2022 Boys, Girls High School Golf Capsules
Cardington Boys
League: Knox Morrow Athletic.
Tournament Division: III.
Coach: Justin Billotte.
Last Year: Last in the KMAC.
Roster: Silas Horton (Sr., letter), Brad West (Sr., letter), Logan Reynolds (So., letter), Lane Hughes (So.).
Highland Boys
League: Mid Ohio Athletic.
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: Chris Rupe.
Last Year: Eighth in MOAC, fourth at sectionals, eighth at district.
Returnees: Emerson Grassbaugh (34 average, first-team MOAC, letter), Ranger Steck (44, letter), Damian Rollison (48, letter), Quentin Miller (52, letter).
Note: The Scots have four newcomers to add to the four letter winners.
Comment: "We hope to compete more in the MOAC, finish in the top half as a team," Rupe said.
Highland Girls
League: MOAC.
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: David Ware.
Last Year: Fourth in MOAC.
Roster: Bailey Alexander (Sr., two letters), Stevie Asher (Sr., letter), Piper Dabbert (Fr.), Cecelia Grassbaugh (So., letter, district qualifier, first-team MOAC, 9 and 18-hole school records), Mary Green (Fr.), Guinevere Jackson (Sr.), Mallory Jones (Sr., three letters), Madeline Tack (Sr., two letters).
Marion Harding Boys
League: MOAC.
Tournament Division: I.
Coach: John Godfrey.
Last Year: 4-10 in MOAC.
Returnees: Jacob Beaschler (Sr., 38.6, first-team MOAC, HM district, letter), Connor McCoy (Sr., 48.2, letter), Austin Allen (Jr., 53.9, letter), Aiden Miller (Sr., 63.0), Rayma Smith (Jr., 52.5).
Notes: Beaschler is one of the best players in the area ... Seniors will be leaders for the younger players ... Still a young team searching for more depth ... Consistency in the short game needs to improve ... Alix Goney, Evan Bonsel and Caden Scott all graduated.
Comment: "I believe that we can compete in the league and improve from last year. I believe we can surprise teams in our league," Godfrey said.
Northmor Girls
League: KMAC.
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: Jacob Beard.
Last Year: KMAC runner-up.
Roster: Katelyn Miley (So., 51.2, first-team KMAC), Braelyn Ingles (Sr., 54.3, second-team KMAC), Brooklyn Kissling (Jr., 57.4, second-team KMAC), Katie Dean (Jr., 57.4, HM KMAC), Olivia Finfgeld (Sr.), Lauren Johnson (Sr.), Riley Johnson (Sr.), Saje Miley (Jr.), Ava Pernia (So.)
Notes: The Golden Knights have experience with Katelyn Miley, Ingles, Kissling and Dean all as letter winners ... The team grew from four members last year to nine so there is inexperience at the backend of the roster ... They want to build off last year and compete for the KMAC championship.
Comment: "We hope to be right with (Centerburg) this season," Beard said.
North Union Boys
League: Central Buckeye, Mad River Division
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: Ken Brust.
Assistant: Carmen Shields.
Roster: Tayden Peck (Jr., two letters), Dyllan Alltop (Jr., two letters), Austyn Wilson (Jr.), Max Parish (Jr.), Miles Hall (So., letter), Wyatt Davis (So., letter), Zach Howald (Fr.), Jaxon Joliff (Fr.), Reese Spriggs (Fr.).
Notes: Brust said the Wildcats have a genuine interest in playing golf and getting better ... Only four have varsity experience ... The coach wants them to continue to improve and be more competitive as a team.
North Union Girls
League: CBC Mad River.
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: Mitchell Loomis.
Last Year: 3-7 in league.
Roster: Brynn Spencer (Fr.), Madelyn Taylor (So., 55, second-team CBC), Kaylee Rensel (So., 63), Kelsie Price (So., 62), Charlee Brestle (So., 60), Savannah Queen (Jr., 73), Kaylee Brestle (Sr., 71).
Note: Everyone but Spencer is a returnee with varsity experience.
Pleasant Boys
League: MOAC.
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: Jeff Davis.
Last Year: Third in MOAC, fifth at sectional, third at district.
Roster: Dawson Hall, Dylan Moore, Brayden Parrish, Brody Conway, Jack Seckel.
Notes: The Spartans lost six to graduation including state qualifier Minoy Shah so they are inexperienced ... Davis wants his team to work hard to get better.
Pleasant Girls
League: MOAC.
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: Jeff Davis.
Last Year: MOAC champs, sectional runner-up, fourth at district.
Roster: Dina Shah (Sr., 39.4, first-team MOAC and district, MOAC Player of the Year), Maura Murphy (Jr., 40.0, first-team MOAC, second-team district), Maddie Murphy (So., second-team MOAC, third-team district), Anna Songer (So., second-team MOAC), Gabby Mendoza (Fr.)
Notes: The Spartans lost Tara Murphy to graduation ... With only five players, everyone needs to contribute ... They need to build off last year's success by working hard on their games to see improvement.
Comment: "We are the likely (league) favorite and should compete for the title," Davis said.
Ridgedale Boys
League: Northwest Central.
Tournament Division: III.
Coach: Les Tackett.
Roster: A.J. Conner (Sr., 50.5, 11th in conference, team putting award, second low average on team), Josh Anderson (Sr., 69.4).
Note: Preston Long graduated.
River Valley Boys
League: MOAC.
Tournament Division: II.
Coach: Josh Gast.
Last Year: District qualifier for first time in seven years.
Roster: Thomas Kaufman (Sr., 41, HM MOAC, second-team district, letter), Logan Runyon (46, letter), Aiden Thorpe (Sr., 47, letter), Lane Kanagy (Sr., 48, letter), Hayden Foltz (So.), Chase Smith (Fr.), Roy McCall (Jr.).
Notes: Jevin Beard graduated and is playing at Ohio Northern, while Brayden Shuff graduated, and Brock Mosher is playing football this season ... The Vikings are hard workers and coachable ... They need to string together quality rounds and not rely on one or two players to carry the team ... They got a taste of district competition and want to get back.
Comment: "We have a good mix of veteran experience and some young talent that will make up the varsity squad," Gast said.
The Northmor boys team and Mount Gilead did not respond to requests for information.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2022 Boys, Girls High School Golf Capsules
