Three Lemont Students to Play Collegiate Mens Golf

Lemont High School graduates Ray Cepele (North Central College), Erik Erdmier (Robert Morris University) and Joe Paloian (University of St. Francis) all have committed to playing men’s golf at the collegiate level beginning in Fall 2013.

Cepele, Erdmier and Paloian all have been contributors for head coach Mark Hollatz’s highly successful boys’ golf program in recent years. Over the last two years—with all three contributing on the varsity squad—the Indians have posted a 30-3 dual meet record, won two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, captured IHSA Regional and IHSA Sectional titles, and finished among the top three teams at the IHSA Class 2A boys golf state finals.

In 2012, Lemont moved up to the IHSA Class 3A level, but still enjoyed a fine campaign. The Indians were 13-2 in dual meets and won their seventh straight SSC Blue title.

Paloian led the team with his career-best 40.1 9-hole average, and finished with the team’s low round in seven events. He repeated as the SSC Blue individual champion by shooting 79 at the conference championship.

Cepele (41.9), who repeated as an All-SSC performer, led the team at two events, including the IHSA Class 3A Regional, where he shot a 79 to tie for 11th individually and advance to the IHSA Class 3A Sectional.

Erdmier competed in 14 events, and posted a career-best 9-hole average of 45.4.

In 2011, Lemont went 17-1 overall and won SSC Blue, IHSA Regional and IHSA Sectional titles. The Indians capped the season by finishing third at the 2011 IHSA Class 2A boys golf state finals, earning the program’s first-ever state trophy.

Cepele’s 41.2 9-hole average was the best of his career, and he paced the squad at three events. Paloian (41.3) was at his best at the end of the season, shooting a 75 to capture the SSC Blue individual title, and totaling 160 over two rounds at the IHSA State Finals to finish 27th individually. Erdmier participated in five events and posted a 9-hole average of 46.9.

A member of the National Honor Society and a high honor roll student, Cepele will play for head coach Lloyd Krumlauf at North Central, an NCAA Division III institution located in Naperville, and a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). Krumlauf just finished the sixth season of his second stint as North Central’s men’s golf coach. The Cardinals have finished as high as fifth in the CCIW Tournament under his tutelage, and were sixth at both the 2012 and 2013 conference championships. 

A high honor roll student and National Honor Society performer, Paloian will play for head coach Paul Downey at St. Francis, an NAIA institution located in Joliet, and a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). The Fighting Saints have enjoyed great success under Downey’s leadership, winning more than 1,000 matches in 18 years. He recently guided St. Francis to a CCAC title a 26th-place finish at the 2013 NAIA National Championship.

Erdmier will play for head coach Nathan Bell at Robert Morris, an NAIA institution located in Chicago and also a member of the CCAC. The Eagles recently finished their second season under Bell’s direction.