APRIL 16, 2024 EDITION SPORTS EDITOR: BECKY WALZ + BECKY.WALZ@DRIFTLESSJOURNAL.COM
Vikes battle Chickasaws
Successful week for SW golf teams
The Decorah girls’ golf team was in action Thursday night, taking on the wind, rain and New Hampton and came up short 170 to 209. Exchange student Maria Riveros led Decorah with a 43. Other varsity contributors were Lulu Bellrichard, 54; Sophia Fahey, 56; and Isabella Sailor, 56. Shelby Hageman (61) and Riann Oberbroeckling (66) were also on the course. Decorah hosted Charles City Monday and will face Winona Senior at Oneota Golf and Country Club Thursday, April 18, at 2 p.m.
Teaming up to with the Dike-New Hartford tournament Saturday for the Warriors were (l-r) Braiden Todd, Carson Streeter, Jordan Baumler, Cale Kleppe, Jackson Goltz and Carver Wenthold. (submitted photo) The South Winn golf teams were back in action late last week with a triangular in Guttenberg and a boys’ tournament hosted by Dike-New Hartford. Triangular In a golf triangular in Guttenberg, the South Winn golf teams were locked in battles. A tie at 235, sent the girls looking at the fifth golfer giving the Warriors the win over Clayton Ridge. The CR Eagles had the medalist and runner-up medalist of the meet with Kaci Kregel and Koree Rausch tying with 51s. Firing a 55 to lead the Lady Warriors was Annie Ondrashek. Julia Carnesi came through with a 59, while Brooke Steffans toured the course to finish with a 60. Bailee Frana rounded out South Winn’s scorecard with a 61. Others on the course were Katrina Hageman (62) and Paige Jaster (69). “We could not have asked for worse weather, but the girls showed a lot of grit just to finish,” said girls’ coach Glenna Munuswamy. In boys’ action it was Waukon edging South Winn with a 168. The Warriors fashioned a 172, while Clayton Ridge finished with a 188. Firing a 41s, Waukon’s Dylan Hogan and Trevor Pfeiffer were co-medal-
ists, while Warrior Cale Kleppe came through with a 42 to be the runner-up medalist. Carson Streeter and Jackson Goltz were one stroke back with 43s, while Carver Wenthold fashioned a 44 on the day to complete the Warrior scorecard. Others on the course in varsity action were Braiden Todd (45) and Jordan Baumler (48). “The weather was a factor today. For the first six holes, things were tolerable, but conditions became pretty tough for the last three holes. The rain and wind were nasty. Even still, the boys played very respectable golf, which demonstrates some serious mental toughness. Cale Kleppe continues to play well in his varsity role, winning Runner-Up honors with a teamlow 42. He has been a very nice addition to the squad,” said boys’ coach Mike Wenthold. Winners at Dike The South Winn boys’ golf team traveled to Dike Saturday for an 18-hole tournament hosted by Dike-New Hartford and returned home with a title. The Warriors came through with a 331 over Jesup who carded a 336 for second. The host D-NH was third with a 341, followed by West Fork, 348; North Fayette Valley 357; and Crestwood, 383. Individual
medalist was Jesup’s Jack Miller with a 74, with Dike-New Hartford’s Carson Costello as the runner-up. Teaming up for the win were Baumler and Kleppe with 79s, Carson Streeter with an 83, Todd and Wenthold with 90s and Goltz with a 97. “The boys played a fantastic tournament at a great course, against great competition, on a pretty windy day. Cale and Jordan were terrific, and Carson Streeter also played a very good round. Having three of the top five scorers for the tournament really set the tone, and that kind of play will set us up to do some big things. The best part is that I know that we are capable of better, and that we have better rounds ahead of us. I hope to see the kind of fire, focus, and execution from this squad going forward as we saw in this tournament,” noted Coach Wenthold. More competitions The Warrior squads hosted Waukon and MFL MarMac Monday and will make a short trip to Jackson Heights Golf Course to compete against Turkey Valley Thursday, April 18, at 4 p.m. The week will end with a tournament at New Hampton Saturday, April 20, at 9 a.m.
Maria Riveros sets up at the Hole No. 1 tee box at New Hampton. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)
Season opens with win for TV The Turkey Valley golf teams notched a pair of season-opening wins on Thursday, April 11, at Big Rock CC versus West Central. It was a cold, blustery afternoon but the Trojans were able to dispatch a much-improved Blue Devil team to start off the season on a winning note. The boys’ squad kicked the season off with a 179 over West Central’s 202, with five of their six varsity golfers shot in the mid 40’s with just five strokes separating the top five golfers. In fact, the Trojans had the low five scores on the night led by TV freshmen Nicholas Bernhard (43) and Brady Blong (44) who finished one - two on the night. Senior veterans Caleb Kurtenbach (44), Braylen Byrne (47) and Oliver Schmitt (48) carded out solid scores, and sophomore Logan Busta (52) rounded out the Valley scorecard. “It was a good night for us,” commented Coach Reicks. “Our freshmen boys played well, and I am confident our solid and dependable group of seniors will quickly find themselves in mid-season form.” The TV girls won 230 to 246 and were led by junior Morgan Vsetecka who shot a career low round (51) and earned medalist honors along the way. Sophomore Annika Bodensteiner (55) fired a “double nickel” score, and Brooklyn Kuennen, Mariah Throndson and Karstyn Lukes all carded 62’s. Sofia Rivera (65) completed the Trojan scorecard. “Vsetecka was red-hot with her iron play as she
Nicholas Bernhard (left) and Brady Blong finished 1-2 at the Trojans’ first golf meet of the season. navigated the tricky front nine at Big Rock with finesse and grit. Annika, meanwhile, was just one stroke away from finishing as the meet runner-up and finished one shot behind Faith Streinbronn of WC. We were very consistent up and down our scorecard including our JV team. I am eager to see what our girls can do as the season progresses,” added Coach Reicks. Monday, the Trojans were back on the links at Pleasant Valley Sports Club in Clermont against North Fayette Valley.
Busy end to week for Decorah boys Louis Bucksa chips the ball from the fringe of the green in a recent Viking contest as Silvercrest Golf Course. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)
After opening the season Monday, April 8, the Decorah boys’ golf team finished the week with back-to-back competitions, including their home invite and a rescheduled triangular at Waukon.
Decorah invite Carding a 338, the Vikings finished fifth at their home 18hole invite Thursday at Oneota Golf Course. At the top of the nine-team field was Holy Family with 300. Clear Lake was second with a 326, one stroke ahead of Owatanna. Fourth went to Holmen (Wis.) with a 333, followed by Onalaska (Wis.) 345. Rounding out the field were Winona (Minn.), 349; Crestwood, 366; and Decorah JV, 390. The Vikes were led by Ben Bockman and Caden Hubka with 83s. Next was Jackson Pipho with an 85. Coming
through with an 87 was Andrew Rhodes, while Carter Dlhy fashioned an 88 as Louis Bucksa toured the course with a 96. On the course for the junior varsity squad were Kaden Alstad, 89; Hunter Quandahl, 95; Brody Hanson, 102; Kash Turner, 104; Keaton Riehle, 106; and Henry Brynsaas, 115. Rescheduled meet A week later than scheduled, Decorah and North Fayette Valley boys’ golf teams joined Waukon on the course Friday in Waukon. The Vikings won the triangular with a 165, with NFV coming through with a 171, edging the host Indians’ 173. Medalist of the day was Decorah’s Jackson Pipho who carded a 39. The trio of Bockman, Hubka and Dlhy carded 42s to complete the Viking score. Others on the course for the Decorah varsity were Rhodes (44)
and Andrew Olson (47). Swinging the clubs in junior varsity action were Bradan Darling (42), Bucksa (44), Quandahl (45); Hanson (49), Alstad (53) and Kash Turner (53). “We had a good week of golf. It was fun to see Jackson (Pipho) earn medalist honors and play well Friday versus NFV and Waukon. The challenge now is to get us in a position where we are all playing our best golf. We look forward to another busy week with three opportunities to compete,” said Coach Casey Bouska. This week Decorah will be in action at Oneota Golf and Country Club against Winona Senior Thursday, April 18, at 2:30 p.m., then compete in the West Delaware tournament Friday, April 19, at Pin Oak Pub and Links in Manchester with tee-off at 12 p.m.
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