Previewing area high school boys and girls golf teams
Hiland senior Jack Mast headlines a Hawks team loaded with talent, the team returning four key members from last year's Inter-Valley Conference title team.
The high school boys and girls golf seasons began July 28. Here are season previews for schools in The Holmes Bargain Hunter’s coverage area:
Hiland boys
With all but one letter-winner returning from last season’s league champion team, the Hawks are poised for big things.
“We’ll miss Camden (Bille, who graduated), but the other players on the team are ready to fill his role,” 21st-year coach Austin Kaufman said.
Returning letter-winners include senior Jack Mast; juniors Andrew Beun, Grant Bille and Zane Rossetti; and sophomore Jesse Conn. They’ll be joined by freshmen newcomers Samson Miller, Solomon Yoder, Grady Weaver, Luke Schlabach and Cyprus Miller.
“Jack Mast and Andrew Beun have been posting some impressive numbers in their junior tournaments this summer,” Kaufman said. “Many players have elevated their game this winter/summer.”
With five freshmen in the fold this season, course management will be a focus to start the season.
Hiland finished 12-1 overall and won the IVC title last season. Kaufman expects his team to repeat as league champs.
West Holmes boys
The Knights will go through a bit of a youth movement this season, with their four returning letter-winners all being juniors.
“We are younger than we were last year but have some good returning golfers and some exciting additions to this year’s squad,” seventh-year coach Mike Molnar said. “Seniors Briar Rising and Kobie Yoder are coming out as seniors, but both are golfers who can contribute and will improve as the season goes on. All four of our juniors lettered last year, and Zane Kinsey was our leading golfer as a sophomore. Plus, our younger golfers have spent a lot of time at the range this summer and have improved.”
Returning letter-winners are juniors Kinsey, Blake Harford, Ford Jones and Koen Bridenthal. Newcomers include seniors Rising and Yoder; sophomores Malachi Dodson, Hunter Haynes and Asael Kandel; and freshmen Logan Allison and LeLand Turner.
“Zane Kinsey returns as our leading golfer but will be pushed by a couple of his teammates,” Molnar said. “The guys are competitive with each other, and there are several golfers who could be medalists for us throughout the season. There is potential in our younger golfers, and they are not afraid to put in the work. If they work together and push each other, they can be a special team.”
Molnar said his team is full of potential but hasn’t earned anything yet.
“We have to work on the mental side of the game and get more consistent with our clubs,” he said. “The good news is that the guys have shown a willingness to work on these areas. We have to continue to work hard.”
After finishing sixth in the Ohio Cardinal Conference last season, Molnar expects his team to make some noise this year.
“The OCC is a strong league, and the three-tournament setup really creates suspense,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do, but we will surprise some teams this year. If we work on getting better each day, we will be better than people suspect.”
West Holmes girls
The Lady Knights return nearly everyone from last season’s inaugural team.
“We return four letter-winners from a year ago and add two talented freshmen,” seventh-year coach Mike Molnar said. “It will be our second season with a full team, and the girls are hungry to show their improvement.”
Returning letter-winners include seniors Kaylee Gingerich and Jevin Zheng, junior Payton Hudson, and sophomore Aubrey Burchfield. Joining them will be freshmen Sophie Robb and Mattie Shenkel.
“Aubrey Burchfield was first-team OCC last year and returns as a sophomore,” Molnar said. “She will be pushed by our two freshmen, Sophie Robb and Mattie Shenkel. Both were excellent junior high golfers, and we are excited to see them play varsity. Kaylee Gingerich, Jevin Zheng and Payton Hudson are in their second year of golf and have improved dramatically.”
Expectations surrounding the program are higher this season.
“It will be interesting to see how we go from having no expectations placed on us to learning how to be successful and handling the pressure that goes with it,” Molnar said.
Molnar expects his team to be competitive in the OCC this season after last year’s fifth-place finish.
“The OCC is very balanced in girls golf,” he said. “Every team lost talented golfers to graduation. If we work hard and keep our heads, we have a chance to be competitive.”
Garaway boys
Coming off a third-place finish at last year’s Division III state tournament, the Pirates will need to replace three of their top five golfers.
“We will need time to grow and mature as a team, but I believe we can jell together over the season and be in good shape come tournament time,” fifth-year coach Mikayla Johnson said.
Four letter-winners return — seniors Gavin McRobie and Lofton Numbers (didn’t golf as a junior) and juniors Austin Tedrick and Henry Swartzentruber — and they’ll be joined by freshmen newcomers Isaac Bowland and Weber Numbers.
“I believe our strength will be our ability to adapt and stay focused,” Johnson said. “We will take pride in our ability to control our emotions and to remain true to our personal style of play.
“I expect us to be raw and struggle from time to time throughout the season. We have some incoming freshmen that may need time to develop and adjust to the high school tees and game. With losing our No. 1 player in Trace Gibson, we will look to our upperclassmen to take that leadership role, and though I believe we have some that can step into that role, it will take time for that to take shape. I believe we will adapt and overcome the struggles of adjustment to grow and mature over the course of the season.”
Garaway finished 15-1 overall and second in the IVC with an 11-1 record.
“We have a lot of talented teams (in the IVC) that on any given night can beat anyone,” Johnson said. “I look for us to compete and overall grow throughout the season.”
Garaway girls
The Lady Pirates will be limited in depth this season but not in talent.
“We will be small but mighty,” 10th-year coach Angie Miller said. “With four returning lettermen, we will still be strong and competing for another IVC title. Unfortunately, there will be a little more pressure with only having four players and having to count all four of those scores.”
Returning letter-winners include seniors Sara Weaver and Audrey Immel, junior Kylie Miller, and sophomore Reegan Gerber. The quartet played a key role last season in Garaway finishing unbeaten in IVC play and winning the league title.
“They all have played in many summer tournaments to prepare themselves for this season,” coach Miller said. “We plan to keep a tough schedule, playing in many Div. I tournaments against some good competition, which makes us better and better as the season goes along.
“This is a close group of girls who love this sport and love doing it with each other. They believe in each other, and that will be a key to their success.”
Internal pressure is the only thing that can stop this year’s group from achieving plenty of success, according to coach Miller.
“This team once again has the potential to make it to the largest stage and compete against the best in the state,” she said. “The only thing that could stop them is any pressure they put on themselves.”
Winning the IVC remains the standard.
“We have high expectations to lead the league once again this year,” coach Miller said.
Waynedale boys
The Golden Bears will be an experienced bunch this season with six letter-winners returning.
Seniors Jordan Miller, Hank Miller, Brayden Schlabach and Caden Snyder and juniors Logan Troyer and Hudson Barkman are all back. Jordan Miller was the Player of the Year in the Wayne County Athletic League last season while Hank Miller and Barkman earned second-team honors.
“Our depth and experience will push each other every day in practice,” 31st-year coach Melinda Budd said. “Inter-squad competition should push us to stay focused and handle pressure even on practice days.”
Waynedale finished 22-1 overall, 17-1 in WCAL play and won the conference tournament by two strokes over Smithville.
“The WCAL has been very competitive the last few seasons,” Budd said. “We expect the same, as every team has good players returning. Most of these players played in several summer tournaments. We will be disappointed if we’re not at the top of the standings at the end of the season.”