By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

It was literally a banner-raising day for the Southeast Pirates varsity golf teams as both the boys varsity and the girls varsity golf teams won their respective Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Division championships.

For the girls, it is the program’s second straight title.

For the boys, it is their first championship since the 2013 season.

SOUTHEAST GIRLS

So good were the Pirates that the five individual golfers earned third through seventh place in the individual standings, beginning with Sammy Morgan, reigning Player of the Year, firing a 79 that landed her in the top three.

Despite Champion carding the first two medalist spots, the Pirates dominated the tournament, winning by 33 strokes over the runner-up Flashes.

Two sophomores led the Pirates, Morgan and Jenni Mix scoring an 86, with seniors Jessica Mix (88) and Aubree Varga (86) and freshman Emily Morrison (89) keeping the Pirates with no  high scores on the scorecard.

“To be a part of this program is truly an honor,” said Cindy Fesemyer, coach of the Pirates. “Winning a championship with the boys is something so very special. Both teams work hard and support each other.

“The girls came together and shot their lowest score of the season,” Fesemyer added. “They are selfless and play for one another. I couldn’t be more proud of them. On to the postseason.”

The Garfield girls finished in fourth place in the tournament, carding a team total of 416 led by junior Addison Snyder scoring a 91.

SOUTHEAST BOYS

With 12 years since their last conference championship, when the Pirates were in the Portage Trail Conference, this victory was one to savor and hard fought.

Southeast, LaBrae and Brookfield were tied at the top of the regular-season standings going into the tournament, with the tourney champion determining the ultimate conference winner.

James Morgan did his part to make it the Pirates.

The senior, who has two Players of the Year to his credit both as a sophomore in the Portage Trail Conferece and last season in this MVAC, did what he does — rise to the top.

Morgan fired a 75 on the Par-72 fairways of Salem Hills Golf Course and Country Club to earn medalist honors by two strokes over Hunter Anderson of Garfield.

Morgan, however, was not the only one having a solid round for Southeast, as junior Cole Bruno added an 83, junior Alex Peelish an 86 and freshman Owen Dembroski an 85.

When all scorecards were turned in, Southeast was tied with Brookfield, a team they have battled all season.

Ultimately, the Pirates prevailed by virtue of the fifth-man score fired by Ethan Shodd, an 88 that bested Brookfield’s final golfer by three strokes.

“This win means so much for our kids, our program and our community,” said Mike Jenior, coach of the Pirates. “It is a testament to our hard work and determination and defines this team so fittingly. We showed our mental toughness when our backs were against the wall after a rough first nine but we fought back and kept our composure down the stretch. And when it mattered most, it was again a full team effort coming down to the fifth man score. That has been the story of our season.

“I have seen these golfers grow up in our junior programs at Olde Dutch and Pirates Play Golf,” Jenior added. “It means so much to see them succeed. They deserve this.”

The Garfield G-Men finished in the top five of the conference led by Anderson’s runner-up medalist finish of a score of 77.

MVAC SCARLET DIVISION

In the Scarlet Division, McDonald won both the tournament and ultimately the overall championship after they tied for first place in the regular season with Lowellville, which finished second in Wednesday’s tournament.

The Waterloo Vikings finished their season in seventh place in the conference led by sophomore Trevor Flarida (85) and freshman Jayden Eichler (96).

BOYS GOLF SCOREBOARD

MVAC TOURNAMENT

(At Salem Hill Golf Course, Salem – Par 72)

GREY DIVISION

TEAM STANDINGS: *Southeast 328, Brookfield 328, LaBrae 333, Crestview 355, Garfield 357, Champion 377, Newton Falls 355.

*CHAMPION: Southeast won the tournament by virtue of the fifth man score.

MEDALISTS: James Morgan, Southeast 75; Hunter Anderson, Garfield 77; Braydon Demaria, Brookfield 78, Cody Davidson, Brookfield 79.

SOUTHEAST (328): James Morgan 75, Cole Bruno 82, Alex Peelish 86, Owen Dombroski 85, Ethan Shodd 88.

GARFIELD (357): Hunter Anderson 77, Caleb Sheer 89, Lukas Workman 94, Garet Warnick 97, Harrison Kissell 119.

SCARLET DIVISION

TEAM STANDINGS: McDonald 324, Lowellville 334, Jackson-Milton 356, Springfield 359, Western Reserve 362, Mineral Ridge 370, Waterloo 374.

MEDALISTS: Jackson Easley, Springfield 76; Chris Ragazzine, McDonald 78; Zachariah Sargent, Lowellville 79; Colton Elliott, Jackson-Milton 80; Jaxson Candel, McDonald 80.

WATERLOO (374): Jayden Eichler 96, Trevor Flarida 85, Mason Long 95, Blade Ascarrunz 98.

GIRLS GOLF SCOREBOARD

MVAC TOURNAMENT

(At Salem Hill Golf Course, Salem – Par 72)

GREY DIVISION

TEAM STANDINGS: Southeast 329, Champion 362, Mineral Ridge 405, Garfield 415, LaBrae 418, Lowellville 452, McDonald 487.

MEDALISTS: Avery Robinette, Champion 74; Brilea Woods, Champion 79; Samantha Morgan, Southeast 79; Jennifer Mix, Southeast 86; Aubree Varga, Southeast 86; Jessica Mix, Southeast 88, Emily Morrison, Southeast 89.

SOUTHEAST (329): Samantha Morgan 79, Jennifer Mix 86, Aubree Varga 86, Jessica Mix 88, Emily Morrison 89.

GARFIELD (415): Addison Snyder 91, Lily Thompson 103, Emily Knerem 110, Scarlett Adkins 111, Aubrey Thornton 130.