, September 18, 2025
News Summary
Senior golfer Allie Huppenthal from Lake Central has showcased remarkable skill and leadership, leading her team to advance in the state finals. With an impressive average score and strong mental game, she has established herself as a key asset for her team. Balancing her commitment to academics, Allie ranks in the top 1% of her class and is set to attend Notre Dame. As Lake Central heads into sectional play, Allie’s performance and leadership are pivotal for the team’s success.
St. John — Lake Central Golfer Allie Huppenthal Shines as Team Advances to State Finals
In a season full of steady swings and clutch finishes, senior golfer Allie Huppenthal has emerged as the kind of player every coach dreams about: calm under pressure, sharp on the scorecard and relentless in the classroom. Her routines are small but unmistakable — she marks her golf balls with blue dots before each round and leans on an oldies playlist featuring Bruce Springsteen to settle in before tee time. Those little rituals are part of a bigger package that has propelled Lake Central forward as the team heads toward bigger stages.
The big picture is clear. Last fall she led Lake Central to a 15th-place finish at the state finals, and this year she has continued to raise the bar. Huppenthal is the 2024 Duneland Athletic Conference MVP and has been remarkably consistent: she has shot in the 80s only twice this season and her 18-hole average is 77.4. Even more impressive to coaches and teammates is what has changed off the tee — a stronger mental game that keeps her moving forward shot to shot.
Coach Andy Gurnak notes visible improvement in Allie’s composure. During the DAC championship she recovered from a rocky start to finish as runner-up with a score of 79, a round where staying grounded and not dwelling on past shots proved decisive. Her approach to sectionals will be simple and deliberate: simplify the game and focus on one shot at a time.
Academics are as important as athletics for Huppenthal. She ranks in the top 1% of her class and plans to attend Notre Dame next fall. Coach Gurnak goes as far as describing Huppenthal as standing out academically among all athletes he has coached. She prioritizes academics over sports stating Academics are my top priority. Golf has helped shape her mindset and sharpen time management, skills she says transfer directly to life in the classroom.
Allie’s leadership shows up in small, effective ways. She offers support and advice to teammates, aiming to be the leader she wished she had during her first two years of high school golf. That mentorship mattered at the regionals, where she shot a personal best of 76 and helped Lake Central win the regional with a team score of 338. That regional victory is the program’s first since 2016 and gives the team a real boost heading into state.
Looking at the immediate road ahead: Lake Central will host Sectional 2 at Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John at 8 a.m. on Monday. The team enters sectionals as the defending champions and will face stiff competition from Crown Point and Munster. Allie’s recent form and leadership make Lake Central a team to watch, and the successful regional score puts them in a strong position for the upcoming state championship at Prairie View Golf Course in Carmel.
The narrative of growth is hard to miss. Huppenthal’s previous best at the regionals was 92 last year; this season she turned that around to shoot 76 in the regional championship, a dramatic personal turnaround and a catalyst for the team’s success. Her season stats — consistent scoring, strategic mental work and a coach who sees genuine growth — make the final stretch of the season must-see for local golf fans.
What to watch this week
- Sectional host: Lake Central will host Sectional 2 at Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John at 8 a.m. on Monday.
- Key competitors: Crown Point and Munster are the main challengers for Lake Central at sectionals.
- State target: The team is aiming to peak at the state championship at Prairie View Golf Course in Carmel.
Quick player snapshot
Senior, top 1% in class, Notre Dame bound, 2024 Duneland Athletic Conference MVP, 18-hole average 77.4, personal best 76 at regionals, shot in the 80s only twice this season, mental game markedly improved, key team leader.
FAQ
Q: Where and when will the sectionals be held?
A: Lake Central will host Sectional 2 at Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John at 8 a.m. on Monday.
Q: What is Allie Huppenthal’s 18-hole average?
A: 18-hole average is 77.4.
Q: What was Lake Central’s team score at the regional championship?
A: Lake Central won the regional with a team score of 338.
Q: What personal best did Allie Huppenthal shoot at the regional championship?
A: She recently shot a personal best of 76 at the regional championship, contributing to Lake Central’s team victory with a score of 338.
Q: How did Allie perform at last fall’s state finals?
A: Last fall, she led Lake Central to a 15th-place finish at the state finals.
Q: What does Allie prioritize?
A: She prioritizes academics over sports stating Academics are my top priority.
At-a-glance table: Key facts and logistics
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Allie Huppenthal, senior |
| Pre-round ritual | Marks golf balls with blue dots and listens to oldies playlist featuring Bruce Springsteen |
| Conference honor | 2024 Duneland Athletic Conference MVP |
| 18-hole average | 77.4 |
| Season consistency | Shot in the 80s only twice this season |
| Recent best | Personal best of 76 at the regional championship |
| Team regional score | Lake Central won the regional with a team score of 338 |
| Last regional win | 2016 |
| State finals last fall | Led team to a 15th-place finish at the state finals |
| Sectional info | Lake Central will host Sectional 2 at Palmira Golf and Country Club in St. John at 8 a.m. on Monday |
| Next big stage | State championship at Prairie View Golf Course in Carmel |
| Academic standing | Ranks in the top 1% of her class; plans to attend Notre Dame next fall |
For fans who love the drama of regional turnarounds and the grind of sectional play, this Lake Central squad and Allie Huppenthal deliver a storyline of steady improvement, leadership and big-time potential as they chase state glory.
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Additional Resources
- NWITimes: Lake Central Golfer Allie Huppenthal Shines as Team Advances to State Finals
- South Bend Tribune: IHSAA Girls Golf Regional Results
- NWITimes: High School Golf News
- NWITimes: Girls Golf Highlights
- NWITimes: Sports Update
- Wikipedia: Golf
- Google Search: High School Golf
- Google Scholar: Golf
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
- Google News: High School Golf
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