Sylvie Brick felt accepted as a Marian Catholic student before she even transferred from Morgan Park Academy.
The junior said she and her future teammates were hanging out in the summer and some other teens came by and started talking to them.
"They said 'There's the Marian golf team,' and one of my teammates, Sam (Barlage) said, "If Sylvie plays with us, we will go to state,'" Brick said. "It kind of made me feel real good and that I would be part of their team and I was their friend."
It is tough to fit in, especially when you transfer from a school of 160 to a school nearly 10 times that size.
"My teammates really helped because I felt like I didn't know anyone and they came out and made me feel right at home," Brick said. "I knew at the end of the day, I had some familiar faces and friends on the golf team.
"I was worried about how I would fit in at school and with the team. I was worried about taking someone's spot, but nobody ever said anything discouraging to me."
It was a little different when she had to play with the boys team at Morgan Park Academy.
"Guys from other teams would say, 'Who are you?' And, 'What are you doing here?' My teammates would step up to my defense," Brick said. "Maybe they just didn't want to lose to a girl. I usually let my game speak for itself."
She let her clubs do the talking Wednesday at the Class AA Marian Catholic Regional at Coyote Run. Brick was medalist with an even-par 71, leading the Spartans to a second-place finish and berth in today's Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional at Coyote Run. The regional was a measuring stick as she beat out several golfers in H-F's Ashley Armstrong, Michelle Mayer, Ryann Gilley, Lauren Dawson, Elizabeth Hassett and Sarah Armstrong.
"It means a lot to compete against the best and they are," she said referring to defending state champ H-F. "I just had a good day and I took my time and it paid off. I loved playing against great competition."
Marian coach Linda Gilley said Brick has been a bonus to the program, which lost one dual meet -- to H-F.
"Sylvie made those adjustments of being at a new school and teammates, and she really is a great golfer," Gilley said. "She has really been a plus not just because of her golfing ability, but her great disposition. She is a good teammate and Sylvie is always working to improve her game and it has shown."
She would like to take it up another notch.
"We want to get to state as a team, but we also know it will be tough because of the top teams in the sectional," Brick said. "This season has been great for all of us and my teammates, they really made me feel welcome."
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