Illinois High School Disc Golf Championship: Dixon Dominates Varsity Boys, Woodard Soars in Girls Division

The landscape of competitive disc golf is evolving with impressive speed, and a significant new landmark was established this past May. The PDGA Youth & Education Coordinator, Justin Menickelli, lauded the event's success.

On May 30th, 2026, disc golf crossed an important boundary when Dixon High School clinched victory in the Boys Varsity division at the high school state championship held at Oaks course in Mokena, Illinois. This marked a significant moment for the sport as Illinois became one of nine states to host official PDGA-sanctioned scholastic championships, joining Alaska, California, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Vermont.

The competition itself was notable being described as "the largest state high school championship to date." This event featured a substantial field: 72 players vying for top honors across two rounds of play on The Oaks course. It highlighted the growing structure of youth programs facilitated by PDGA's scholastic division codes, which were praised by organizers.

The Dixon High School Discin' Dukes emerged triumphant in the Boys Varsity team event, led by their highly-rated player Jimi Gosinski (970 rated). The team was rounded out impressively by Jayvian Herwig, Doolan Long, and Cade Kirchhoff. Their victory secured a custom trophy for the school.

Behind them, Minooka High School captured second place overall, followed closely by Downers Grove North High School in third position among schools competing fiercely in the Boys Varsity Division. While Dixon took home the team title Gosinski's individual performance was exceptional enough to lead his school and win the Boys Varsity Individual division as well.

Meanwhile, the Girls Varsity competition saw an outstanding display of youthful talent. Addison Woodard from Genoa, Illinois delivered a standout performance by bagging an ace on hole number 7 during round one alone. She finished her final round with a respectable score for a player rated at 960 and secured the individual title in the Girls Varsity division demonstrating impressive consistency.

The event recognized not just athletic prowess but also team spirit. Minooka High School, driven by talent from Jillian Bean and Malia Rogers, emerged victorious in the tightly contested Girls Varsity team championship overcoming a challenge from Leland High School.

Both champions received substantial recognition for their efforts: Gosinski and Woodard won custom trophies, PDGA memberships (an incentive for future competition), Innova Junior Scholarships, along with an invitation to compete at the 2026 PDGA Junior World Championships in Pittsburgh. This is a significant opportunity fostering growth among younger players.

The success of this event underscores the increasing maturity and appeal of disc golf as a competitive sport. It provides a platform for high school athletes like Gosinski, Woodard, Bean, and Rogers to gain valuable experience and exposure. The fact that many other players used PDGA's scholastic division codes highlights the expanding reach beyond just elite competitors.

The organizers expressed great satisfaction with the outcome noting that "With a full field using our new scholastic division codes, team awards, and strong sponsors, TD’s Matt Anderson, Nathan Brooks, and Casey Martin as well as other key personnel did everything we’ve been dreaming of." This indicates confidence in the sport's direction regarding youth engagement.

The achievement also highlights the importance of accessible community courses. UDisc is a platform designed to help players find and navigate these types of venues easily. Their mission includes connecting with the disc golf community and providing resources for new players ensuring they can access and enjoy competitive opportunities like this one whenever they near.

Such events are crucial proving that while fun is paramount (as Steady Ed Headrick famously noted), serious competition on a scholastic level also brings significant achievement and rewards. The Dixon High School team's dominance in Boys Varsity alongside Woodard's solo victory cemented May 30th, 2026 as a memorable day for Illinois disc golf schools and an encouraging sign for the future of competitive youth play across the nation.

This article was researched and written with AI assistance using the Disc Golf Buzz synthesis engine, drawing from multiple sources: pdga.com (https://www.pdga.com/news/dixon-high-school-wins-woodard-cruises), udisc.com (https://udisc.com/), statmando.com (https://statmando.com/stats/cash-prize-mpo). Search powered by: Tavily, Brave Search, SerpAPI/Google. Written with AI assistance: Ollama/deepseek-r1. Original reporting credit belongs to the source journalists.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/dixon-high-school-wins-woodard-cruises