Academy goals to proceed title run
In terms of the Columbus Academy boys golf group, the gamers might change however the outcomes keep the identical.
Although the Vikings misplaced two key contributors from final season to commencement, they’re assured they are going to contend for his or her sixth consecutive Division II state title.
“We speak in regards to the previous a bit of bit after which we transfer on,” coach Craig Yakscoe mentioned. “What’s occurred prior to now is the previous. That is our group this yr, and we’re going to maneuver ahead.”
It helps that Academy has senior Stephen Ma, who tied for third (150) at state final season and earned particular person medalist honors as a sophomore.
Additionally final season, junior Matthew Fang tied for 14th (157) and senior Arvind Rajagopalan tied for 22nd (164).
Misplaced to commencement had been Russell Ahmed and Aditya Reddy, who tied for fifth (151) and eighth (153), respectively, because the Vikings rallied from 10 strokes down after the opening spherical to edge Kettering Alter 611-614 for the championship.
It was the Vikings’ twelfth state title, second all-time to Higher Arlington’s 17.
Alter has completed second to Academy the previous three seasons.
“Hopefully we’re prepared for the problem,” Rajagopalan mentioned. “It’s going to be a dogfight, however I believe we’ll be prepared as a group. We’ve good group chemistry. It’s laborious to exchange Russell and Aditya, however the different guys are going to have an opportunity to show themselves. They’re going to be nice additions to the group.”
Senior A.J. Bradley additionally returns, however the remaining gamers are new to varsity.
Academy additionally gained its sixth consecutive MSL-Ohio Division championship a yr in the past.
There ought to be additional intrigue in Division I as three groups and three people will advance from district to state. Since 2015, solely two groups and two people had superior.
Final fall, Dublin Coffman (294) and Dublin Jerome (295) earned the highest two scores at district, simply forward of Olentangy Liberty (297) and St. Charles (300). Then at state, Coffman was third (607) and Jerome was fourth (609).
Colin Seely has succeeded Joe Flynn as Jerome’s coach.
“I like the place we’re at,” Seely mentioned. “It’s August, (and) we have now to ensure we’re enjoying good golf in October. We’ll cross that bridge once we get there.”
Divisions II and III stay unchanged, with solely the district group champion and one particular person reaching state.
@ThisWeekFrank
Early season Tremendous 12
Tyler Brockwell
College: Pickerington North
12 months: Senior
As the one returnee from the Panthers’ high seven, Brockwell can be tasked with main a group that’s making an attempt to construct on its first OCC-Ohio championship since 2016 and earn its first state berth since 2013.
Brockwell was fourth within the league in common (75.5) as a junior earlier than ending sixth on the Turnberry sectional (74) and tying for thirty third (78) within the Division I district event.
Brady Catalano
College: Higher Arlington
12 months: Junior
Catalano will assist tempo a deep lineup because the Golden Bears attempt to attain their first Division I state event since 2014 and state-record 56th general.
Catalano shot a 72 at district final yr, two pictures shy of his first state berth, and averaged a 76 within the four-round OCC-Central event.
Catalano’s father, Mark, golfed for UA within the early Nineteen Nineties earlier than enjoying at South Carolina.
Dylan Cullman
College: Higher Arlington
12 months: Senior
One other of the Bears’ a number of returnees, Cullman averaged 77 within the OCC-Central event — together with a 74 within the second spherical to tie for the group lead and a team-best 79 within the third spherical — earlier than tying for seventeenth (78) on the Denison Golf Membership sectional and tying for sixteenth (75) at district.
UA completed third at sectional (315) and sixth at district (310).
Jack Flores
College: Thomas Worthington
12 months: Sophomore
Flores received stronger as his freshman season went on, capturing a 73 on the Darby Creek sectional to tie for third and advance to district, the place he shot an 82.
He was regular in OCC-Cardinal play, averaging 77.75 to earn second-team all-league honors.
Flores already has a pair of fifth-place finishes this season, with a 73 on the Wedgewood Showcase on Aug. 8 and a 77 on the Steve Youmans Basic on Aug. 6 at Champions.
Vaughn Harber
College: DeSales
12 months: Junior
Harber will attempt to construct on a powerful 2021 season wherein he gained three invitationals, was CCL medalist, completed thirteenth within the Division I district event and earned his first Tremendous 12 honor.
Harber, who averaged 72.3 final yr, shot a 19-over 235 for 3 rounds on the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in July in San Diego. He additionally completed second within the Columbus District Golf Affiliation Junior Championship.
Stephen Ma
College: Columbus Academy
12 months: Senior
Ma helped lead the Vikings to their fifth consecutive Division II state title as he tied for third (150) to earn first-team all-state honors.
He tied teammate Russell Ahmed for first (75) on the Darby Creek sectional and then tied for second (72) at district. He was first-team all-MSL-Ohio.
Ma was named Tremendous 12 Captain as a sophomore after incomes particular person state medalist honors.
Arvind Rajagopalan
College: Columbus Academy
12 months: Senior
Rajagopalan additionally helped Academy to its fifth consecutive state title as he tied for twenty second (164) after tying for fifth (76) at district and tying for fourth (76) at sectional.
He additionally was first-team all-MSL-Ohio because the Vikings gained their sixth consecutive league championship.
Grant Raubenolt
College: Reynoldsburg
12 months: Junior
A two-time Division I district qualifier, Raubenolt was medalist within the OCC-Buckeye final season with a 76.25 common. He adopted with a 67 to seize medalist honors within the sectional at Blacklick Woods.
Raubenolt, who shot a 79 to tie for thirty seventh at district, will attempt to grow to be Reynoldsburg’s first state particular person qualifier since 2012.
Carter Rutherford
College: Olentangy Liberty
12 months: Junior
Rutherford is the lone returning full-time participant for a Liberty squad that shot a 297 within the Division I district event final yr to complete third, two strokes from state. He shot a 76 at district after averaging 78 in OCC-Central play to earn honorable point out all-league honors.
Rutherford received out to a strong begin this season, capturing a 72 to tie for third on the Wedgewood Showcase on Aug. 8.
Ryan Schiefferle
College: Dublin Coffman
12 months: Junior
An honorable point out all-OCC-Central honoree after averaging 77.5 in league play final season, Schiefferle is the highest returnee for the Shamrocks after they gained the Division I district championship and certified for state for the primary time since 2012.
Schiefferle completed sixth on the Darby Creek sectional with a 75, tied for thirteenth with a 74 at district and shot 165 at state as Coffman completed third to guide central Ohio.
Max Vanoy
College: Newark Catholic
12 months: Junior
Vanoy was the highest participant final season because the Inexperienced Wave shot 302 to seize the Division III district championship.
He positioned fifteenth (159) on the state event because the Inexperienced Wave completed third. He additionally was a key participant in 2020 when Newark Catholic was sixth at state.
Leo Walling
College: St. Charles
12 months: Junior
Walling has been one of many high gamers in central Ohio since his freshman season. The Cardinals’ No. 1 participant, he tied for sixth (72) within the Division I district event a yr in the past after capturing a 74 on the Darby Creek sectional.
As a freshman, Walling earned Tremendous 12 honors after he shot a 159 at state to tie for thirty fourth.
1. Columbus Academy
Searching for their sixth consecutive Division II state title, the Vikings return three of their high 5, together with one of many space’s finest gamers in Stephen Ma. Additionally again are Arvind Rajagopalan and Matthew Fang.
2. St. Charles
The Cardinals have three standouts of their lineup in juniors Leo Walling and Ted Cahill and sophomore Jonas Borland. Beckham Martin and Mikey Pagnotto, a pair of freshmen, enter the lineup for a squad that completed fourth at district final fall.
3. Dublin Coffman
Juniors Ryan Schiefferle and Luke Warner are the highest returnees for the Shamrocks after they reached the Division I state event for the primary time since 2012. As well as, junior A.J. Frost is predicted to be a key contributor after being the group’s No. 6 participant final season, and coach Scott Sutherland is optimistic a few trio of newcomers who spherical out the lineup.
4. Dublin Jerome
The Celtics misplaced all 5 of their varsity gamers to commencement and have a brand new coach in Colin Seely, however historical past tells us Jerome options sufficient depth yearly to contend for state. Sophomore Zach Radtke led the Celtics at tryouts.
5. Higher Arlington
4 of the Golden Bears’ high 5 gamers return from a group that completed sixth at district and is looking for a return to state for the primary time since 2014. An skilled, deep roster is led by senior Dylan Cullman, juniors Brady Catalano and Luke Royer and sophomore Bric Baird.
6. Olentangy Liberty
Liberty misplaced 4 of its high 5 golfers from final yr’s group that completed third at district. Junior Carter Rutherford returns and with seniors Carson Meyer and Ryan Riddle and freshmen Jackson Harris, Noah Andry and Holden Orofino, the Patriots nonetheless have a deep lineup.
7. Newark Catholic
The Inexperienced Wave has returned all 5 starters from the group that gained the Division III district championship and adopted with a third-place state end. Junior Max Vanoy, who was district runner-up, leads a solid that additionally contains senior Jack Rehbeck, juniors Brian Luft and Nate Riggleman and sophomore Brogan Sullivan.
CENTRAL CROSSING
•Coach: Justin Prati, seventeenth season
•Prime participant: Micah Roberts
•Key losses: Alyson Dildine, Brandon Dildine, Austin Estep and Parker Sizemore
•2021 OCC-Buckeye standings: Pickerington Central (16-0), Reynoldsburg (11-5), Lancaster (9-7), Newark (4-12), Central Crossing (0-16)
•2021 postseason: fifteenth at sectional
•Outlook: Sophomore Micah Roberts is the lone participant on the Comets’ roster. Junior Alyson Dildine didn’t return so she might play with the women program in its inaugural season.
Roberts led the Comets with a 94 within the Division I sectional at Darby Creek and had a 107.67 common within the 4 rounds of OCC-Buckeye play.
•Quotable: “Micah dedicated to the sport within the offseason, and he got here in a a lot better spot and continues to develop each day. His scores ought to development in the fitting route, however he nonetheless has numerous issues to study when it comes to course administration and stuff like that.” — Prati
—Scott Hennen
GROVE CITY
•Coach: Eric Joreski, sixteenth season
•Prime gamers: Steven Jordan and Grant Ruffing
•Key losses: Nash Linder and Trent Ruffing
•2021 OCC-Ohio standings: Grove Metropolis and Pickerington North (each 17-3), New Albany and Westerville Central (each 11-9), Gahanna (4-16), Westland (0-20)
•2021 postseason: Second at sectional, eleventh at district
•Outlook: The Greyhounds want to construct on their first league title since 2005 after sharing the championship with Pickerington North final season.
Senior Steven Jordan was second-team all-league. Sophomore Grant Ruffing has emerged because the No. 2 golfer.
Different golfers are seniors Clay Joreski and Chas Spence, juniors Brady Tschiggfrie and Zach Wieging and freshman Drew Wieging.
•Quotable: “By way of varsity expertise, the one one that’s again is Steven Jordan. He was our three-man final yr and he’s beginning the season as our No. 1. We’re inexperienced. We’ve to discover ways to settle for that you simply’re going to get a foul break and take care of that and nonetheless be capable to proceed that gap.” — Joreski
—Frank DiRenna
GROVE CITY CHRISTIAN
•Coach: Mark Wimbish, second season
•Prime gamers: James Cuckler IV, Kaden Garringer and Quinn Garringer
•Key losses: None
•2021 MSL-Cardinal standings: Zanesville Rosecrans (8-0), Grove Metropolis Christian (2-6), Berne Union (1-7)
•2021 postseason: thirteenth at sectional
•Outlook: Grove Metropolis Christian returns its nucleus in seniors James Cuckler IV, Kaden Garringer and Quinn Garringer. Kaden and Quinn Garringer are twins.
Cuckler led the Eagles on the Division III sectional with a 97. Quinn Garringer was first-team all-league and Kaden Garringer was second-team all-league.
There are 14 gamers in this system, together with six on varsity. Rounding out the varsity roster are senior Nate Pringle, sophomore Brady Williams and freshman Arison Preston.
•Quotable: “We’re making an attempt to construct a bit of little bit of a program. Our high three gamers are seniors. James, Kaden and Quinn are carrying the group proper now. They need to advance to district as a group. We had numerous college students come out as a result of they heard it was a very good ambiance and a very good place to be. Lots of the seniors bragged on the ambiance.” — Wimbish
—Frank DiRenna
READY
•Coach: Bob Wilson, fifth season
•Prime gamers: Nate Bennett, Lucas Johnston and Jordan Welch
•Key losses: Adam Bennett, Troy Hixson, Preston Macioce and Ryan Petrella
•2021 CCL standings: Didn’t compete
•2021 postseason: sixteenth at sectional
•Outlook: After solely two ladies got here out for this system, Prepared determined to merge the girls and boys rivals into one group this season.
Junior Nate Bennett is the highest returnee after capturing 100 on the Division II sectional at Darby Creek. Sophomore Jordan Welch is the one different returning boys participant.
Senior Lucas Johnston is competing for the primary time. Sophomores Anthony Maurer and Lincoln Miller and freshman Owen Clevinger are different newcomers.
Seniors Cece Muraco and Lia Kauffman had been rivals final season for the women group, however Prepared performed in just one match and didn’t compete in both the CCL or the postseason.
•Quotable: “We’ve had a girls and boys group for so long as I’ve been teaching, however we needed to roll the women group into the boys group and should play coed this yr, which is OK as a result of numerous the groups we play have coed, too. With eight youngsters, once we do play groups which have coed squads, I’ll match up the women that play on different groups and we’ll simply do a rotation.” — Wilson
—Jarrod Ulrey
