Seizing the Moment

By Brad Emons

Northville High has garnered its fair share of state championship team trophies.

But for the first time in school history, the boys golf team gets to put some hardware atop the mantle after capturing its first-ever title by winning the MHSAA Division 1 crown June 9-10 at Grand Valley State University’s The Meadows.

Led by four seniors, Northville carded a two-day total of 300-305-605 to edge Rochester Adams by seven strokes while posting its highest finish since 2008 when the Mustangs finished third in the team standings.

After Day One, Northville and Kensington Lakes Activities Association nemesis Brighton were deadlocked in first at 300 each, but Brighton (609) slipped to third during the final round. Meanwhile, defending D1 champion Novi Detroit Catholic Central wound up fourth with 618.

Mason Sokolowsky, the firstround individual leader, led the Mustangs with a 70-74-144 to place third overall. He was followed by Greg Braun, 11th (74-74-148); Thomas Forsythe, 22nd (77-79-156); and Ryan

Gallagher, 28th (79-78-157).

Junior Nick Tokarz, who did not figure in the team scoring, shot an 84-82-166 to wind up 62nd overall.

The Meadows was firm and featured fast greens, but the weather did cooperate.

“We knew it was going to be challenging,” Northville firstyear coach Matt Lewicki said. “We knew that there were going to be a lot of big numbers kind of lurking out there, so playing smart golf was a big mindset for us, getting it in play, off of the tee and keeping the ball below the pin certainly on those greens. Outside of that, having a senior laden team – just have fun.”

The approach the Mustangs took was simple – seize and savor the moment.

“This was our last high school tournament for a lot of these guys, the last time they’re going to tee it up,” Lewicki said. “And we worked really hard all year to get here. It’s fun and a lot more enjoyable for your last round of the year when you’re in contention and when you have a chance to win a state final. Have fun, play smart, play confident . . . and just stay focused and keep it together all day.

“We knew it was going to be a long round. The pace of play is long in those events just because the course is difficult. Managing things throughout the day and seeing the leaderboard – we were ahead a bit, were behind and then back ahead. And there were a lot of momentum swings throughout the day.”

During the regular season, Northville finished runner-up to Brighton in both the KLAA preseason (April 20) and KLAA postseason tourneys. In the dual match season, they placed runner-up to Howell and tied for second with Brighton and Novi in the KLAA’s tough West Division at 5-2.

The Mustangs, however, showed their potential and moxie, by winning the prestigious Corporal B Invitational at American Dunes in Grand Haven.

And when the regular season concluded, they wound up No. 4 behind Ann Arbor Skyline, Brighton and Traverse City Central in the final Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association D1 rankings.

At the Regional 3 tourney May 31 at Salem Hills Golf Course, the Mustangs shot 300 to finish third behind Detroit CC (288) and Brighton (296), while qualifying and securing a spot in the D1 finals.

Leading the way at the regional that day for Northville was Sokolowsky, third (68); Gallagher, sixth (73), Braun, 20th (77), Tokarz, 40th (82); and senior Cameron Charles, 50th (85).

The trio of Sokolowsky, Braun and Gallagher were the catalysts all season long for the Mustangs.

Sokolowski carded a teambest 18-hole scoring average of 72.6, while Braun averaged a 9-hole team best of 33.7 and was 74.6 per 18. Gallagher averaged 74.0 per 18 and 34.1 per nine.

“They have been our 1A, 1B and 1C and have been significantly strong players this year,” Lewicki said. “Not all three played to their potential each and every match, but usually two always did.”

Lewicki called Sokolowsky’s performance at the state finals “fantastic” after leading the opening round with a 70. Rochester Adams’ eventually took medalist honors with a 72-68-140, while East Lansing individual qualifier Drew Miller was runner-up with a 74-69-143.

“The golf that he (Sokolowsky) played was deserving of a state championship,” Lewicki said. “Mason shot two fantastic scores on a difficult set-up. Sometimes you can’t control what happens and sometimes when other guys win you have to tip your hat to them and say congratulations. Peter (Roehl) just played a little bit better.”

Sokolowsky proved to be clutch when the Mustangs needed it the most during the final round.

“Down the stretch the par that he made on No. 17 where he came out of the hazard in front of the green was incredible. I mean something that was a huge factor and helping us close out the deal. The birdie he made on No. 14 as well and being able to close out that round down the stretch and play par golf like that coming in was huge for us,” Lewicki said.

Meanwhile, Forsythe’s showing might have come as the biggest surprise. During the regular season he averaged 80 per 18, but stepped up his game at The Meadows after getting the call from Lewicki for the state finals.

“He had played a lot of events early for us and wasn’t shooting his best scores and some of the other guys were playing a little better than him, but he kept working his butt off all season and continued to improve, and stuck to it and kept grinding,” the Northville coach said.

“When that opportunity came up to qualify . . . I don’t think he was expecting the opportunity to be able to play on a state finals team, so he played just lights-out golf in the qualifier, got through and ended up being a huge contributor for us in the state finals.”

The beauty of Northville’s state championship run was that it was a team of interchangeable parts. Tokarz proved steady, as well, carding an 18-hole average of 78 highlighted by a team-best tied for third finish with Gallagher in the KLAA postseason tourney.

Other varsity contributors throughout the season included senior Charles, junior J.J. Rickard, along with sophomores Dominic Gaudino and Cam McVittie.

“We were fortunate again to have a very deep team of talented players, so we were able to play a lot of guys and see kind of who was improving and who was fitting specific skill sets on golf courses and things like that,” Lewicki said. “The depth for one, the senior leadership . . . those two things really go a long way.”

Winning the championship had added meaning for Lewicki, a former Mustangs player himself and 2004 Northville alum.

“It’s nice to be able to be the head coach where I went to school,” said Lewicki, who works as a manufacturers rep in the auto supply business. “I’ve always liked to be able to give back because I think golf has done a lot for me. So that’s really the main reason I enjoy coaching. I like helping out the guys and just being a part of the team is fun.”

After being an assistant for five years at rival Novi, Lewicki took over the program this spring from Chris Cronin, who retired as a teacher last summer after 32 years at Northville

High. Cronin stepped down from his coaching position following the 2022 season because he didn’t want to jeopardize receiving his full teacher’s pension allocation after state laws changed.

“The culture of the team was fantastic from what Chris was doing for these guys to have a deep roster of seniors,” Lewicki said. “It goes a long way . . . the experience, the depth and these guys – having each other’s back and the team culture is just fantastic. Those really helped us this year.”