Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Eryn Monn

Oswego IL

03 September, 2021

10:10 AM

Description

Senior Eryn Monn was not the prototypical golfer heading into high school. In fact, before trying out her freshman year, her experience was limited to maybe one round and going to the driving range. However, over the past 4 years, Eryn has not only grown in her abilities as a golfer but her maturity and leadership have helped her become one of the leaders for the Wolves, which is why she is this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week. Having been a softball player since 2nd grade, Eryn decided to give golf a chance after she found a friend who was trying out for the team. "My friend was trying out and I decided to come out for the team," says Eryn. She goes on to add, "I had never really played before, but my experience in softball helped me drive the ball, and once I made the team, I started to take the game more seriously." Head coach Brian Chandler has had the opportunity to see Eryn improve her game over the past four years, saying, "Eryn came in as a softball player, so she came in with some natural swing understanding." He goes on to say, "She knew how to swing the club hard and generate some clubhead speed. What I've noticed, especially this year is her work at practice trying to improve her short game. I think her maturity is in her understanding of what it is going to take to consistently score for the team." Putting has been something that Eryn freely admits needed the most work to improve her game, and this past year she has set out in practice to do just that. The additional practice has helped her shoot a personal best of 42, and she has her sights set on breaking 40 this season, but Eryn's goal is to keep improving each time out and be the best leader she can for her team. Personally, Eryn has used golf as a mechanism for bonding with her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. "Both grandfathers and two great grandfathers all enjoy or enjoyed golfing," says Kris Monn, Eryn's father. He goes on to add, "Eryn, and her younger sister Sydney who also plays golf (Sydney is a freshman at OE), has been able to find unexpected conversations with those men about her accomplishments on the course. It has allowed her to connect with them with a common interest and build upon already strong bonds." Not only has golf allowed Eryn to develop bonds with family and pick up a new sport, but she has also been a leader in helping teammates and generating interest in the sport. "Recently, we've had quite a few softball players join the program," says Chandler. He goes on to add, "Eryn's talked up the program and gotten girls to come out and try the sport. She's been a leader for the program by not just helping it grow but helping some of the newer golfers because she was in the same spot as a freshman being new to the game." Eryn is hoping she and her teammates can make the sectional tournament this season, a feat they accomplished when Eryn was a freshman and sophomore but fell short of last season. Next fall, Eryn plans on attending Grand Valley State and majoring in business in hopes of landing a job in human resources. "Eryn loves working with people and talking with people, so focusing her studies in an area that emphasizes "people" sure seems like a good start," says Kris. As a student, Eryn has already laid the groundwork for succeeding in any field she chooses. Eryn's Principle of Biomedical science teacher, Scott Johnson, says, "Eryn is a fantastic student that will succeed in any career path she chooses. Eryn would regularly take the lead in group projects and help her peers navigate the difficult scientific content." Eryn's Spanish teacher, Juan Leal, echoes those sentiments, saying, "Eryn is very open-minded and is willing to see things from the other perspective. As a student, she is organized and determined to do well." As an athlete and student, Eryn has used her time at OE to enhance her skills and make life-long connections with classmates. Looking back, Eryn would advise those attending OE in the future by saying, "Don't be afraid to reach out and make friends by talking to people. Everyone comes in awkward at first, so don't be afraid to be the first to say something because it will help you connect with classmates faster." Taking a risk and trying out for the golf team as a freshman has helped Eryn make those connections, and she's hopeful the work and dedication she has put into improving her game will help her and Wolves make memories this season that will last a lifetime.