s only twice all season, with an 18-hole average of 77.4 |
| Conference honor | She has been recognized as the 2024 Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) MVP |
| State finals contribution | Huppenthal was a key player in leading her team, the Lake Central Indians, to a 15th-place finish at the state finals last year |
| DAC championship | At the DAC championship last week, Huppenthal finished as the runner-up with a score of 79 |
| Academic rank / Plans | Academically, she ranks in the top 1% of her class and aspires to attend Notre Dame next fall |
| Sectional | Lake Central will host Sectional 2 on Monday at Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John |
| Team status | Huppenthal’s team is the defending champion in the sectional |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Bryson DeChambeau Returns to Ryder Cup for Team USA
Ryder Cup Drama Heads to Long Island
Carsen Michelucci’s Inspiring Rise in Southwick Golf
Lake Central Golfer Allie Huppenthal Excels at State Finals
Additional Resources
- NWI Times: St. John — A Senior Star Readies for Sectionals
- South Bend Tribune: IHSAA Girls Golf Regional Results
- NWI Times: Recent High School Golf Updates
- Google Search: Girls High School Golf
- NWI Times: Girls Golf Highlights
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
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