Despite coaching changes on two of the best local boys golf teams, both squads will look to their veteran golfers to continue last season's success.
Glenn Gaston / Special to The Citizen
Luke Patterson and Union Springs look to build from a successful 2005 season in which the Wolves finished 12-3.
Luke Patterson and Union Springs look to build from a successful 2005 season in which the Wolves finished 12-3.
Skaneateles went 13-6 last season and sent three golfers (Wes Evans, Matt Christopher and Mike Lemp) to the Section III Championships. Evans and Christopher are significant losses for the Lakers this season, but the team returns Lemp, who earned nine medals and averaged a 39.48 per round in 2005.
First year coach John Quijano expects Lemp to continue to excel and possibly make the jump to the state championships this season.
In addition to Lemp, Quijano expects to build his team around seniors Trey Savage and Alex Walsh as well as junior Adam Severance.
“I think we'll have a good team this year,” Quijano said. “We will definitely be competitive. Bishop Ludden will be the team to beat this season, but we're going to be decent. I think we might even surprise a few teams.”
UNION SPRINGS
Union Springs' rookie head coach Todd Salls also expects his team to be on par with last season's effort.
The Wolves finished 2005 with a 12-3 regular season record in a competitive IAC Division III and were second in both team sectionals and in the IAC Championships.
After graduating just one player last season, the Wolves are the team most likely to return to the postseason.
Luke Patterson leads a talented trio of senior golfers, including Dustin Clark and Nate Gavitt. Sophomore Matt Cuff will also be a major contributor. The fifth and sixth man spots are to be determined, as 17 players are currently battling for positions
and sixth man spots are to be determined, as 17 players are currently battling for positions on the team.
“I'd like to improve our standing in sectionals this season,” Salls said. “It could all depend on our fifth and sixth scorers. I'm also going to be looking to Eric Hlywa, who is a very promising newcomer to the team. It all depends on how those fifth and sixth scores play throughout the course of the year. We hope to be at least as good, if not better than last year.”
MORAVIA
In the same division, Moravia looks to get some consistency this season. With just six golfers on the roster, the Blue Devils finished 4-10 last season and graduated just one player, Lee Vi. The team returns five players, but only one senior in Drew Drevecky.
Junior Ben Shields will provide leadership and talent to the young team, but will need to lower his handicap to make individual sectionals, according to second year coach Fred Ott.
“Ben was an eight-handicap last year, and we'd like to see him get to a five this year,” Ott said. “I also want to get our team handicap down - our best last year was a 60 and I want to make 40 this year and get to sectionals as a team. We've got potential in Matt Kievit and Lucas Fedrizzi, but I want to see more consistency day-to-day. In our division only two teams made it to sectionals, it's very tough.”
SOUTHERN CAYUGA
Another IAC Division III team, Southern Cayuga, has limited experience but a lot of enthusiasm.
The Chiefs will look to improve on last season's 1-15 record with a team that returns every player.
The all-ninth grade team will be led by last season's team MVP, Lewis Morse, while Casey Underwood and several other promising eighth and ninth graders are looking to crack the lineup before the season begins on April 3.
“We'll be better than last year now that the ninth graders are pretty much the veterans,” Southern Cayuga coach Terry Underwood said. “They all have been working hard and they came back bigger, stronger and a little more mature. They are enthusiastic and come to play every day.”
WEEDSPORT
Weedsport is another team that has enough veterans to make some noise. Inconsistency was a problem for the Warriors in 2005, as they finished 4-5 and reached team sectionals but did not place.
Sophomore Chris Johnson as well as seniors Marcus Capeder and Chris Kubarek look to help push the Warriors over .500.
Newcomer Jason Ryan will likely play a big role on the team as the only freshman on the roster. Coach Jamie Carr also expects good things from returning players Jessica Schlegel, Shane Stoffle and Bob Nuber.
“With mostly upperclassmen on the team, we plan on being competitive,” Carr said. “I'd like to think we can break past .500 with the talent that we have. I hope that our experience pays off.”
CATO-MERIDIAN
Cato-Meridian did not have a golf team last season, which may put them at a disadvantage this year but the 17 golfers on the roster are understandably anxious to get on the course.
Senior Phil Grant is the only remaining member of the 2004 team and will lead this season's squad. Seth Lindo and James Nervina will provide some experience to a team that is mostly new.
“We've got some potential, but any time a team misses a complete year, it's going to be hard,” Blue Devils coach Jim Donahoe said.
“This will be a serious rebuilding year for us, but despite our lack of experience, we will try and be competitive.”
First year coach John Quijano expects Lemp to continue to excel and possibly make the jump to the state championships this season.
In addition to Lemp, Quijano expects to build his team around seniors Trey Savage and Alex Walsh as well as junior Adam Severance.
“I think we'll have a good team this year,” Quijano said. “We will definitely be competitive. Bishop Ludden will be the team to beat this season, but we're going to be decent. I think we might even surprise a few teams.”
UNION SPRINGS
Union Springs' rookie head coach Todd Salls also expects his team to be on par with last season's effort.
The Wolves finished 2005 with a 12-3 regular season record in a competitive IAC Division III and were second in both team sectionals and in the IAC Championships.
After graduating just one player last season, the Wolves are the team most likely to return to the postseason.
Luke Patterson leads a talented trio of senior golfers, including Dustin Clark and Nate Gavitt. Sophomore Matt Cuff will also be a major contributor. The fifth and sixth man spots are to be determined, as 17 players are currently battling for positions
and sixth man spots are to be determined, as 17 players are currently battling for positions on the team.
“I'd like to improve our standing in sectionals this season,” Salls said. “It could all depend on our fifth and sixth scorers. I'm also going to be looking to Eric Hlywa, who is a very promising newcomer to the team. It all depends on how those fifth and sixth scores play throughout the course of the year. We hope to be at least as good, if not better than last year.”
MORAVIA
In the same division, Moravia looks to get some consistency this season. With just six golfers on the roster, the Blue Devils finished 4-10 last season and graduated just one player, Lee Vi. The team returns five players, but only one senior in Drew Drevecky.
Junior Ben Shields will provide leadership and talent to the young team, but will need to lower his handicap to make individual sectionals, according to second year coach Fred Ott.
“Ben was an eight-handicap last year, and we'd like to see him get to a five this year,” Ott said. “I also want to get our team handicap down - our best last year was a 60 and I want to make 40 this year and get to sectionals as a team. We've got potential in Matt Kievit and Lucas Fedrizzi, but I want to see more consistency day-to-day. In our division only two teams made it to sectionals, it's very tough.”
SOUTHERN CAYUGA
Another IAC Division III team, Southern Cayuga, has limited experience but a lot of enthusiasm.
The Chiefs will look to improve on last season's 1-15 record with a team that returns every player.
The all-ninth grade team will be led by last season's team MVP, Lewis Morse, while Casey Underwood and several other promising eighth and ninth graders are looking to crack the lineup before the season begins on April 3.
“We'll be better than last year now that the ninth graders are pretty much the veterans,” Southern Cayuga coach Terry Underwood said. “They all have been working hard and they came back bigger, stronger and a little more mature. They are enthusiastic and come to play every day.”
WEEDSPORT
Weedsport is another team that has enough veterans to make some noise. Inconsistency was a problem for the Warriors in 2005, as they finished 4-5 and reached team sectionals but did not place.
Sophomore Chris Johnson as well as seniors Marcus Capeder and Chris Kubarek look to help push the Warriors over .500.
Newcomer Jason Ryan will likely play a big role on the team as the only freshman on the roster. Coach Jamie Carr also expects good things from returning players Jessica Schlegel, Shane Stoffle and Bob Nuber.
“With mostly upperclassmen on the team, we plan on being competitive,” Carr said. “I'd like to think we can break past .500 with the talent that we have. I hope that our experience pays off.”
CATO-MERIDIAN
Cato-Meridian did not have a golf team last season, which may put them at a disadvantage this year but the 17 golfers on the roster are understandably anxious to get on the course.
Senior Phil Grant is the only remaining member of the 2004 team and will lead this season's squad. Seth Lindo and James Nervina will provide some experience to a team that is mostly new.
“We've got some potential, but any time a team misses a complete year, it's going to be hard,” Blue Devils coach Jim Donahoe said.
“This will be a serious rebuilding year for us, but despite our lack of experience, we will try and be competitive.”
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.