Boys Division 1 Previews

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

A huge thank you to the many coaches who took the time to send in their team information!

Alliance Aviators

Coach- Jeff Graffice
Conference- Eastern Buckeye Conference
Home Course- Sleepy Hollow
Team Website

Returning Players
Sam Gress- 12th
Ben Craig- 11th
Jacob Smith- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Brock Runion- 9th
Ethan Jackson- 9th

Coach Comments- Looking to improve this summer to be competitive this year

Amherst Comets

Coach- Mitchell T. Gillam
Conference- Southwestern Conference
Home Course- Fox Creek Golf Club
Team Website
Schedule

Returning Players
Ryan Yoder- 12th
Landen Bray- 12th
Prince Tran- 11th
Alek Kissane- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Mitchell Diehl- 12th
Jacob Sprinkle- 11th
Michael Haddix- 11th
Jordan Miller- 10th
Landon Wolf- 10th

Coach Comments- We return 3 players that were 1st or 2nd team all conference. Ryan Yoder, Prince Tran, Landen Bray

Avon Eagles

Coach- Jeff Stevens
Conference- Southwestern Conference
Home Course- Bob-O-Link Golf Course
Team Website
Schedule
Last Year’s Results- 2nd Place – SWC, 6th Place – Sectional, Hunter McCourt – District Qualifier

Returning Players
Hunter McCourt- 12th
Jack Cherrstrom- 12th
Zane Austin- 12th
Tommy Urbancic- 11th
Tim Mai- 11th

Avon Lake Shoremen

Coach- Matt Perry
Conference- Southwestern Conference
Home Course- Sweetbriar
Team Website

Returning Players
Kyle Ritter- 12th
Cole Cartwright- 12th
Nick Hurd- 12th
Nolan Clancy- 12th

Barberton Magics

Coach- David Kaser
Conference- Suburban League (American)
Home Course- Pine Valley
Team Website
Instagram- magics_golf
Last Year’s Results- Dual record: 11-1, Suburban League American Conference: 6th out of 8

Returning Players
Marco Silva- 11th
Cole Macko, 11th
Christian White- 11th
Devin Miller- 12th


Coach Comments- Marco Silva had led the team each of the last two years. He advanced out of sectionals and missed a playoff to go to the state tournament by a stroke. We are hoping to build off of last year’s success and take the next step this fall. Cole Macko also made great strides last season. I am expecting more of the same this year. The team will have four returning starters on varsity, but graduating three will challenge the entire team.

Bay Rockets

Coach- Rick Manderine
Conference- Great Lakes Conference
Home Course- Sweetbriar Legacy
Team Website
Twitter- @BHS_BoysGolf
Last Year’s Results- Overall Record 91-33  Great Lake Conference 26-4  Dual Record 11-3, 1st GLC Championship, 2nd Pioneer Classic, 3rd GLC Preview, 5th Comet Invitational  

Returning Players
Josh Hammond- 12th
Ian Williams- 11th
Jack Chalmers- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Ben Shuster- 11th
Aaron Bergstresser- 12th
Travis Ropeleski- 10th
Jayson Miller- 10th
Ben Wagner- 10th
Jayden Perrine- 10th
Trevor Ormsby- 10th


Coach Comments- The Bay Village squad is returning three high level players from last season.  Senior Josh Hammond will be the elder statesman.  Josh has been an integral player the past two seasons.  Juniors Ian Williams and Jack Chalmers will join forces with Josh to be the catalysts of the squad.  

Josh earned 2nd team GLC honors the past two seasons.  Ian Williams was a first team GLC member.  At the GLC Championship (Grey Hawk Golf Club), Ian fired a 76 to earn 2nd place individual honors.  The Rockets surprised the field and finished  first place @ the GLC Championship.  

Jack Chalmers will round-out the top three.  Jack gained valuable experience at the varsity level.  Jack is a smart player.  He grinds out pars.  All three are strong iron players.  With improved short games, they can catapult into elite players in the area.   These fellas have been putting in the work hard and are ready to make some noise.  

The remaining three varsity sports will be highly contested. Potential candidates include sophomores Travis Ropelski, Jayson Miller, Ben Wagner, Jayden Perrine and Trevor Ormsby.  The “Fab Five” freshmen made noise at the JV level.  It’s time for these sophomores to take their games to the next level.  It will be a heated competition.  

We are looking forward to a competitive season.  Our hope is to surprise the teams in the area.  We are youthful…but have a big upside.  The Great Lakes Conference has some of the strongest players in the area. It will be an exciting conference to follow this season.

Berea-Midpark Titans

Coach- Jim Cook
Conference- Southwestern Conference
Home Course- Royal Crest Golf Club
Team Website
Twitter- @BMHSTitanGolf
Last Year’s Results- 3-9 record, first at the Titan Invitational, 5th in conference

Returning Players
Andrew Greger- 11th
LJ Krek- 11th
Luke Nedoma- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Luka Santori- 11th
Leo Smith- 11th
Braeden Kinnard- 11th

Coach Comments- The graduation of 3 seniors has made our team young, however our 3 returning players have veteran experience in matches & tournaments. It will be interesting to see who shows up for those varsity spots. We have a very talented incoming Freshman class that should push the upperclassmen.

Brunswick Blue Devils

Coach- Colin Smith and Chad Thompson
Conference- Greater Cleveland Conference
Home Course- Pine Hills and Bunker Hill
Team Website
Schedule
Twitter- @brunswickhsgolf
Last Year’s Results- 5th as a team at the Good Park Sectional (335). Individual qualifier Max Heilbrun shot 73. Max shot 78 at the Pine Hills District.

Returning Players
Eric Carbone- 12th
Cayden De Wever- 12th
Dayten Bobula- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Dylan Piatak- 12th
Mikey Makara- 12th
Mike Samano- 12th
Jonas Hinderer- 11th
Ethan Kovacs- 10th

Coach Comments- We are extremely excited for new players to have the opportunity to compete for the Blue Devils this season. We will be extremely young and relatively inexperienced, but many of these young players are putting in a lot of work in this offseason. We are also looking forward to continuing to compete at an extremely high level, participating in some of the best tournaments in Northeast Ohio. We are extremely grateful to those coaches that give our players the opportunity to play in their events year in and year out.

Chardon Hilltoppers

Coach- Dan McGuigan
Conference- Western Reserve Conference
Home Course- St. Denis

GlenOak Golden Eagles

Coach- Scott McCahan
Conference- Federal League
Home Course- Sanctuary Golf Club

Returning Players
Anthony Morabito- 12th
Colin Whitmer- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Tyler Tolin- 12th
Gavin France- 10th
Evan Negulis- 10th
Patrick Arway- 10th
Ben Sibert- 11th
JP Parkinson- 11th
Dylan Wiles- 11th

Coach Comments- GlenOak will look to rebuild after losing 6 seniors last fall. We will return (2) 3 year letter winners and add a lot of new and younger golfers to fill the void.

Harvey Red Raiders

Coach- Scott Cummings
Conference- Chagrin Valley Conference (Valley)
Home Course- Painesville Country Club
Team Website
Facebook- Harvey Red Raider Golf
Last Year’s Results- 6-14

Returning Players
Joey DiAlfredi- 11th
Julian Baker- 11th
Micah Cannon-1 0th
Alex Boskovic- 10th
Aiden Englehart- 10th

Coach Comments- We are trying to take a step up as we had 3 freshman last year.

Archbishop Hoban Knights

Coach- Quinn Parker
Conference- Independence
Home Course- Mud Run, Portage Country Club, Brookside Country Club, Firestone Country Club
Team Website
Twitter- @HobanBoysGolf
Last Year’s Results- 4th Place State (Division I, Ohio State Golf Course), 2nd Place District (Division I, Pine Hills Golf Club, 1st Place Sectional (Division I, Good Park Golf Course).

Returning Players
Jack Vojtko- 12th
Kord Ready- 12th
Charlie Hite- 12th
Chris Pollack- 11th
Ray Dress- 11th
Braden Herstich- 11th
Brett Bagatti- 11th
Ethan Cooper- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Ben Berridge- 9th


Coach Comments- 9 returning varsity golfers for the 2023 high school golf season. Very experienced group of golfers. Looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish this year. Team will be lead by our three seniors Jack Vojtko (Ohio State Golf Recruit) Kord Ready, and Charlie Hite. We have a very strong junior class – Chris Pollak, Ray Dress, Braden Herstich , and Brett Bagatti. Two strong underclassmen golfers Ethan Cooper (Soph.) and Ben Berridge (Fr.).

Hoover Vikings

Coach- Scott Snyder
Conference- Federal League
Home Course- Arrowhead Golf Course
Team Website
Last Year’s Results- 3rd in league, 3rd in sectional tournament, 15th in district tournament

Returning Players
Ernie Otte- 12th
Luke Stutzman- 11th
Daniel Gambone- 11th
Jake Bowling- 10th
Carter Russell- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Seth Anderson- 12th
Owen Casper- 9th
Joey Stahura- 9th

Coach Comments- We look forward to competing and growing as the season progresses.

Hudson Explorers

Coach- Matt Villenauve
Conference- Suburban League (National)
Home Course- The Country Club of Hudson
Team Website
Twitter- @hudsongolfrocks
Last Year’s Results- 1st Place Sectionals, 16th place Districts, Suburban League Champions

Returning Players
Sam Fauver- 11th
Callahan Lawler- 12th
Adam Ruffer- 11th

Jackson Polar Bears

Coach- Jim Kish
Conference- Federal League
Home Course- Shady Hollow CC, The Legends of Massillon
Last Year’s Results- Federal League Pre-Season 1st, Hudson Invitational 1st, Stark County Invite 1st, Post Season Federal League 1st, Sectionals 1st, District 3rd, State 10th.

Returning Players
Jordan Kish- 12th
Ethan Kasler- 12th
Aidan Loy- 12th
Max Weber- 11th
Raffeale Scassa- 10th

Jackson looks to be very competitive this year with a solid group of returning letter winners. Jordan Kish, Stark Co. Player Of The Year, will look to continue his success heading into his senior year.

Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders

Coach- Ben Curtis
Conference- Suburban League (American)
Home Course- Windmill Lakes GC
Instagram- @rooseveltboysgolf
Last Year’s Results- Suburban League Champions

Returning Players
Liam Curtis- 11th
Christian Mineo- 12th
Rowan Baynes- 12th
Jack Puhalla- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Jack Flynn- 10th
Owen Puhalla- 9th

Coach Comments-
Players to Watch- Liam Curtis (POY last year and State Qualifier), Christian Mineo and Rowan Baynes.
Team- Looking forward to great competition, playing on some great courses. This is a great group of kids who enjoy playing and competing against each other and their peers

Lorain Titans

Coach- Dino Pappas
Conference- Lake Erie League
Home Course- Pinebrook

Returning Players
Landis Jarvis- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Antonio Rosario- 12th
Shane Hargreaves- 12th
Janai Marrero- 12th
Jousleirys Villanueva- 11th

Coach Comments- We are a mixed (boys/girls) team of mostly beginners. We have been working hard in the off season learning the game and are looking forward to competing against other similar teams in the area.

Louisville Leopards

Coach- Michael McFerren
Conference- Independent
Home Course- Sleepy Hollow Golf Club – Alliance, Ohio
Last Year’s Results- 10-1 record, 9th in the Tannenhauf Sectional

Returning Players
Jack Mayle- 12th
Zach Root- 12th
Cole Miller- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Zach Ganser- 12th
Michael Filipowicz- 11th
Joey Duncan- 11th
Braden Franks- 11th
Ethan Gruber- 9th

Coach Comments- We are returning 3 players that will wind up being 4 year letter winners. Outside of those three guys, we are going to be very inexperienced at the varsity level. Two of these three returnees have qualified for the District tournament in the past, so I look for 1 or more of them to challenge to get back to Pine Hills again this year. This year we are going to be looking for that solid 4th score as many other programs are throughout the area, if we can find that score, we will be very competitive in matches and tournaments.

Massillon Tigers

Coach- Josh Sykora
Conference- Independent
Home Course- Legends of Massillon
Twitter- @MTigerBGolf
Last Year’s Results- 1st place at the Smithville Invitational at Hawks Nest, 2nd place at the CVCA Invitational at Glenmoore Country Club, Played 16 Invitationals, Played 3 9 hole matches and went 2-1

Returning Players
Brock Jenkins- 12th
Trey Lautenschleger- 12th
Owen Robinson- 12th
Aiden Koehler- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Preston Reinhart- 11th
Hayden Smith- 12th

Coach Comments- 4 of our top 5 players are returning this season. Brock and Trey have both played very well this summer. They are both going to be players to watch for the 2023 season.

Medina Bees

Coach- Mike Mozingo
Conference- Greater Cleveland Conference
Home Course- Fox Meadow Country Club
Twitter- @Medinabeesgolf
Last Year’s Results- Fourth consecutive GCC title, Qualified for State tournament, Finished 12th

Returning Players
Cam Stafford- 10th
Eli Zimmerman- 11th
Coen Miller- 11th
Ethan Cole- 12th
William Guest- 12th

Coach Comments- We’re just trying to build upon last year’s success and try to play our best.

Mentor Cardinals

Coach- Eric Vinborg
Conference- Greater Cleveland Conference
Home Course- Black Brook

Returning Players
Andrew Betz- 12th
John Prentice- 11th

Midview Middies

Coach- Kyle Zimmer
Conference- Southwestern Conference
Home Course- Brentwood
Twitter- @MidviewBoysGolf
Last Year’s Results- League 4-3, overall duals 9-3, Edison Invite champions, Pioneer Invite champions

Returning Players
Drew Difranco- 12th
Ethan Taylor- 11th
Patrick Dolin- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Ryan Kemer- 11th

Nordonia Knights

Coach- Scott Lawrence
Conference- Suburban League (National)
Home Course- Ellsworth Meadows Golf Course
Twitter- @NordoniaGolf
Last Year’s Results- 6th in the Suburban (National), 2nd in the OHSAA Sectional at Windmill Lakes

Returning Players
Drew Kitzmiller- 12th
Ben Mallis- 12th
Caden Cook- 11th
Ryan Mallis- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Carter Bretz- 10th
Brody Gopalkrishna- 11th
Gran Lucician- 12th
Cameron Yanok- 10th

Coach Comments- We bring back a solid core of players that have been working hard over the summer to improve upon last year’s performance. The team will be lead by our two senior returning lettermen, Drew Kitzmiller and Ben Mallis.

North Ridgeville Rangers

Coach- Mike Belpulsi
Conference- Southwestern Conference
Home Course- Pine Brook
Twitter- @coachbelpulsi
Last Year’s Results- SWC 1-6 Overall 1-7

Returning Players
Kyle Urban- 11th
Nicky Mealey- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Tyeson Carter- 11th
Nick Forristal- 11th
Parker Prince- 11th
Ethan Crevda- 10th
Jakob Holland- 10th

North Royalton Bears

Coach- Steven Sprunger
Conference- Suburban League (National)
Home Course- Hinckley Hills Golf Course
Last Year’s Results- 4th place in the Suburban League National Division. Tournament winners at Madison Rams Invitational, Placed 4th at Sectionals and advanced to Districts at Pine Hills

Returning Players
Lukas Cengic- 12th
Ryan Kuchta- 12th
Brandon Jenkins- 12th
Andy Kovalak- 12th
Daniel Lee- 12th
Charlie Wilson- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Roman Gambino- 12th
Ryan Wilson- 9th
Lucas Stringer- 9th

Coach Comments- The Bears are loaded with senior leadership and are looking to compete in the S.L. National Division this year.

Norton Panthers

Coach- Mike Maile
Conference- Metro Conference
Home Course- Spring Hills
Team Website
Last Year’s Results- Last season regular season record was 0-16, Norton finished 1st in Metro Athletic Conference tournament

Returning Players
Charlie Gabor- 12th
Eric Frantz- 12th
Regis Vargo- 12th
Matt Fowler- 11th
Evan Easterling- 11th

Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

Coach- Damon DeMarco
Conference- Southwestern Conference
Twitter- @OFBoysGolf1
Last Year’s Results- SWC Champions, 1 Tournament Win, 2 Individual District Qualifiers

Returning Players
Dylan Sowers- 12th
Jake Platner- 12th
Peyton Katitus- 12th
Cole Odon- 10th
Isac Candow- 12th
Lucas Hand- 12th
Rowan Seymour- 11th
Sam Sedlacek- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Connor Lehmann- 10th
Owen Timura- 11th

The Bulldogs lost a 4 year letterman and conference MVP – Ben Scheeff (Cleveland State), but returns 4 full time varsity players and a few players that did get some varsity experience last year. There will be a rotation at the bottom of the lineup and there will be some good competition for those final 2 spots each week across several capable players. The team will be lead by Dylan Sowers (Sr) who will be in his 4th year as a Varsity player coming off his best year (1st Team All-SWC, District Qualifier, 18 hole avg – 78.0, 9 hole avg – 38.15)

Revere Minutement

Coach- David Archer II
Conference- Suburban League (American)
Home Course- Fairlawn Country Club
Schedule
Last Year’s Results- Suburban League American Division – 4th Place, Suburban League American Division 2nd Team Honoree – Jack Kinder, Suburban League American Division Honorable Mention – Grant Banning, Suburban League Boys Golf Athlete of the Month, October – Jack Kinder, Jack Kinder advanced to the State District Tournament as an Individual

Returning Players
Grant Banning- 12th
Jack Kinder- 11th
Giovanni Lucarelli-Devorak- 12th
Angelo Levak- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Michael Zachary- 12th
Jack Skidmore- 11th
Langston Ford- 10th
Tommy Kinder- 9th

Coach Comments- Revere will be hosting our 3rd Annual “Revere Cup – Friday Night Lights Experience” on Saturday, August 26th @ Fairlawn Country Club. The event has grown both in popularity and notoriety drawing nearly 300 fans/patrons this past season.

Riverside Beavers

Coach- Mike Pickett, PGA
Conference- Western Reserve Conference
Home Course- Little Mountain/Quail Hollow
Last Year’s Results- Brayden Abbott- ALL WRC Conference, Walker Young- All WRC Conference

Returning Players
Brayden Abbott- 12th
Walker Young- 11th
Ben Selan- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Caden Boyd- 11th

Rocky River Pirates

Coach- David Hendrickson
Conference- Great Lakes Conference
Home Course- Big Met Golf Course
Team Website
Schedule
Twitter- @RR_BoysGolf
Last Year’s Results- 8-2 in matches, GLC Champions, Midview Invitational Champions (305 at Columbia Hills CC – season low), Sectional Champions (328 at Greyhawk)

Returning Players
Luke Dietrich- 12th
Nick Tianello- 12th
Dan Capka- 12th
Jack Hurt- 12th
Jack Petrus- 12th
Luke Petrus- 12th

Coach Comments- We’re looking forward to a great season with an experienced group!

Shaker Heights Raiders

Coach- Paul Sampliner
Conference- Greater Cleveland Conference
Home Course- Shaker Country Club and Highland Park
Last Year’s Results- Reached Districts for the 3rd year in a row finishing 10 strokes away from a trip to Columbus. 2022 Winners of the CVCA Invitational, PC Classic, and the NDCL Invitational (306 here, our best team score of the year).

Returning Players
Devan Bhatia- 12th
Quintin Garnett- 12th
Alec Miller- 12th
Noah Rusnak- 12th
Elliot Thome- 12th

Coach Comments- Shaker is looking to build from a solid 2022 campaign that included three tournament wins and a 9th place finish at Districts. Five experienced returning Seniors are charging back to earn a trip to Columbus for their final year. We are also looking forward the challenge of conference play in our re entrance into the Greater Cleveland Conference.

St. Edward Eagles

Coach- Douglas Sessor
Conference- Independent
Home Course- Grey Hawk GC
Team Website
Twitter- @sehs_golf
Last Year’s Results- 5th place Sectionals

Returning Players
Jack Myslenski- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Thomas Marshall- 12th
Vinh Lai- 11th
Sean Curran- 11th
Michael Tyler Polca- 11th
Logan Zaremba- 12th
Jack Wallenhorst- 11th
Ryan McGuire- 11th
Luke Schramko- 11th
Chris Nadja- 10th
Nickolas Torres- 10th

Coach Comments- Very pleased where we are entering the season! The bulk of our program put in a rigorous offseason with strength/conditioning programs and competing in local tournaments. The Eagles are led by two seniors Jack Myslenski and Thomas Marshall with a accompanying deep 2025 class. As we enter this season we are set on making a run at qualifing for OHSAA States.

St. Ignatius Wildcats

Coach- Kevin Neitzel
Conference- Independent
Home Course- Elyria Country Club
Team Website
Last Year’s Results- 2022 Division 1 State Champions

Returning Players
Bradley Chill- 12th
Julian Dugan- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Frank Adamo- 12th
Alexander Stiegele- 10th
Joe Maloof- 10th
Craig Carneval- 11th

Coach Comments- Bradley Chill and Julian Dugan return from the 2022 State Championship team and both are capable of leading us to a state title run. We have a strong group of underclassmen that will be pushing for a place on the Varsity roster. Our goal is to win a third straight State Championship.

St. Vincent-St. Mary Irish

Coach- Jim Currie
Conference- Independent
Home Course- Good Park GC
Team Website
Twitter- @stvmboysgolf
Last Year’s Results- 10-4 Overall Match Record, 9th place Sectional finish, 2nd Place Alliance and Cardinal Classic, 3rd Place Tuscarawas Central Catholic and Field Tournaments, 4th Place Nordonia Tournament, 13 Place CVCA Tournament, 9th Place St Eds Tournament

Returning Players
Harrison Pumphrey- 12th
Paul Merkle- 12th
Nick Wierzbicki- 11th
Paul Witschey- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Ben McKnight- 12th
Jackson Vesco- 11th
Angelo Puglia- 11th
Nate Sparhawk- 10th
Mario Case- 10th

Coach Comments- For us to do well our 4 returning players will have to play well every time we are on the course. Whoever gets the 2 open varsity spots will have to step in and play well to help us.

Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs

Coach- Chet Feldman
Conference- Suburban League (National)
Home Course- Fox Den
Last Year’s Results- 2nd in league, made it through sectionals and just missed going to state. Last year senior, Ben Skripac, did end up going to state and finished 11th overall individually. Sophomore (Junior to be) Austin Wilhoit missed going to state by one stroke.

Returning Players
Matt Kurtz- 12th
Austin Wilhoit- 11th
Eddie Norman- 10th
Tyler Cheetham- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Anderson Hurst- 11th

Coach Comments- We are going to be very young, but the kids will be playing in tournaments in the off season to gain some experience that hopefully will help us going into the season.

Tallmadge Blue Devils

Coach- Scott Campbell
Conference- Suburban League (American)
Home Course- Brookledge
Team Website
Twitter- @Tallmadge_BGolf

Returning Players
Alex Wise- 12th
Gabe Jones- 11th
Warner Carter- 10th

Coach Comments- We will have 3 returning Varsity players and a lot of new faces. We are excited to see the younger players compete for spots.

Twinsburg Tigers

Coach- Scott Levey
Conference- Suburban League (National)
Home Course- Gleneagles
Last Year’s Results- 12/4

Twinsburg expects to be competitive in 2023, led by senior Rob Prevette.

University School Preppers

Coach- Mike Sarris
Conference- Independent
Home Course- Sand Ridge Golf Club
Team Website
Last Year’s Results- 3rd Place Sectionals, 7th Place Districts, Jackson Pinney Individual State Qual.

Returning Players
Adam Sands- 11th
Ethan Roberts- 11th
Jackson Pinney- 11th

Valley Forge Patriots

Coach- Mitchell Hartel
Conference- Great Lakes Conference
Home Course- Ridgewood Golf Course
Twitter- @forge_golf
Instagram- vfhartel
Last Year’s Results- Record: 12-2, Conference Record: 3-2, GLC Tournament: 6th Place Finish

Returning Players
Anthony Donley- 12th
Ryan Repko- 12th
Garrett Hollon- 12th
Stefan Stjepanovich- 12th
Bill Jobes- 11th

Coach Comments- Our team is full of a lot of experience, talent and mental strength. Over the past four years, our players have improved their abilities on the course significantly. Led by Captains Anthony Donley and Ryan Repko, the team is in great hands when it comes to putting up low scores. Other Senior leaders, Stefan Stjepanovic and Gary Hollon also look to continue having solid careers here at Valley Forge. It will be fun to see the progress and steps they take toward posting another successful year for the Patriots.

Wadsworth Grizzlies

Coach- Steve Ferris
Conference- Suburban League (National)
Home Course- Pine Valley
Last Year’s Results- District Qualifier

Returning Players
Landon Blizzard- 11th
Ethan Kuzmik- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Michael Fahey- 10th

Coach Comments- Last season’s District Qualifying has garnered attention- expecting good things this year.

Walsh Jesuit Warriors

Coach- Bill Reilly, PGA
Conference- Crown Conference
Home Course- Brookledge and Ellsworth Meadows
Last Year’s Results- 6 Tournament wins in 2022 (tied) most of the last 15 yrs. Crown conf champs 5th straight year

Returning Players
Parker Barrett- 12th
Anthony Spain- 10th
Ryan Czenzak- 10th
Steven Voinovich- 11th

Potential New Contributors
Dominic Calleri- 12th
Matthew DiMare- 12th
Ben Yeager- 10th

Coach Comments- I believe this team will be very hungry for the post season.2022 was a bitter setback for a talented team who overlooked State Sectional Qualifier for the District tournament and missed the District Tournament for the first time in 22 yrs

West Geauga Wolverines

Coach- Jay Kletecka
Conference- Chagrin Valley Conference (Chagrin)

Returning Players
Landon Lear- 11th
Xander Hinds- 11th   
Traian Hinds- 12th
JT Javorek- 11th      
Kellen Scharf- 11th   

Potential New Contributors
Aiden Hinds- 9th
JJ Rubinski- 9th

Westlake Demons

Coach- Luke Harris
Conference- Great Lakes Conference
Home Course- Sweetbriar
Team Website
Schedule
Last Year’s Results- 2nd in GLC, 3rd in Amherst Invitational, 1st in Comet Classic, 1st in Elyria Catholic Invitational, 3rd in Midview Invitational, 4th at Sectionals and qualified for Districts as a team. 2nd year in a row for that, 13th at Districts, Sion Park was 2nd at Sectionals and qualified for States as an Individual.

Returning Players
Sion Park- 12th
Michael Labenz- 12th
Michael Ambrosino- 12th
Mitchell England- 11th
Matthew Brown- 10th

Potential New Contributors
Josh Turk- 11th
Peyton Wolf- 9th

Coach Comments- This is my first year as coach so I don’t know much. I have been told to watch out for Sion Park. He had a great year last year and should be able to compete for states.

Willoughby South Rebels

Coach- Matt Fundak
Conference- Western Reserve Conference
Home Course- Manakiki
Twitter- @SouthRebelGolf
Last Year’s Results- 5-9, graduated the player of the year

Returning Players
Michael Lavrisha- 11th
Tyler Hace- 10th
James Miller- 11th
Andrew Schrenk- 12th

Potential New Contributors
Chase Stafford- 11th
Austin Parker- 11th
Ralph Zappola- 9th

Coach Comments- We will be young, but we will be competitive.

Lake Erie Girls Golf Association Preview

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

The Lake Erie Girls Golf Association typically is a competitive league made up of teams from the Great Lakes Conference, the Lorain County Conference, and others. The team to beat in 2023 looks to be the Rocky River Pirates under coach Jeff Hammond, led by senior Chloe Holton and junior Mia Ginetti. Other teams in contention include Westlake, who perennially sits near the top of the conference standings and has won the conference the last two years, and North Olmsted, who is a more recent addition to the conference. Columbia and Keystone, who will have a new coach in Greg Morgan, are still building their programs while Fairview, with new coach Chris Kaminski, and Bay will look to set a solid base for the future.

Impact Players

Emma Feakins (JR) Keystone
Megan Forshey (SR) Westlake
Charlotte Fox (SO) Bay
Mia Ginetti (JR) Rocky River
Chloe Holton (SR) Rocky River
Taylor Kuhrt (SR) Columbia
Rose Lane (JR) North Olmsted
Jessica Paracsi (SR) Fairview

Freshmen to Watch

Katie May Baum (Columbia)
Nina Scott (North Olmsted)

Bay Rockets

Head Coach- Victoria Budzyn
Last Year’s Results- 15th at Springvale Sectional, regular season: 5 wins, 11 losses
Coach Comments- Bay High School has a young team with a lot of underclassmen who are consistently improving.

Columbia Raiders

Head Coach- Rebecca Brendza
Last Year’s Results- 4th at The Pines Sectional, 11th at Districts, Overall Record: 9 – 5; Conference Record: 7 – 3; Won the Choke/Prize ball at LEGGA Preview; 3rd place in the LEGGA Championship
Coach Comments- Looking for some strong leadership from our four seniors!

Fairview Warriors

Head Coach- Chris Kaminski
Last Year’s Results- Unknown

Keystone Wildcats

Head Coach- Andy Gibson
Last Year’s Results- 6th at The Pines Sectional

North Olmsted Eagles

Head Coach- Nolan Turpin
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Springvale Sectional

Rocky River Pirates

Head Coach- Jeff Hammond
Last Year’s Results- 7th at Springvale Sectional, 20-1 match play, Regular season LEGGA Champions, 1st place LEGGA preview, 2nd place LEGGA championship, 7th place at Edison Invitation,7th place at Parma Flamingo Frenzy
Coach Comments- Top 3 scorers return from record setting season last year. Chloe Holton and Mia Ginnetti tied for the final district qualifying spot and are back looking to lead the team to another LEGGA Championship and first ever District appearance.

Westlake Demons

Head Coach- Traci Edmunds
Last Year’s Results- 12th at Springvale Sectional, 10-2 record, Back-to-Back 1st place LEEGA Tournament Championships
Coach Comments- I’m excited for golf season! We graduated 5 of our varsity players last season so we will be a young team but I’m confident in our returning varsity players and the talent and experience they bring to our team. I’m also looking forward to seeing the young and upcoming talent to contribute to our teams success!

Portage County Amateurs

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Attached you will find a registration form for the Portage County Amateurs including the Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur and the Kids Am.

The dates at the end of July are fast approaching. 

Just a reminder: The Kids Am is a great first tournament for junior golfers from age 6 and under through ninth grade. Coaches, high school golfers and graduates are on the course at Sunny Hill to help with rules and scorecards if needed. 

The Junior Amateur includes youth in several divisions including 12 and under, 13-15 and 16-19 for both boys and girls.. If you have team members playing in the tournament you would like to watch, please let me know and I can arrange to include them in consecutive tee times. 

High school golfers are welcome to play in the Portage County Amateur. We have found the adult golfers enjoy seeing the prep golfers and competing against the talented high school students from across northeast Ohio.

The Kids Am is at Sunny Hill Golf Course (Brimfield) for one day; four, six or nine holes depending on the grade. 

The Junior Am plays two consecutive days at Windmill Golf Course (Ravenna) and Sunny Hill, 18-holes for 13-19 each day and nine holes each day for 12 and under but youth golfers used to playing 18-holes may move up an age division.

The Amateur competes at Raccoon Hill (Kent) and Windmill Lakes. 

Registration is available via mail-in, on-site at host golf courses or visiting the website PCGolf.net for online registration and payment. 

This is the 93rd season for the Portage County Amateur, the 17th Junior Amateur and the ninth Kids Am.  (The Amateurs also host the Senior Amateur at the end of August for men and women ages 50 and older.)

If you have any questions, would like to register numerous members of your team or need additional information, please do not hesitate to text (330-206-9083) or return email (golffam2@gmail.com).

Looking forward to seeing the junior golfers during the month of July. 

The Amateurs appreciate the golf courses providing a great experience for the youth golfers as well as the Fairways at Twin Lakes and Birdie Shack (Kent) for sponsoring this season’s Kids and Junior Amateur. 

Susan Jenior

2023-amateur-registration-formDownload

Spotlight: Who Is Sherry Du?

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This article is used with permission from the Hudson Explorer School Newspaper and Ellie Davis. The original article can be viewed by clicking here.

By Ellie Davis, Hudson High School Class of 2024

Sherry Du, a junior here at Hudson High School, is an incredibly talented student and an even better friend, teammate and just person in general. According to her peers, she is driven, kind, hardworking, hilarious, thoughtful and someone they know they can rely on no matter what. She is taking and has taken some of the most rigorous AP courses at Hudson, has been a varsity golfer since freshman year and is involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities both in and out of Hudson. The most impressive part about Du is that in the face of everything she does she is incredibly personable and has been described as “a really good friend” by her coaches and peers alike. The purpose of this article is not only to highlight Du and the amazing things she does, but also to portray her perspective on her life and everything that she does so people can understand the answer to the question: Who is Sherry Du?

It is no secret that Du is an excellent student, golfer and musician, but exactly how many activities is she involved in? Du gave a list consisting of golf, Spanish Honors Society, National Honors Society, Science Olympiad, which Du happens to be a Vice President of, Hudson Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO). Du spoke enthusiastically about all of these activities and it was clear that she truly cares about and enjoys being a member of all of them. Something Du mentioned specifically about golf is that “it has been really fun and definitely a really great experience for me getting to meet all my amazing teammates.” Du is a three-year varsity golfer for Hudson and according to head coach Mr. Bolin, she is “a positive role model not only for her peers but for younger people as well.” Du also specified that she spends about four hours in Cleveland every weekend as a part of COYO, and that in her spare time she likes to practice her violin because according to Du, “if I don’t I’ll get yelled at.” This casual remark, aside from showcasing Du’s amazing sense of humor, is a great example of how dedicated she is to always doing her best. 

So, how exactly does one go about managing a life as busy as this? A life like Du’s can be incredibly challenging and demanding, but as Du has gotten older she has gotten better at managing her time so that she may succeed in everything she does. “I would definitely say that time management, in and of itself as a skill that I’ve acquired, has definitely been one of my biggest challenges. Especially during my freshman year and early parts of my sophomore year, I wasn’t really effective with study techniques and that gave me a lot of grief and caused me to lose a lot of sleep.“ For Du, overcoming this challenge was a big part of her early high school career because “sometimes it meant not spending so much time on certain activities in order to prioritize others in order to have a balance of how well [she] was doing in everything overall.“ Finding the study techniques that work best for her has allowed Du to take on more and be successful in everything she does. Additionally, if Du could give one piece of advice to a freshman it would be “learn your study techniques first, and always prioritize your sleep over everything else.“ Doing these things herself has enabled Du to manage her busy schedule and still stay sane while doing it. 

In order to truly understand who Sherry Du is, it is important to hear from someone who knows her well and can speak to her abilities, especially in golf. When asked to describe Du, Mr. Bolin, her golf coach, said that “Sherry is one of the most driven, motivated people that I have ever come across – and it’s not just on the golf course. It seems like anything she puts her mind to she excels and exceeds at. It’s honestly incredible how good she is at everything she does.” Mr. Bolin, or Coach Bolin as Du knows him, has coached her for three years and said that not only has her golf ability continued to improve, but also her confidence as a teammate and leader. “I think Sherry realized that she had potential in a lot of things, and I think her growth has been in deciding where she wants to utilize her talents.” Mr. Bolin also thinks that “she came with a wide range of abilities, and she’s done a really great job determining which of those things she is going to use for her future when it comes to selecting a college and career.” As her golf coach, Mr. Bolin understands and sees the amount of potential Du has, as well as her ability to continually grow in something she is already fantastic at. 

Mr. Bolin also looks forward to Du’s upcoming golf season and thinks that she “has the potential to have a fantastic senior year on the golf course. I’m excited to see her senior year because this is the culmination of everything she’s been working towards, and I think both individually and as a team we have the ability to do some pretty cool things this year.” Last year Du almost made it to States, and this year both she and her coach look forward to trying to make that goal a reality. Du is an incredible golfer, but it is her qualities as a leader that set her apart from the rest. These qualities are what her coach looks the most forward to seeing this year and says that “it has been really awesome to see Sherry jump into a leadership position on the team whether it’s running our social media account or setting up practices in the weight room.” Past seniors have done an incredible job leading the team, and Mr. Bolin thinks that Du and her fellow seniors are doing an amazing job “taking the baton” from them and living up to the high standards they set. 

By now it is clear that Du is an amazing student and golfer, but according to Bolin “what a lot of people overlook is how good of a person she is. She is a really good friend. She is reliable. She’s always there when you need her and she’ll go out of her way to do something for someone else.” Du credits her parents as her biggest inspiration and reason for who she is today. “Apart from that, I think there have always been a couple of teachers who I think have been really inspiring, and my teammates have always been a big inspiration for me. I think they show me what a leader should look like.” It is these people, Du believes, who have inspired her to be the person she is today and helped her continue to be a person they can be proud of.

Who is Sherry Du? She is everything that has just been said and so much more. She prides herself on being someone her peers can look up to, and she continues to find inspiration in those around her. She is a phenomenal student, stellar golfer, show-stopping musician, incredibly supportive friend and all around good person that anyone would be extremely lucky to know. 

Sherry enjoying a rainbow bagel in NYC

It’s Time to Showcase Your Skills

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By Krystine Frisch, Avon Lake High School Girls Varsity Golf Coach

The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation is hosting its high school showcase on Monday, July 31 at Avon Oaks Country Club. Incoming freshmen are invited to play as well as out-going seniors, so girls have the opportunity to play for five years. 

This year LPGA Tour Professional Barb Mucha will headline this premier golf event, which consists of game improvement clinics, an 18 hole individual and team tournament, plus an awards dinner. 

Former player and scholarship recipient Emma Davies has only good things to say about the event. “I loved the OGGF event because it was so organized and it was an amazing way to bond with your team before the school year starts. I also loved how they included pre-freshman year and post-senior year because it was a great way to meet more people,” Davies said. 

Her former teammate Maggie Owens had this to say: “OGGF was one of my favorite tournaments while playing golf in high school. This was a fun and calming tournament to play during the summer. Since this tournament was before the season had begun, it was always an event that my teammates and I looked forward to. Overall, it was a refreshing and relaxing day that started out with clinics and warming up, followed by an 18-hole tournament, “ Owens said.

Liv Ritter will be a senior and has played in the OGGF.  “It’s a good ready-to-go tournament. It is a great pre-season event before the season starts. It gave me advice to improve my short-game…which is half of my game. My short game is important.”

For information on the clinic and tournament, click on this link: Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Showcase.

Spotlight on Natalie Kostalnick, Strongsville High School

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Natalie Kostalnick from Strongsville High School is a Student Scholar Athlete with a 4.3 grade point average, the Greater Cleveland Conference Golfer of the Year for the past two seasons, and a future veterinarian who is already shadowing at some of the largest clinics in the Cleveland area. If those accomplishments and aspirations were all that made Natalie who she has become, it would be an amazing story. But there is more.

Since 2016, Natalie has worked to raise over $25,000 to donate to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus working for a non-profit she started called Drive Out Child Cancer. “There are kids who cannot get out of their hospital rooms for days or even months to do the things they love,” Natalie explained. After playing in a tournament at Ohio State, Natalie and her father made it their mission to raise money for those individuals who need it the most. “I went to the local bar that my family eats at and cleaned bar stools and bar rails. I made $100 and came up with my own $150 more.” She became the first person to donate money to Nationwide that way and decided she could help even more, leading to the beginning of her nonprofit. She mentioned that it has been hard to get the fundraising going since the Covid pandemic, but she is working hard to get it back on track.

Natalie Kostalnick started playing golf at the age of eight. The story began at Mr. Divot’s Sports Center in North Royalton where she was watching her sister hit softballs at the batting cages. “I was not talented enough to hit a softball,” Natalie recalled, “so my dad sent me and my mom to grab me a cut down shaft golf club. And now I’m 10 years into playing the sport.” She started playing in tournaments shortly after that and realized that she had talent when she started to see her name appearing at the top of those leaderboards.

As soon as Natalie stepped on the golf course her freshman year she immediately became the number one player on the team. “I was horrified to play on the team,” she said. “I was going to be the youngest one with some of the best scores. I was definitely intimidated. But there was nothing to worry about because they all welcomed me without any hesitation.” One player that had a huge impact on Natalie is Madison Gilbert, who is one year ahead of Natalie and a recent graduate who will be attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. “We were in elementary school together,” Natalie said. “She is the person I would run to when we had to pick partners at practice. When we have conversations she always listens and gives me the best advice.” Those conversations range from golf to traditional teenage girl talk. “I am very sad to see her leave this year but I know she will go on and do AMAZING things at Miami. Everyone needs a Madison!”

According to Strongsville coach Kevin Weir, “Natalie has changed the culture of our program and has turned it into a contender each year.” They won back-to-back Greater Cleveland Conference Championships in 2021 and 2022, with 2021 being their first in a decade. Natalie led the Mustangs to the District Tournament her freshman year by shooting an 83 at the Sectional Tournament at Sweetbriar Golf Course and followed it up with an 83 at Districts at Ellsworth Meadows. The Sectional Tournament was moved to Springvale Golf Course in 2021, a move that helped Natalie take her game to a whole new level as her 74 helped Strongsville finish in second place. Again, she performed well at the District Tournament at Brookledge with an 82, earning a top 20 finish. She matched her 74 at Sectionals this past season. Natalie knew that she had played well, but was not sure exactly how well. “I did not keep score in my head. When I heard I shot 74 I was honestly surprised. My game felt good but not that good.” It was that good. Natalie finished tied for second place overall in the tournament and her team advanced to Districts yet again.

The weather worsened for Districts at Brookledge in 2022 and high scores were common all around the golf course. Natalie was disappointed with an 89. “The temperature was everywhere,” she said. “It’s hard to play with multiple layers.” That was not meant to be an excuse because other factors were at play. “I also think that nerves got the best of me,” she added. “It is hard to play with the top players in your area and keep that off your mind. It’s much easier said than done.” She is already looking at it as a learning experience.

Natalie is also very happy to share what she has already learned and her experiences with her younger teammates. “I try to give advice (not only golf), try to help them with the game, and I am just always an open ear to help them with anything,” she said. She has had a huge impact on one player for sure. The number two player on the Strongsville varsity team is Hannah Lee, a talented up and coming junior who has some serious golf skills. “It’s amazing to see the golfer and the person that she has become in the last two years,” Natalie said proudly. “I hope I’ve taught her a few things before I leave next year.” What are some of those things? “I try to help her out as much as I can, like reminding her to not four-putt at least once a round,” she responded with a smile. “We know each other’s attitudes and know when we need to be consoled and when to leave each other alone.” Some teams struggle with building chemistry, but because of Natalie along with her past and current teammates, Strongsville is not one of them. “I am very lucky to have such a tight knit team,” she explained.

Coach Weir agrees that Natalie has been a transformative influence on his program. “Natalie has completely changed who Strongsville Golf is as a program since she has been a freshman,” he explained. “Natalie is a natural leader and has shown it since day one.” He added that she is the player who keeps the rest of the team on the same page, and has been doing it since she was named a captain as a sophomore. Coach Weir added, “She communicates with the team as needed during the offseason and makes sure everyone is doing okay on and off the course during the season.”

Coach Weir mentioned that one of the keys to being successful in high school golf is using the summer to improve. Between the end of the school year and the beginning of August, the time typically goes by very quickly. Natalie tries to simulate the rigor of the high school season when she plays over the summer. She typically plays in well over ten tournaments and gets out as often as possible to get practice rounds in. There is one key aspect to all of the practice and competition. “I make sure that I am prioritizing having fun,” she said. Some of the most fun that many junior golfers have over the summer is at the Hudson Junior Invitational, which takes place toward the end of June each year. Natalie was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to play in the Hudson Junior last summer. “It was hard with my dad not being there because he was out of town, but my friends came out to watch,” Natalie explained. “It was also nice to get paired up with one of my friends (Isabella Paez from Magnificat) for the first two rounds.”

An amazing quality shared by the talented high school golfers in Northeast Ohio is how they are able to excel on the golf course while still having a huge impact on their respective communities as well. Natalie Kostalnick is another fine example of a top tier golfer whose impact reaches far beyond the fairways and greens. Coach Weir put it perfectly: “She has the biggest heart and is truly willing to do anything for anyone.”

Wadsworth Looking for Girls Golf Coach

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Wadsworth High School is in need of a girls varsity golf coach (and a boys JV golf coach) for the 2023-24 season. The Grizzlies compete in the National Division of the Suburban League and have a solid program history. Wadsworth has a good amount of depth as a program and looks to return most of last year’s starting lineup. Please share with anyone interested in taking over this program. If interested, please contact Wadsworth Athletic Director Brad Musgrave at bmusgrave@wadsworthschools.org.

New Caddie Program at Lake Forest Country Club

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Lake Forest Country Club is making an investment to establish a caddie program at the club. 

Well established caddie programs have at their core a solid training program, caddies who love the game, and players who understand that walking is a better golf experience.  In addition to being a great way for a teen to earn money, they also learn responsibility, make connections in their community, and gain a deeper appreciation for the game of golf.

Lake Forest Country Club has partnered with ClubUp, a leading provider of caddie solutions, to establish a caddie program at the club.  We are looking for prospective caddies who would like to participate in a formal training program to develop the skills needed to be an effective caddie and to provide caddying services at the club this summer.  Interested participants will be expected to attend training the evenings of May 9-10 at Lake Forest (100 Lake Forest Drive, Hudson.)  Training will include some classroom style learning as well as outdoors, on-course training.  Participants will learn the finer points of caddying and the basics of the course to prepare them to caddie.  Caddies will be certified after completing training and passing a test. 

After certification, caddies will have access to an app where they can be hired by golfers to provide caddying services.  Members will request a caddie when they make a tee time (typically a week ahead of the date of play.)  The tee time system will automatically notify all certified caddies that the loop is available.  Caddies can review the date and time and decide if they want to accept the offer.  After the round, caddies will receive feedback on their performance via the app.

Caddies are considered independent contractors and are not employees of Lake Forest.  The caddie fees are negotiated between the caddie and the golfer prior to the round.  Suggested ranges of fees are provided to both the caddy and the golfer and are based on relative experience and skill of the caddie.

Please pass this note along to anyone who may be interested in caddying this summer.  Anyone interested in attending training is asked to email LFCCCaddie@gmail.com to notify us of your interest.  Further information will be sent to anyone interested.

Sincerely

Gary Grant

Golf Committee Chair

Lake Forest Country Club

Spotlight on Alexandria Vardon, Firestone High School

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“I love golf. I love the game. And it’s the people that make it that way.”

These are the words of Alexandria Vardon, a senior at Firestone CLC in Akron and the top player on the Falcons girls golf team. She is a future engineer, a district qualifier in golf, an example to young student-athletes, and is wise beyond her years. She has already experienced success on the golf course and knows that her attitude toward the game will help her experience success in much bigger ways.

Alexandria Vardon lives and breathes golf and is passing the message along. She remembers getting a set of golf clubs from her father at a really young age and started learning the game at the First Tee of Akron not too long after. “I owe it all to my coach, Jimmy Beers,” she explained. “He has seen my game develop and he is the reason I play.” Alexandria knew that she enjoyed the game when she joined the PGA Junior League with Beers as her coach. She realized that she could have an impact on girls golf at that point, but did not realize how much of an overall impact she would have. Alexandria, along with other first tee standouts Raygan Hoover and Reese Latta from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, would often play and volunteer with the First Tee of Greater Akron. While helping at a clinic not long before the Covid pandemic, a girl participating in the clinic made it a point to single out Alexandria. “She’s my favorite coach because she’s the only girl here!” the young lady exclaimed. A thirteen year old Alexandria was humbled, but it was at that point she realized just how important she was to others. That young player still attends matches just to watch Alexandria and the Falcons play.

Alexandria took the confidence and humility she gained from that special moment with her straight into high school. She was so committed to Firestone CLC that she planned to play on the boys team because they were not expecting to have enough numbers to even field a girls team. In her freshman year, they were able to get enough interest to revitalize their girls program and by her sophomore year they had a new coach who was immediately invested in the program. Jon Bozeka, still at the helm of the program, looks to Alexandria almost as if she is one of his coaches. “Alex has a really tough job revitalizing the program,” he said in respect to his top player. “Her success is laying the groundwork for the future of the team.” Coach Bozeka speaks highly of Alexandria’s amazing work ethic, meticulous approach to the game, and most importantly, her leadership, which he describes as her greatest asset to the team.

Alexandria did not just walk in one day and determine that she was the team leader. “It just happens,” she explained. “It’s about who rises up and fills in where they need to.” She uses the offseason to get the “vibe” of the team and works hard to set an example for the other players to follow. “My teammates are newer to the game but they have passion for it,” she said. “We all enjoy each other’s company.” Firestone is in a great place, returning all their players from last year’s team, including three seniors. That staying power is also a testament to Alexandria’s leadership. “It’s amazing to see how the program has grown,” she reminisced. “We went from having to scrape six players out to having nine total.”

Coach Bozeka is very aware of the difficulties being the best player and team leader can bring. “It is tough to be a leader in golf because you still need to be there for teammates regardless of how you play,” he explained. “Alex is able to do that. The little things she brings have rubbed off on the other players. She is the first on the course and the last to leave. We have a lot of beginners. Alex manages everything and takes it in stride.” After she is finished playing, usually in the first group, she makes it a point to go back to check on her teammates and make sure everything is going well.

Golf is a microcosm of so many aspects of life. Alexandria plays golf the way she lives and her personality is on wide display on the golf course. “Great players grind in tough situations,” Coach Bozeka said, referring to her gritty effort at the District Tournament last fall. By all accounts, Brookledge Golf Course in Cuyahoga Falls played exceptionally difficult last October. Alexandria got off to a rough start and shot 52 on the back nine, her first nine holes of the day. Even though she knew qualifying for the State Tournament was out of the picture at that point, she settled in and because of her determination she ended up with a more than respectable 42 on Brookledge’s front nine. It was the round that got her to Brookledge that had people talking, however.

The Sectional Tournament at Fox Den Golf Course in Stow is typically one of the most competitive sectionals in the state. Highland, who seem to punch a ticket to Columbus every year, was the unquestioned best team at Fox Den. Nordonia and Hudson, both of whom respectively had one of their best teams in school history, each looked to have a good chance to get out. The final spot looked to be a battle between Walsh Jesuit, North Royalton, and Streetsboro. Firestone knew they would have a tough time advancing out as a team but Alexandria was also up against some pretty talented individuals from non-qualifying teams. Alexandria got off to a good start. “The first drive was a good one, and that set the tone.” She played well on the front nine, shooting a solid 43, and continued at a steady pace. Alexandria and Coach Bozeka both knew there was a chance for her to advance. The pressure was on. Nobody in recent memory from Firestone had ever advanced to the District Tournament. Alexandria had that in the back of her mind. On the 16th hole, a short par four, Alexandria hit a great approach shot and knocked in the birdie putt to put her in great shape to advance. That approach shot was the key. It took the pressure off and let her coast in to the clubhouse with confidence and a final score of 83. “That’s what separates her,” Coach Bozeka reiterated, “When a big shot is needed, she makes the shot look easy. She responds late in the round when the pressure is rising.” Athletes refer to this phenomenon in many ways: the “it” factor, being clutch, stepping up under the spotlight. No matter what it is called, it’s pretty clear that Alexandria Vardon possesses it.

Alexandria’s 83 looked like it would last, but that didn’t stop the jitters during the wait after the round, which any golfer will tell you is the most difficult part of any tournament. “It was a wonderful day,” Alexandria recalled. “I knew I played well. I was on the edge of my seat for 45 minutes. It was the longest day of my life.” It was now out of her control and many things were happening at once. North Royalton came in with an excellent team score and beat out both Walsh Jesuit and Streetsboro. That was bad news for Alexandria because Annie Stencel from Walsh Jesuit shot an 80 to all but guarantee herself one of the four individual qualifying spots. Alexandria had beaten all five of North Royalton’s players. There were several good players out on the course still and it got even more nerve-racking when Emily Lamb from Shaker Heights came in with a 79. Alexandria continued to wait but by the end of the day, nobody else came within three shots of taking her spot. She ended up with the third qualifying spot and Lauren Iannetta from Eastlake North took the final spot with an 86, winning a tiebreaker over Walsh Jesuit’s Annie Cors.

Alexandria Vardon had become the first female golfer at Firestone in this century, possibly ever, to qualify for the District Tournament. Districts is a different animal and that experience will be crucial to Alexandria’s progression. It was not a great day at Brookledge, although the front nine provided a lot of positive points. The six hour round was grueling and her group never did quite find a rhythm. The takeaways are extremely important as Alexandria hopes to have a chance to tackle Brookledge again. “Shot making was important,” she explained. “It’s a tournament of perseverance.” Her goal is to get back there her senior year and take the next step. There will undoubtedly be another quality field descending on Brookledge in 2023 but Alexandria has a very good chance to be in the mix yet again.

Not many golfers have played even nine holes under par. Alexandria accomplished that feat on August 29th of 2022 in a match against Canton South at Mud Run Golf Course in Akron, carding a one under par 33. “I’m not a very long hitter,” she mentioned. “So I have to make up for it on and around the green.” That she does and her continuous improvement is evidence. Alexandria plans to play over the summer on the Northern Ohio PGA Tour and will still be around the game of golf working at Portage Country Club when she is not playing. Her goals for 2023 are high and include shooting consistently in the low 80s, breaking 80 for the first time, and hopefully having a chance to play golf in Columbus in late October at the State Tournament. Off the course, Alexandria is planning to pursue a degree in chemical, aerospace, or mechanical engineering. She has qualified for States and Nationals in the robotics competitions the past two years. She also is a member of the International Baccalaureate.

Alexandria loves golf for a few reasons. “The fact you are outside is great,” she explained. “And that pure shot that keeps you coming back.” Her favorite part about playing in Districts was how it reminded her of playing in the summer. “I played with Madolyn Kost (from Kent Roosevelt) and it was so much fun. That was when I knew that I made it.” Alexandria Vardon definitely has made it both on and off the golf course and will be a force to be reckoned with her senior year.

Spotlight on Mati Zines, United High School

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The date was October 14th, 2022. The place was the first tee box at Ohio State University’s Gray Course. A junior from a small high school in eastern Ohio stood on the tee ready to represent her school and her community. The pressure was nothing new for Mati Zines. She stuck to her routine, took the club back, swung, and followed through. She began her journey to shooting 81-80 at the State Tournament and finishing tied for 11th place overall out of 71 competitors on the biggest stage in Ohio Division II Girls Golf.

United High School is not big, encompassing a total of about 530 students. Many schools of similar size struggle fielding teams in smaller sports, such as golf. When Mati started at United her freshman year, the school did not have a girls golf team and she was still fairly new to the sport. Mati had to join the boys golf team and figure out high school golf while being thrown into the deep end. Fast forward to 2023, Mati will be entering her senior year having established herself as one of the top players in the state and having helped build a fully functioning girls golf program at United High School. It hasn’t been a long journey, but the rewards have been plentiful and impactful.

“I only got into golf in junior high,” Mati explained. “I started playing golf a lot later than most girls my age.” It wasn’t until the end of her freshman year that Mati realized she had a bright future in the game. “It was Columbiana’s coach, Bob Hall, who was the one to mention it to my parents,” she said. With Coach Hall’s recommendation, Mati started working even harder on her golf game and began competing in tournaments outside of the high school season. She gained skill, experience, and confidence by competing in Youngstown’s Greatest Golfer league and the Northern Ohio PGA Tour.

Mati went from being the number five player on the boys team to the number one player on the newly formed United girls golf team in 2021. “I was super happy to finally have a team my sophomore year,” Mati said. They only played a handful of matches that year but it was the first time in the history of the school that they had enough players to field a girls team. Mati also had a really successful sophomore season as she reached the District Tournament after firing an 87 at the Pine Lakes sectional.

Success as a sophomore led to a huge confidence boost for Mati. She knew that she had the ability to compete at the highest level and now she just had to demonstrate it as she entered her junior year and remained as the leader of United’s squad. The team played a full schedule in 2022 compared to only a few matches the previous year. Although they competed independently, they were able to play in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, which featured local opponents Columbiana, East Palestine, and Southern Local. Mati easily won the tournament shooting an 84, twelve shots above the nearest competitor, and the United Golden Eagles finished in second place behind Columbiana. She had momentum going for her as the Sectional Tournament approached.

At Sectionals, United came up short as a team from advancing but it was a great day for Mati Zines. Her round of 80 was good enough to earn medalist honors and easily propel her to the District Tournament at Sable Creek. The round at Districts had a little bit of everything. “It was a roller coaster of emotions to say the least,” Mati recalled. “I started off well the first 8 holes, but that all changed on the 9th hole.” A triple bogey to finish off the opening nine could have ruined the day, and would have for many players. Mati was able to get her emotions back in check and made par on the 10th hole. She then faced a problem that would not have even been an issue before 2022 and had to make a very difficult decision.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association made live scoring mandatory at any OHSAA tournament starting in 2022. Players now had access to leaderboards whenever they wanted to check. That new wrinkle left a lot of players with another decision that could affect their mental game. Should they check the leaderboard to see where they stand? “My coach doesn’t like it when I check the scoreboard,” Mati said. “But curiosity always kills me.” She felt that it would be better for her to know exactly where she stood. It proved to be the right choice in that circumstance. “I knew that I was in the top three when I got to the 18th hole,” Mati said, giving her the assurance she needed. “I was nervous because I was afraid I might get excited and have a another hole.” She didn’t. Mati finished the back nine at Sable Creek with an even par 36, giving her a total of 77 and putting her in a tie for first place, which earned her a spot at the State Tournament in Columbus. She had to still break a tie with Abbie Retherford from Ravenna, who also shot a 77, but by that time it didn’t matter. “When I heard there was a tie, I didn’t really mind,” she explained. “I was just happy I got to State. That might have helped me play loose.” She birdied the 11th hole to win the playoff. “Plus, it was fun to play with Abbie for those two holes.” Sable Creek did not play easy during the District Tournament, which made Mati’s (and Abbie’s) round that much more impressive. There were only four scores in the 70s and nine scores in the 80s from a field of 69 golfers.

Most players and coaches will say that the District Tournament offers the most difficult test of the high school season. Getting to the State tournament probably brings out more pressure than even playing in the State Tournament. Columbus was a great experience for Mati Zines as she played consistent golf on her way to the 81-80-162 for a tie in 11th place. The memories that come from OSU’s Gray Course are even better. Mati smiled as she explained her favorite: “My swing coach, Joe Allen, promised me if I made it to State he would caddy for me during my practice round. Well, he didn’t account for the fact that it was going to be windy and cold during the whole weekend. So he had to drive all the way down to Columbus to caddy for me in the wind and cold. But even if it was cold and windy, and I didn’t play as well as I would’ve liked, I still had a good time.”

One of the best things that younger players can learn from Mati is to set high, yet attainable goals, and more importantly, to keep pushing yourself toward even higher goals. After achieving her first goal of making the team at United, she decided that making Districts as a sophomore would be the next step. She was able to achieve that and the new goal was to get to Columbus her junior year. After getting to the top of the mountain, it begs the question: What’s next? And the answer, of course, “Now that I made it to State, I have newer and higher goals for myself.”

Mati plans to play golf at the next level. She is enjoying the college recruiting process and the search for the perfect fit. She made sure to emphasize that academics will always be the priority but she definitely plans to play golf when she finds the right place. In terms of golf, she feels most comfortable with her irons, especially from 120 yards in. She has a solid short game but also knows that any golfer can improve that aspect of their game. When asked about her favorite feeling on a golf course, Mati said that there are two. “The first is when I get a birdie, especially on a par 3. I believe getting a birdie on a par 3 is the hardest birdie to get. You can’t get bailed out with a long drive, you have to be accurate with your irons, and make the putt.” Her second favorite feeling really brings out one of the great aspects of girls golf in this area: meeting new people and making new friends. “My second favorite feeling is playing with girls like me and being able to have fun while playing. It definitely helps me do better. Each player golfs differently. Some have to be completely focused on their shot, however, I wear myself down focusing all the time. It’s nice to talk to new people and connecting with them while also giving your all to your game.”

Mati has made good friends through the game of golf and tries to stay in touch as much as she can. “Samantha Calderone (Warren JFK) is someone I met two years ago through Greatest Golfer, and we found out that we are more like each other than we first realized.” Another is Shaylee Muckleroy from West Branch. “We were on an AAU basketball team before Covid, but didn’t get to know each other very well because of the pandemic. When we golfed together, we realized that we had already met. I got to play with her during a match and Sectionals, which was awesome.” Mati really enjoys playing with players who have similar interests or a similar style of play to her.

One unique aspect of Mati’s golf journey is that she gets to take it with someone who is really close to her. Stacey Zines, Mati’s mother, is the girls golf coach at United. “It’s nothing new,” Mati explained. “I’ve had both parents be my coach my whole life.” She played basketball, soccer, and softball when she was growing up. And, as is the case in many similar circumstances, Mati’s parents may be just a bit tougher on her than the other players. “They have high expectations for me because they want what’s best. In golf, my mom is supportive of me and loves coaching my team. She kept repeating how easy our team was to coach, so I’m glad we weren’t too much trouble for her.”

Stacey Zines is very proud to be able to coach her daughter. “Being a teacher in the school district where she attends, I have had the opportunity to coach Matilyn in many different sports and activities (Academic Challenge),” she explained. “Mati works hard, has a great attitude, and understands the difference between me as a mom and me as a coach.  Her dad has also been her coach throughout youth and now high school softball so the whole family has had a lot of experience with different roles we play.” She loves being able to have a front row seat to everything Mati accomplishes. Coach Zines also explained how golf has impacted Mati’s life. “She is very even tempered on and off the course.  With that being said, she is a totally different person on the course than off. She likes to meet and talk to new people she meets while playing golf.  She is more outgoing on the course than in other areas.” One area that Mati continues to excel at is the classroom, which is where her mother/coach is most proud of her. “In school she definitely maintains her focus. Academics are very important to her so she takes school very seriously.”

Mati offers three pieces of advice for younger or newer players:

  1. The main thing is to have fun when you play. If you take yourself too seriously, you’ll never learn to love the sport.
  2. Focus on your short game!
  3. “Drive for show, putt for dough”. I think this is a great quote because it tells you how important short game is. All the best golfers are focused on short game, and I know it can be boring for new players but it is something that will make you leagues better in the future. 

Mati Zines will be a player to watch in the Fall of 2023. Look for the girls on the United Golden Eagles golf team to look up to their unquestioned leader and make an impact in Division II girls golf.

Spotlight on Annie Stencel, Walsh Jesuit HS

Bobby Bolin1 Comment

Golf teaches you things you can’t learn anywhere else and it gives you experiences you never thought would be possible. Annie Stencel, a junior a Walsh Jesuit High School, can attest to that. From a very young age, Annie has used golf as a springboard to success both in and out of the classroom. She has developed into one of the top players in Northeast Ohio and someone that her coaches, teammates, and opponents both respect and admire.

Annie’s love for golf started at a very young age. “I was four or five years old,” she said. “My grandpa would come down from Buffalo to play golf with my dad. One day I asked, ‘Why can’t I go with you?'” The next day, she was at St. Bernard’s Golf Club in Richfield with her father, learning how to swing a club. Over a decade later, Annie Stencel was teeing the ball up at Brookledge Golf Course playing in the District Tournament as an individual qualifier. She admits it wasn’t an easy road to get there. “I played in the PGA Junior League and joined a middle school team coached by Greg Jones. I played mostly with boys in those programs.” This experience helped her move her way into individual competitions and prepared her for high school golf. “I was humbled by the talent,” she explained, referring to the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour and her OHSAA opponents. She made it her mission to get better and compete with the talented players she met along her journey.

Between her sophomore and junior year, Annie improved her scoring average by over six strokes. This can be attributed to an amazing work ethic and a strong desire to compete. “I always seemed to be paired with Cara (Heisterkamp, from Magnificat) or a Goyette (Alessandra and Isabella, from Highland).” Many players will say playing with the best players makes them a better player. Annie was intimidated at first but has grown to appreciate playing with the best competition. “You get used to it,” she explained. “Cara and Isabella are amazing golfers. They are on a completely different level.”

Playing against the best, paired with a ton of range work, offseason practice, and playing in as many competitive events as she could have all helped Annie build a terrific resume. She broke 80 in an 18 hole event for the first time last summer at Ellsworth Meadows. “It will always have a special place for me,” she said, referring to the highly regarded layout in Hudson. She ended up tying her career best of 79 five times this fall en route to earning several honors. Annie was the Crown Conference Player of the Year and led Walsh Jesuit to the overall team championship. She shot 80 (42-38) at Sectionals to earn the second of four individual qualifying spots to the District Tournament. “Recovery is probably the best part of my game; the ability to shrug it off and play better afterward,” she said alluding to the 2021 Sectional Tournament where she shot 50 on the easier front nine at Fox Den, followed by a 38 on the more difficult back nine. “Some of my best rounds have been after bad starts.”

Walsh Jesuit missed advancing to Districts as a team by a mere two shots last season, something that Annie hopes to change in 2023. “One of my goals is to go to Districts as a team,” she said, embracing the leadership role that she had to take up her sophomore year. This is where she believes that she has grown the most. Walsh Jesuit needed someone to step up as a leader, someone who had the talent, the ability to make teammates better, and to build unity. Nobody expected that role to be filled by someone who barely even spoke early on in high school. “I was very introverted my freshman year,” she openly admitted. “My friends became my friends because they talked to me first.”

Walsh Jesuit had been one of the blue blood programs in Northeast Ohio for years but were starting to see a decline. The Warriors struggled at Sectionals Annie’s freshman year and then lost their top two players to graduation. It was up to her and Annie Cors, whose brother left a very strong legacy with Walsh Jesuit’s boys team. “When I was a sophomore I wanted to make the freshmen feel welcome,” Annie (S.) explained. After a trip to get ice cream after tryouts, a new team leader was born, much more outgoing and much more driven. “I want them to know and understand that this is fun,” she stated. When chemistry develops and role models emerge, success is almost guaranteed.

“One of my favorite feelings on the course is when I watch my teammates do something amazing,” Annie proudly admitted. Of course, “hitting a great shot when a lot of people are watching” also brings her a good amount of joy. As the team continues to build, Annie is trying to start new traditions and continue old ones. Team dinners, offering rides to the driving range, and bringing snacks to events appear to be building that chemistry.

While Walsh Jesuit has not made it to Districts since 2019, they finished one spot away the last two years and are primed to have a very strong team in 2023. The Warriors will return nearly their entire team this fall. Kate Figler, also an important member of the track team, will be the only loss to graduation. Cors will return after another year of huge improvement, shooting 86 at Sectionals, and just missing out as a qualifying individual. “When she’s not golfing, she’s always dancing,” Annie S. said about her talented junior co-captain. Two current freshmen will be instrumental in Walsh Jesuit’s success this year. Annie described Colleen Stadler as an “amazing golfer” who “has a lot of leadership potential.” Stadler burst onto the scene in 2022, having one of the most impressive years of any freshman in the area. She is joined by Gianna Rodenhauser, who also got a good deal of praise from Annie. “Gianna already has a personal best of 88. I was still shooting in the 100s as a freshman.”

Current sophomore Shaunee Miller and freshman Ava Roman bring the energy for the Warriors. “You can hear their voices a couple holes away,” quipped Annie, mentioning how much fun they are to have on the team. Sophomores Elise Miklos, who has won national dance competitions, and Isabel Martin, an extremely talented musician will also look to help the team compete.

Bill Reilly, the veteran coach of both the boys and girls teams at Walsh Jesuit, should have a shot to get the Warriors back to the level where his team was dominant in the mid 2010s. He knows for a fact that he will have the talent and the leadership to make that happen. Coach Reilly knows that Annie will be vital to the success of the team in 2023, “She is a driven leader with a strong work ethic, purposeful daily approach to all endeavors, and a great teammate to all.”

While her journey is still ongoing, Annie shared some words for younger players. “Get started and enjoy the game. It’s something you can take with you the rest of your life.” For their parents, using her dad, Jim Stencel, as an example, “Support your kids through the journey. It’s a fantastic opportunity. I’ve met so many people I would have never had the chance to meet, all because of golf.”

Annie plans to study physical or occupational therapy while playing golf in college. She hopes to make a decision on which school she will attend before the start of the 2023 golf season. “Annie will be a great addition to whichever collegiate program she chooses,” Reilly proudly stated. When she is not playing golf, Annie is busy maintaining a GPA above 4.0, working as the lighting director in school plays, participating in Academic Challenge, and baking cookies, brownies, and other delicious treats.

Walsh Jesuit Girls Golf, hosting their tournament at the Country Club of Hudson