SPORTS
A6
Northwest Press
August 3, 2011
| Editor Melanie Laughman | mlaughman@communitypress.com | 248-7573 HIGH
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St. Xavier golf team reloads
By Ben Walpole
bwalpole@communitypress.com
Consider that the St. Xavier High School golf team’s five-man lineup in last year’s state tournament featured four seniors and you would think the Bombers might be hurting for talent this season. But you would be wrong. St. X had four varsity teams last season, featuring a total of 29 golfers, so head coach Alex Kepley has plenty of returning players with a various levels of varsity experience. The difficulty each year isn’t finding enough quality; it’s determining which six players should comprise the lineup by the end of the season. “We have a wealth of talent with both the rising seniors and the juniors, and even some sophomores,” Kepley said. “It’ll be interesting to see how it
“We have a wealth of talent with both the rising seniors and the juniors, and even some sophomores. It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out.” Alex Kepley all shakes out.” There are some known quantities, though. Senior Lee House is the one returnee who played in the 2010 state tourney. He was a first team, AllGreater Catholic League South selection last year and spent the summer playing in high-level tournaments around the country. Junior Joey Arcuri, second team all-league as a sophomore, and senior Jay Brockhoff also have lots of varsity experience to go with impressive summer tournament
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resumes. They’ll be the team leaders, especially early in the season as the lineup’s fresh faces adjust to new roles. “I’m expecting them to say, ‘Hey, it’s OK. We’ve been there before. We’ll get you through this,’” Kepley said. The GCL South is always tough, but this year might be even more balanced than most, with Elder and La Salle boasting talented rosters on par with traditional favorites Moeller and St. X. All four teams have seen their golfers excel during the offseason. Kepley likes his team’s potential depth but said his young players will have to adapt quickly to high-level varsity play. “They definitely have the talent, and they’ve played in a ton of tournaments this summer,” Kepley said. “I need them to now transition what they’ve done this summer into the high school season.”
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Other area schools
Colerain
The Cardinals return three seniors from last year’s squad. Kevin Fox, Gavin Whitehead and Austin Kyle are all expected to return. Kyle enters the 2011 campaign coming off a victory in June’s Southern Ohio Junior PGA Championship. Nick Tegenkamp is also expected to contribute for the Cardinals this fall. According to coach John Cecere, Cardinal golfers have been busy playing in summer tournament. “It is a group of players that have high character and compete hard every day,” he said.
La Salle
Coach Jonathan Feldkamp will return five golfers from last year’s Lancers’ squad. Matt Wetterich, Sam Johnstone, Nick Hinton, Drew Gauthier and Patrick Kennedy are all expected to return. La Salle opens the regular season at the Princeton Invitational at Sharon Woods Golf Course, Aug. 9.
Mount Healthy
Mount Healthy was winless in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference West last season, though the Owls did place two underclassmen on the all-conference teams.
Back to basics for Northwest boys golf By Ben Walpole bwalpole@communitypress.com
It’s rebuilding time for the Northwest High School boys golf team. Head coach Chris Wagner’s squad graduated three seniors, including all-league
John Lehmkuhl, leaving an inexperienced base. “A lot of the kids coming up, they’ve played a little bit, but they don’t always have a lot of that competitive nature,” Wagner said. “So I try to work on that.” Wagner does have two
juniors – Justin McKee and Bradley Debildt – back from last year’s varsity lineup. They contributed last season but this year they’ll be the leaders. Wagner called McKee “a great kid to coach.” “He’s non-stop golf,”
Wagner said. “All he wants to do is practice and play. Throughout this year he should get over that hump and become a really, really good golfer.” Beyond them the Knights will rely on a group of juniors who played JV last
season and some freshmen. They lack varsity experience, but Wagner praised their work ethic. The coach said, given all the newcomers, he will be in back-to-the-basics mode throughout the season. “A lot of chipping, a lot
of putting,” Wagner said. “A lot of competitions and games during practice to make it a little bit more fun.” For more coverage, visit Cincinnati.com/blogs/pressprep s
McAuley golf looks to extend postseason success By Nick Dudukovich ndudukovich@communitypress.com
The McAuley High School golf squad has made an impressive run of five district tournament appearances in the past eight seasons. With the returning talent McAuley will feature in 2011, chances are the squad will be able to stretch that stat to six of nine yeas. Senior Alisha Wellman of Colerain Township leads the squad after earning second-team, AllGirls Greater Cincinnati League honors in 2010. Wellman’s average of 41.90 strokes-per-nine holes was the 12th best mark recorded in the GGCL Scarlet Division. McAuley veteran head coach Ernie Petri believes Wellman can average between 40 to 41 strikes
Colerain
Other area schools
Softball coach Katie Shay takes the reigns of a girls golf team that will try to improve its team average of 189.45 strokes per nine holes from the 2010 season. Shay, who graduated from Colerain in 2003 with a golf scholarship to a school in North Carolina, will welcome back returning golfers Taylor Smith, Madija Sandy, Allison Holterman, Adijana Sandy and Gabby Hogel. Shay likes her team’s attitude and is looking forward to the Lady Cardinals’ first tee-time. “We have worked hard in the offseason and feel prepared to have a great season,” she said.
Northwest
The Knights struggled to an 0-14 season to 2010, though then-sophomore Tori Lutz was a bright spot, earning All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference honorable mention. Northwest opens the new season Monday, Aug. 8, with a home match against Glen Este.
this fall. “I think her experience and playing on a lot of the same courses she’s played on will help her hopefully (improve her average),” Petri said. Petri is also looking forward to seeing senior co-captain Sarah
Buescher tee off this season. He believes that Buescher could be the most improved golfer from last year’s squad. “She’s been a regular at the summer practices and trying to help lead the team,” he said. “She’s just hitting the ball much
straighter. The squad will also look to get a boost from Danielle Dilonardo, of Green Township. Dilonardo earned GGCL honorable mention after posting a 47.6 average as a freshman. Junior Jena Huber of Green Township is also expected to contribute after posting a 47.6 average last fall. Despite a small build, Petri believes Huber possesses a big game. “She’s tiny but mighty,” Petri said. “She can hit it a long way.” Other candidates that could contribute this season that played junior varsity last year include juniors Leslie Adams and Emily Meyer, as well as sophomore Briana Buck. As for measuring success this fall, Petri said his team would like
to a shot at the GGCL Scarlet title, but the veteran coach, who is entering his 15th year of coaching, knows winning the league will be no easy task. “We’ve only won the GGCL one time in the last 15 years that I’ve been doing it,” he said. "It’s a tough accomplishment and actually my goal is more to get to districts and it's probably almost a more realistic goal than (winning) the GGCL sometimes.” And continuing the team’s run to district tournaments is something Petri believes is within his team’s grasp. “I give them all the credit in the world; they have been as successful as they’ve been,” he said. “I hope they can continue that this year.” For more coverage, visit Cincinnati.com/blogs/PressPreps
The 11U Lancer baseball team celebrates winning Inaugural Wyatt Sargero Memorial Tournament in Middletown. From left are Jacob McBreen, Matt Witzgall, Jake Speed, Austin Diesel, Zach McMahon, Brendan Gick, Ben Coffaro, Max Meehan, Mitchell Sanders, Sam Larocco and Eli Guck. Coaches from left are Jim McMahon, Matt Sanders, Paul Coffaro and head coach Brady Gick.
Inaugural win
THANKS TO VENETTA DIESEL
The 11U Lancer baseball team won the Inaugural Wyatt Sargero Memorial Tournament in Middletown. This tournament was created as a fundraiser and memorial for a player on the Cin Day Saints 11U baseball team who recently lost his battle with leukemia. The Lancers were thrilled to not only be a part of such a good cause, but also to win their first tournament of the year. They also finished first in their division with a 14-1 record in the division and 26-5 overall record.
Lancer 11U player Brendan Gick slides safely into third base with Austin Diesel at first base during the Inaugural Wyatt Sargero Memorial Tournament in Middletown.