Signed Letter of Intent Saturday January 20 at Chester High School ceremony
By Jim Beers
CHESTER, Ill. – Chester High School senior, Camryn Luthy, has been recruited to play golf at the collegiate level. Not only has she been recruited, she was recruited at the NCAA Division I level. Miss Luthy will play golf next year at the University of Southern Indiana (USI).
Saturday January 20 at Chester High School’s James F. Sharp Cafeteria, Luthy signed a letter of intent to commit to play golf for the Screaming Eagles of the University of Southern Indiana.
Attending the event was Camryn, her parents, Andrea and Bruce Luthy, Jr., her brother Jack, and her sister, Taylor. Other family members included her paternal grandfather Bruce Luthy, Sr. and Grandmother Paula Luthy.
Jenny Cartwright, CHS Athletic Director, was the coordinator of the event and she served as Mistress of Ceremonies, introducing Camryn and giving a brief synopsis of Camryn’s career.
Besides parents and administrators, Camryn’s Private Golf Coach, Dan Polites, and her CHS Head Golf Coach, Meg Schnoeker, were in attendance as well as members of her Golf Team, Basketball Team, and other friends and acquaintances and supporters. They were all there to take part in the event and watch Camryn signing her letter of intent to play golf at the University of Southern Indiana (USI).
USI is a public university just outside of Evansville, Indiana. USI is a relatively young university having been founded in 1965 (59 years ago). The university now has a population of approximately 10,929 students.
At USI students can be classified as dual credit, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral. USI offers more than 130 areas of study. Classes are offered in the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. The motto of the University of Southern Indiana is, “Knowledge is for Life”.
USI joined the Ohio Valley Conference, NCAA Division I, in the 2022-2023 school year. Prior to that, USI competed at the Division II level in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The USI sports teams are the “Screaming Eagles.”
Head Golf Coach for the Lady Screaming Eagles Golf Team is Ann Sullivan. She began her tenure at USI in October of 2023. Prior to that, Sullivan was Head Golf Coach at Brenau University for two seasons.
Sullivan graduated from Milligan University in 2017 with a Business Administration Degree and from Eastern Tennessee State in 2019 with a Master’s Degree in Sports Management. She is originally a native of College Grove Tennessee.
Camryn Luthy is excited to be able to play at USI. Luthy said, “I am very happy to be going to the University of Southern Indiana. It is very exciting to be able to play golf at the collegiate level. I want to study Business and they have a good Business Department. We toured their Business Department when we visited this year and it is really something. It is also close enough for my parents and others to come see me play.”
Luthy got her first set of clubs at the age of four. Her parents said that she knew what to do with those clubs at that early age. She began competing at the age of nine. Luthy was the 2-time Junior Southern Illinois Golf Association “Player of the Year” as a young golfer. In 2022 Camryn was the Southern Illinois Golf Association “Junior Champion”.
For the past three years (sophomore, junior, and senior years), Miss Luthy has gone the extra miles and taken private golf lessons. She has been under the coaching direction of Dan Polites, Swing Coach and owner of D. P. Golf Center in O’Fallon, Illinois. Polites said, “Camryn has been a great student and works hard. She is going to be an asset to the University of Southern Indiana Golf Program.”
Once in high school, Camryn was a 4-time “All-Conference” golfer. Her freshman year she competed in the Black Diamond Conference and the last three years, she competed in the Cahokia Conference. She was the Cahokia Conference Champion her sophomore year in 2021.
Luthy made three IHSA Sectional Golf March appearances and she is a 2-time “All-South Golfer” selection. Throughout her four years at Chester High School, Camryn earned the distinction of winning the “Lowest Average Award”, (in golf, that is the best golfer). She also won the “Most Birdies Award” all four years as a Lady Jacket golfer.
Camryn’s Head CHS Golf Coach, Meg Schnoeker, said, “Camryn Luthy was the Lady YellowJacket’s number one golfer and team leader this past season. She has achieved countless accomplishments during the season and throughout her entire high school golf career.”
“I am grateful I was able to be her coach for three of those four years of her high school career, and now I get to watch her continue golfing at the University of Southern Indiana.”
“I am so proud of Camryn, and I cannot wait to see all she accomplishes for her team at USI. The Lady Jackets Golf Team will miss her next year, but we can’t wait to follow her college career. USI is lucky to have her!”
Camryn was also very involved in other sports throughout her life. She played volleyball for two years at CHS and ran track for one year. Her senior year she has already completed her 4-year golf career. She has returned to basketball after taking a two-year break from basketball. She is a key member of the Lady Jacket Basketball Team. This spring Luthy will play her third year of high school softball.
CHS Head Basketball Coach, Jeff Mott said, “I would like to say first that I coached Camryn when she was in 8th grade and she played basketball for me at St. John Lutheran School. Camryn is a competitor and will always give you everything she has.”
“She is always positive toward her teammates. She is the type of player that any coach would be lucky to have!”
CHS Athletic Director, Jennifer Cartwright said, “Camryn has had a very successful high career at golf. She is a leader of her team and is always looking to improve. I have no doubts she will do great at the University of Southern Indiana! CHS wishes her the best!”
Besides excelling in sports, Miss Luthy is also very involved in her academic pursuits and extra-curricular activities at CHS.
Camryn has been the Vice President of her Class of 2024 for the past three years. She has also been a member of the CHS Student Council for her sophomore, junior, and senior years.
She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the CHS Environmental Club “The Green Team”, Sting Newspaper, HIVE Pep Club, Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the Summit Yearbook Staff, and she was a member of the Spanish Club. Camryn plans to study business at USI.
Camryn’s mother, Andrea Luthy said, “Her Dad, Bruce Luthy, Jr. and I are very proud of Camryn. She has put in many hours of hard work to improve her golf game. To see it pay-off is very exciting for us!”
“University of Southern Indiana is a great school and after meeting the coach, we knew this would be a great fit for her. We can’t wait to watch her compete at the next level.”
Chester High School senior, Camryn Luthy (middle), signs a letter of intent to play golf next year at the NCAA Division I University of Southern Indiana for the Screaming Eagles. The signing event took place Saturday January 20 at the CHS James F. Sharp Cafeteria. With Luthy are her parents Bruce Luthy, Jr. (left) and Andrea Luthy (right). Jim Beers Photo
The billboard in the CHS James F. Sharp Cafeteria invites al CHS students and staff to Camryn Luthy’s signing event to play golf at University of Southern Indiana. The event was well attended and recognized Luthy for her excellent high school career and collegiate recruitment. Jim Beers Photo
Camryn Luthy is visited and congratulated by her CHS Lady Jacket Basketball Team and other friends Saturday January 20th at her signing to play golf next year at University of Southern Indiana. Jim Beers Photo
Camryn Luthy is joined by several members of her 2023-24 Lady Jacket Golf Team at her signing event to play golf next year at NCAA D-I University of Southern Indiana. Jim Beers Photo
Camryn Luthy signs her letter of intent to play golf next year when she attends the University of Southern Indiana. Luthy is joined by her parents Bruce Luthy Jr. and Andrea Luthy (sitting) , and her Private Swing Coach Dan Polites, owner of DP Golf Center of O’Fallon, Illinois, and Meg Schnoeker, CHS Head Girl’s Golf Coach. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School Athletic Director Jennifer Cartwright welcomes everyone to Camryn Luthy’s signing event Saturday January 20. Luthy will play golf next year at the University of Southern Indiana. Notice some of Luthy’s trophies, medals, and other awards on the table to the left and on the table in front of her. Luthy is one of just a few CHS Athletes that have been recruited to compete at collegiate level in NCAA Division I schools. Jim Beers Photo
Camryn Luthy, a Chester High School senior golfer, signed a letter of intent to play golf next year at the University of Southern Indiana. The signing event took place Saturday January 20. With Luthy are her parents, siblings and paternal grandparents. (Seated, left to right) are Father, Bruce Luthy, Jr., Camryn Luthy, Sister Taylor, and Mother Andrea. (Standing, left to right) are Brother Jack, Grandmother Paula Luthy, and Grandfather, Bruce Luthy, Sr. Jim Beers Photo