High School Golf 2008: Team concept to reign this season
The Chronicle-Telegram Staff
It’s the year of the team in local high school golf.
It has to be. The big stars have done a vanishing act.
Last year’s elite local players — Alex Treuel of Elyria and Jay Overy of Midview — graduated in June.
And this year’s elite local players — Avon residents Kyle Kmiecik and Beau Titsworth — are playing at St. Ignatius.
Yet, there are still a dozen or more very good players at area schools, any of whom can win a big tournament on a given day.
Andrew Northeim of Firelands and Mike Opsitnick of Avon might be at the top of the list, but nearby would be Matt Schneider of Amherst, Reilly Bates of Avon Lake, Bryan Yeo of Keystone, Louis Elbert of Midview and Louie Durban of Lutheran West.
And there are others who might emerge during the season.
But none are being compared just yet to the absent Big Four.
Teams, though, are a different story.
At least three have a legitimate chance to reach the state tournament.
Lutheran West, Firelands and Elyria Catholic were all district qualifiers last year and all have most of their top players back this year.
The Longhorns might be the best of the bunch. Even coach Karen Wittrock — a soft-spoken person not given to bold pronouncements — could not hide her enthusiasm for this year’s team.
“I think they can at least repeat what they did last year,” she said.
“If not more.”
Boys
NORTHEAST OHIO CONFERENCE
Elyria Pioneers
COACH: Jim Kistler
2007 RECORD: 12-4
TOP PLAYERS: Kyle Lottman, jr.; Tyler Ward, jr.; Andrew Smith, soph.; Tyler Thomasson, sr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Pioneers will have to adjust to life without superstar Alex Treuel and several other quality seniors from last year’s district-qualifying team. “We have the potential to be a good team,” Kistler said. “We’re going to have to establish some leadership roles.”
NORTH COAST LEAGUE
Elyria Catholic Panthers
COACH: Tom Porter
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Ryan Polk, sr.; Colin Coughlin, jr.; Matt Spencer, jr.; Evan Siwierka, sr.; A.J. Novak, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: Last year’s district qualifiers should be strong again this year, bringing back five letterwinners. But Porter thinks they can improve, especially in the short game. “Forty-three percent of the game is putting,” he said. “High school players always want to go out and hit range balls.”
PATRIOT ATHLETIC
CONFERENCE
Black River Pirates
COACH: Jeff Calame
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: David Gentry, sr.; Matt Stuart, soph.; Kelsey Roysdon, sr.; Brandon Null, sr.
SCOUTING REPORT: Calame is in his 25th year as coach of the Pirates. “David and Matt are going to be fairly consistent for us,” he said. “The key is to get consistency from Brandon and Kelsey.”
Columbia Raiders
COACH: Ross Madak
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Jerry Karl, sr.; Justin Hamper, jr.; Roger Schroth; Elliot Koncos.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Raiders got off to a fast start with good showings at the Grey Hawk Invitational and Admiral King Invitational. Karl was first-team all-district last year and Hamper was on the second team.
Keystone Wildcats
COACH: Greg Morgan
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Bryan Yeo, jr.; Sam Bailosky, jr.; Justin Truman, jr.; Roman Klingshirn, sr.; Jordan Fox, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: “Our top couple guys have to play well for us to win matches,” Morgan said. Yeo averaged about 39 last year and began this season in the same range.
Lutheran West Longhorns
COACH: Karen Wittrock
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Louie Durban, jr.; Ben Lehrke, jr.; Nick Blackburn, jr.; Mike Clum, soph.; Jared Fristik, soph.; Russell Armbruster, soph.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Longhorns were district qualifiers last year and brought back most of their top players. They came out smoking this season, winning the Grey Hawk Invitational and the Copper Top Classic in the first week. “I think we’re going to be strong again,” Wittrock said.
Wellington Dukes
COACH: Ron Clady
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Aaron Dumke, sr.; Kenny Natterer, sr.; Michael Whitney, sr.; Nick Cwalina, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: Dumke is the Dukes’ most reliable player, but after that, there are question marks. “We’re looking for consistency,” Clady said. “If we can find four consistent players, we ought to be all right.”
SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE
Amherst Comets
COACH: Aaron Millet
2007 RECORD: 13-5
TOP PLAYERS: Matt Schneider, sr.; Matt Jones, sr.; Paul Srnis, sr.; David Flynn, sr.; Adam Kalivoda, sr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Comets should be one of the area’s best teams, competing for a conference championship and a district berth. “Anyone on our team is capable of shooting a par round,” Millet said. “I’m looking forward to a good year.”
Avon Lake Shoremen
COACH: Amy Manco
2007 RECORD: 13-1
TOP PLAYERS: Reilly Bates, sr.; C.J. Blankenship, sr.; Ian Flint, sr.; Collin Holmes, soph.
SCOUTING REPORT: The always-tough Shoremen had some issues early but appeared to be rounding into form as the first week of the season wore on. “We’re pretty young besides C.J. and Reilly,” Manco said. “Nobody has any experience playing varsity. I’ve got to figure out who can play.”
North Olmsted Eagles
COACH: Tim Murphy
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Jesse Gross, sr.; Ryan Conway, jr.; Dan McBride, jr.; Matt Konyesni, sr.; Andy Heitman, jr.; Pat Conway, sr.; Chris Conway, jr.; Joe Forrwalt, sr.; Mark Bigeck, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Eagles look like they’ll be in the middle of the pack in the SWC, but could pull an upset or two. “We’ll be a little better than last year,” Murphy said. “We’re a little older and more consistent.”
Olmsted Falls Bulldogs
COACH: John Holzworth
2007 RECORD: 3-11
TOP PLAYERS: Pat Butterfield, sr.; Cory Daugherty, soph.; Brad Johnson, soph.; Eric Chaney, soph.; Josh Leach, jr.; Lucas Rhome, jr.; Josh Richards, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Bulldogs could be better than last year, but maybe not enough to reach the top echelon of the SWC. “I really want a winning season,” Holzworth said. “We’re setting team goals. The big thing this year is just to improve.”
Westlake Demons
COACH: Bob Patton
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Matt Kreider, jr.; Dave Goldense, sr.; Kyle Gibbons, sr.; Kyle Fazio, sr.; John Weishar, jr.; Chris Nader, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: This could be a big year for the Demons. A conference championship and a district berth are possibilities. But Patton is keeping his eye on the ball. “I think we have a chance to be good,” he said, “but it depends on how consistent the guys are.”
WEST SHORE CONFERENCE
Avon Eagles
COACH: Jeff Stevens
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Mike Opsitnick, sr.; Scott Dickson, jr.; Ryan Mooibroek, sr.; Tyler Guthrie, sr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Eagles should be competitive in the conference. “We have more skilled players this year than I’m used to having,” Stevens said. “I expect Mike and Scott to do really well.”
Bay Rockets
COACH: Rick Mandarine
2007 RECORD: 2-10 WSC
TOP PLAYERS: Jess Hunger, jr.; Brian Taricska, sr.; Chaz Veres, jr.; Sam Allen, soph.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Rockets missed the district tournament by only six strokes last year despite their poor record. “We want to start off the year with more consistency than last year,” Mandarine said. “Our team goal is to get to district. We’re going to have to stay away from big numbers.”
Firelands Falcons
COACH: Joe Miller
2007 RECORD: 10-2 WSC, 13-2
TOP PLAYERS: Andrew Northeim, jr.; Matt Gregory, jr.; Gabe Battistelli; Vince Vitale; Josh Kaiser.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Falcons are the favorites in the West Shore but they’ll have to deal with a strong Midview team. Northeim and Gregory are as good a tandem as any in the area but Miller is still looking to solidify the top four.
Midview Middies
COACH: Randy Camp
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Louis Elbert, jr.; Brad Weaver, sr.; Mike Mercado, sr.; Travis Gregory, jr.; Kyle Lewis, jr.; Ty Plas, soph.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Middies nearly made it to districts last year and got off to a good start this season by winning the Admiral King Invitational. “I expect we could do very well,” Camp said. An injury could keep Mercado out early in the season but he’s expected back.
North Ridgeville Rangers
COACH: Michael Belpulsi
2007 RECORD: (1-13 WSC, 1-15)
TOP PLAYERS: Mitch Clark, soph.; Matt McGinty, sr.; Colin Oliva, jr.; Zak Narowitz, sr.; Mike Mytnick, jr.; Matt Sackett, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: Despite their poor record last year, the Rangers played pretty well at the sectional and have five returning letter winners. “Toward the end of the season we started to improve,” Belpulsi said. “It was just a matter of grinding.”
Vermilion Sailors
COACH: Joe Tellier
2007 RECORD: 7-7 WSC, 9-7
TOP PLAYERS: Dan Pesato, jr.; D.J. Pohorence, sr.; Andy Ingram, soph.; Zach Dickey, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Sailors not only lost star player Ian Suszko to graduation but also lost two players to eligibility problems. Still, Tellier thinks the Sailors can compete. “We’re young and we’re in a rebuilding mode, but on any given day we can beat anybody,” he said.
LAKE ERIE LEAGUE
Admiral King Admirals
COACH: David Mazzei
2007 RECORD: 6-0 LEL
TOP PLAYERS: Tyler Mazzei, jr.; Demitrus Thompson, jr.; A.J. Atkinson, sr.; Airon Thomas, jr.; Brandon Montgomery, fr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Admirals lost several seniors from last year’s solid team but hope to rebuild quickly. “We have a lot of potential,” David Mazzei said. “By the end of the year we could be a much better team than we are at the start.”
Southview Saints
COACH: Richard Brown
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: John Uszak, jr.; Randy Schumaker, sr.; Robert Glowacki, sr.; Aaron Ceja, soph.; Shawn Kopp, jr.; Miguel Hernandez, jr.; Alexis Fitzpatrick, sr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Saints struggled last year but were showing improvement early this season. “We’ve got to become more consistent,” Brown said. “We’re focusing on getting out of trouble and improving course management.”
INDEPENDENTS
Open Door Patriots
COACH: Ken Trigg
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Ian Sooy, soph.; Adam Bollinger, sr.; Zachary Graves, jr.; Russell Lange, jr.; Ian Brady, jr.; Matt Brackenoff, jr.; Eric Mann, soph.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Patriots are building with young players. “I’m looking forward to winning maybe half the matches we play this year,” Trigg said. “We could be pretty good next year.”
Lake Ridge Lions
COACH: Andrew Edgar
2007 RECORD: N/A
TOP PLAYERS: Leo Park, sr.; Alex Potoczak, sr.; Stephen Hong, sr.; Nick Nemetz, soph.; Spencer Scheeler, soph.; Mitchell Rice, fresh.
SCOUTING REPORT: “We’re looking forward to a good year,” Edgar said. “We don’t necessarily have any superstars, but we’re looking for good consistency from top to bottom.”
Girls
SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE
Amherst Comets
COACH: Dave Zvara
2007 RECORD: 10-4
TOP PLAYERS: Katie Kulasa, jr.; Emily Majzun, fr.; Jordan Skinner, fr.; Maddie Miller, fr.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Comets are regrouping after losing district qualifier and SWC medalist Nikki Kulasa, along with several other seniors. Katie Kulasa should lead the way. “We’re pretty young,” Zvara said. “We’re going to take some lumps this year.”
Avon Lake Shoregals
COACH: Kevin Fitch
2007 RECORD: 8-6 SWC, 13-11
TOP PLAYERS: Megan Webner, jr.; Janel Brandley, jr.; Kara Goodwin, soph.; Kelly Bruce, soph.; Alison Flint, soph.; Megan Marzec, soph.; Taylor Coy, soph.; Gianna Pro, fr.
SCOUTING REPORT: With five returning letterwinners, the young Shoregals have a chance to move up in the SWC. “We don’t have one or two standouts,” Fitch said, “but we have six or seven players that will contribute to a team atmosphere.”
North Olmsted Eagles
COACH: Tony Naples
2007 RECORD: 10-4 SWC, 12-6
TOP PLAYERS: Carley Babinec, jr.; Kelly Limpert, soph.; Sophie Rix, sr.; Emily Stulock, jr.; Annemarie Balfe, jr.; Natalie Belfe, soph.; Rachel Thomas, jr.; Katie Kufel, jr.
SCOUTING REPORT: Except for Brabinec and Limpert, the Eagles don’t have a lot of experience back from last year’s conference runners-up. “Carly and Kelly will have to carry us for a while,” Naples said. “But I hope to have some good performances from our
3-4-5 girls to be able to compete with the top four teams in the SWC.”
WEST SHORE CONFERENCE
Avon Eagles
COACHES: Frank DeSmit and Greg Rowe
2007 RECORD: No official team
TOP PLAYERS: Katelyn Greear, soph.; Chelsea Plzak, jr.; Mary Dickson, fresh.; Brittney Sandoval, jr.; Emily Wallace, soph.; Catherine Sullivan, soph.
SCOUTING REPORT: This is the first year that Avon will be an official member of the West Shore Conference and be eligible to compete as a team in the sectional, district and state tournaments. “I think we’ll be competitive in our conference,” DeSmit said. “We have a pretty even talent level across the board.”
TOP TEAMS
Lutheran West Longhorns
You can go pretty far with four guys who can stay around 80 consistently. The Longhorns have those four guys.
Elyria Catholic Panthers
Good depth but maybe not as much talent as Lutheran West.
Amherst Comets
Plenty of talent but coach Aaron Millet is looking for a little more intensity.
Midview Middies
Louis Elbert, Brad Weaver and Mike Mercado are a solid top three, although Mercado was expected to miss some time early in the season with an injury.
Firelands Falcons
They’re one of the most talked-about local teams, but after Andrew Northeim and Matt Gregory, depth is still a question.
TOP PLAYERS
Kyle Kmiecik, junior, St. Ignatius
Avon resident led St. Ignatius to sixth place in the state tournament last year. His 161 was only eight strokes behind the medalist.
Beau Titsworth, freshman, St. Ignatius
Another Avon guy, he shot a 236 in the 54-hole SAP Junior Open at Red Tail in June, second only to Kmiecik among area golfers playing in the tournament.
Andrew Northeim, junior, Firelands
Second-team all-district last year. Started this season by winning the Port Clinton Classic with a 76.
Mike Opsitnick, senior, Avon
Won the season-opening Comet Invitational by four strokes with a 75 on a windy day at Oberlin Golf Club.
Louie Durban, junior, Lutheran West
First-team all-district in Division III last year. Helped Longhorns to a big early season win at the Grey Hawk Invitational.
TOP EVENTS
Elyria Catholic vs. St. Ignatius
Sept. 8 at Westwood
EC vs. St. Ignatius and St. Edward
Sept. 22 at Westwood
EC coach Tom Porter likes to challenge his players by scheduling tough opponents. Guys, consider yourselves challenged.
Lorain County Athletic Administrators Association Tournament
Oct. 4 at Bob-O-Link
One round of golf doesn’t prove anything, but this is as good a place as any to get a read on who’s who and what’s up in Lorain County high school golf.
Sectional and district tournaments Sept. 22 through Oct. 11 at various sites
One round of golf still doesn’t prove anything, but these two rounds do prove one thing — who’s going to state.
TOP TOPICS
Site oversight? Some coaches at area Division I schools were a little upset with the state for not promptly notifying them of the sectional sites where their schools would be playing this year. Last year, the state began switching some area schools from the Northeast district to the Northwest district to make up for a shortage of Division I schools in the Northwest. The problem? Players from Northeast schools would like as much advance notice as possible so they can play a few practice rounds at the unfamiliar courses in the Northwest district.
Team-in-exile: The fact that public schools lose some good athletes to private schools isn’t exactly breaking news. But Avon High School has had a run of unusually bad luck in recent years. Two Avon residents who happen to be outstanding golfers — Kyle Kmiecik and Beau Titsworth — are attending St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. If Kmiecik and Titsworth were at Avon — along with current Avon standout Mike Opsitnick — the Eagles might be favorites to win the Division II state championship. Avon coach Jeff Stevens is taking the situation in stride, preferring to talk about the players he has, not the ones he doesn’t have.
It’s a girl thing: In a sign that girls golf is growing in popularity, this will be the first year that girls teams will be aligned in two divisions instead of one. Even slow-moving state officials were able to quickly figure out appropriate names for the new groups: Division I and Division II.
— Ken Gottlieb
Contact Ken Gottlieb at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by The Chronicle-Telegram Staff August 19th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 9% |
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