Actually, that’s not true. "We’re not repeating or defending anything," said Ragone who returns just two players from last year’s national tournament-qualifying team. "We’re CHASING another title. We want to be the hunters, not the hunted."

Ragone is excited about the prospects for 2008 and will get an early look at his team at the season-opening 36-hole Millikin Invitational Mar. 14-15. He points to a pair of veterans and a group of talented underclassmen as the reasons for his optimism. "We have an extremely talented team," he said. "We’re also very deep and getting better every week. Those are some good attributes to have."

Senior Aaron Thiel (Williamsfield, Ill./Williamsfield) and junior Jake Kilberg (Rock Falls, Ill./Rock Falls), return from last year’s championship squad to form the nucleus of the team chasing the Scots’ fourth conference title in seven years. The pair of returners were two of the top three scorers from last year. Thiel’s 79.6 stroke average last season was second on the team and Kilberg had the team’s third-best average at 80.1. Both played well in the fall season when Thiel cut two strokes off his career average.

Ragone is expecting more than just low scores from his returners. "Aaron is a great role model and is showing tremendous leadership," praised the Scots’ coach. "Jake did a great job for us last year as a sophomore and we’ll need him to remain consistent."

The Scots will have a junior, five sophomores and three freshmen battling for a spot. Ragone expects the group’s lone junior, Greg Jones (Roseville, Ill./Roseville), to be among the top competitors for a spot in the top five. Jones increased his value in the fall season, shaving three strokes off his career average. Sophomores Ryan Harvey (Hennepin, Ill./Putnam County) and Ryan Tapscott (Port Byron, Ill./Riverdale) are also in the mix for the top five. Harvey also had a good fall season, averaging four strokes under last year’s mark. Three other sophomores – Zach Coles (Lake Villa, Ill./Antioch), Nate Harroun (Taylor Ridge, Ill./Rockridge) and Kyle Tuor (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) will add depth to Ragone’s lineup.

A talented freshman class may have an immediate impact. Rodney Clayton (Plano, Ill./Plano), who averaged 79.0 during the fall season, has experience on the Scots’ home course. The freshman shot a 77 in last year’s IHSA Class A sectional held at Gibson Woods. Joe Hoffman (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) brings a stroke average near 77.0 to the table. Ragone describes Hoffman as a "big, strong kid…a real competitor" who is consistently long off the tee. Jason Pinns (St. Charles, Ill./Glenbard South) rounds out the freshman competing for a position. With a name like Pinns, it seems only natural that Ragone would call him a "very talented" golfer.

The Scots have made steady progress since their return to the links in 2000. With the enthusiastic Ragone at the helm, the Scots have not only raised their conference title total, they’ve raised their expectations. "Our goals are loftier now," said Ragone. "We EXPECT to go to nationals every year."

A bold statement from a coach who has just one senior returner, but then again, Ragone has never been one to settle for second-best.