Jamie Baker posted on August 12, 2011 19:21
Van Buren’s girls golf team is hoping to climb a few rungs on the championship ladder.
The Black Knights were fifth at the Division II district tournament last season, just two spots away from earning a trip to the OHSAA state tournament in Columbus.
The Black Knights should be solid again with five veterans for coach Rhonda Nye.
Seniors Katie Hertel and Stephanie Sawyer are a pair of four-year letterwinners and were freshmen members of the squad when the program was elevated from club to varsity status.
Also back for the Black Knights, who were third in their division in the Northwest Ohio Girls Golf League last season, are juniors Alexis Kelley and Emily Lammers and sophomore Ashley Overmyer.
Up the road at Elmwood, coach Michele Story has five veteran players, including seniors Alison Bentley and Karly Haughawout.
Elmwood’s girls will be competing for a league title for the first time as members of the newly-formed Northern Buckeye Conference.
Ada
HEAD COACH: Mike Badertscher (15th year).
2010 RECORD: 2-8 overall.
HOME COURSE: Colonial Golfer's Club.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kenzie Shaw, jr.; Zoe Laird, jr.; Suzy Young, jr.
TOP PROSPECTS: Quinn High, fr.; Liz Selover, fr.
NOTABLE: There will be some growing pains at Ada with a rather inexperienced team after six senior golfers graduated last spring.
Elmwood
HEAD COACH: Michele Story & Tracey Cole (5th year, 23-25).
2010 RECORD: 7-10 overall.
HOME COURSE: Birch Run Golf Course.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Alison Bentley, sr.; Karly Haughawout, sr.; Savannah Baker, soph.; Taylor Carr, soph.; Sierra Semko, soph.
TOP PROSPECTS: Maggie Tuite, fr.
NOTABLE: Elmwood will be in competing for a league title for the time as members of the Northern Buckeye Conference.
Van Buren
HEAD COACH: Rhonda Nye (4th year).
2010 CONFERENCE FINISH: 3rd in Northwest Ohio Girls Golf League Southern Division; 6th in NWOGGL overall.
HOME COURSE: Red Hawk Run.
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Katie Hertel, sr.; Bethany Sawyer, sr.; Alexis Kelley, jr.; Ashley Overmyer, soph.; Emily Lammers, jr.
TOP PROSPECTS: Zara Fournier, soph.; Olivia Hall, soph.; Emily Foust, soph.; Bree Short, soph.; Erin Neall, fr.
NOTABLE: This is the best team Van Buren has had in the four years of varsity competition. Hertel and Sawyer will be the program's first four-year varsity letterwinners.
Hopewell-Loudon
HEAD COACH: Bob Mauer & Jerry Sanford (4th year).
2010 RECORD: 5-2 overall.
HOME COURSE: Loudon Meadows Golf Club.
RETURNING LETTERWINNER: Marissa Reinhart, jr., 59.0.
TOP PROSPECTS: Katelyn Brickner, jr.; Andrea Taulker, soph.; Alissa Powell, soph.; Megan Brown, fr.; Andrea Cleveland, fr.; Kelsey Coppus, fr.; Samantha Gosche, fr.
NOTABLE: With seven golfers on the roster, the Chieftains should be a little deeper this season. Although experience will be a factor with just one returning letterwinner and four freshman on the team.