By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Preview capsules for the 2022 high school boys golf season.

AURORA GREENMEN

Head Coach: Gus Mehallis.

2021 Recap: 11th at district tournament.

Returning Lettermen (3): Max Devins, jr.; Jude Abbass, sr.; Charlie Hesse, sr.

FIELD FALCONS

Head Coach: Bryan Mahaffey.

Home Course: Sunny Hill.

Returning Lettermen (2): Kyle Cooper, sr.; Bryce Cannon, jr.

General Outlook: The Falcons lost five seniors to graduation from the 2021 team. Four juniors step into the top spots in Rusty Carpenter, Caiden Lay, Ryder Hammelman and Deegan Yutzy.

In total, the Falcons’ roster is 16-deep.

GARFIELD G-MEN

Head Coach: Doug Englehart, 2nd year.

2021 Recap: 9-7 overall; 8-4 MVAC; 2nd place in MVAC Grey Division; 13th at sectionals.

Home Course: Sugar Bush, par 72.

Returning Lettermen (4): Danny Ensinger, sr.; Liam Mielcarek, sr.; Landen Gideon, jr.; Dillan Paul, soph.

Lettermen Lost (1): Hayden Peska.

General Outlook: “With four returning letter winners, we hope to contend for the MVAC championship again this year,” head coach Doug Englehart said.

Reason to be Optimistic: “The difference between first and second (place) last year came down to one loss. Liam, Danny, Landen and Dillan have been working throughout the off-season to improve their game and all four have the ability to step into the No. 1 role vacated by Hayden Peska.”

Something Interesting: “Each year after the season, we play an intra-team, nine-hole match-play championship. Lsat year, during the championship match, Landen dropped a 30-foot chip on the 15th hole to stay alive. But he missed a putt on 18 that allowed Hayden (Peska) to win the championship.”

MOGADORE WILDCATS

Head Coach: Chris Mossa, 17th season.

Coaching Staff: Rich Brumbaugh, assistant.

2021 Recap: 14-3 record; 2nd in Portage Trail Conference; Division III sectional champions; 5th at districts; Dillon Pendergast placed 6th at state championship.

Home Course: Paradise Lake, par 70.

Returning Lettermen (3): Dillon Pendergast, sr.; Seth Baglia, sr.; Tristyn McCaman, soph.

Lettermen Lost (3): Grant Berkheimer, Garrett Penix, John Dasco.

General Outlook: “The team’s goals are to contend for the PTC title and advance through the Division III sectional and district tournaments,” head coach Chris Mossa said.

Reason to be Optimistic: Two-time-reigning PTC Player of the Year Dillon Pendergast returns for his senior season. He placed sixth overall at the Division III state championship last season at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course in Columbus.

RAVENNA RAVENS

Head Coach: Terry Kekic.

Home Course: Windmill Lakes.

2021 Recap: 15-9 overall; 10-4 Metro Athletic Conference; 3rd place MAC.

Returning Lettermen (3): Marcus Gibson, sr.; Landon Skilton, sr.; Abbie Rutherford, sr.

General Outlook: It has been a big turnaround for the Ravens over the last two seasons. After posting a 2-12 record in 2020 for a last-place finish, Ravenna jumped to 10-4 and third place in the league in 2021.

Reason to be Optimistic: Both  Skilton and Gibson averaged below 44 for nine holes last season and have continued to improve with a productive off-season.

Carson Schueller, a sophomore, could be a key player for the Ravens this fall.

Something Interesting: Senior Abbie Rutherford nearly qualified for the state tournament last year.

ROOTSTOWN ROVERS

Head Coach: Keith Waesch, 26th year, 407-111 overall.

Coaching Staff: Kyle Barkhurst, assistant.

Home Course: Sunny Hill, par 71.

2021 Recap: 21-0 overall; Portage Trail Conference champions; Division II sectional champions; 5th at district tournament.

Returning Lettermen (3): Cole Hostetler, sr.; Lane McKenzie, sr.; Austin Biggin, jr.

Lettermen Lost (4): Mason Bartholomy; Blake Bower, Ava Huebner, Nathan Galambos.

General Outlook: The Rovers return the low-scorer from a year ago in Cole Hostetler (38.8 average), who very nearly qualified for the state championships last year.

In addition to the program’s other returning lettermen, senior Carson Flowers, senior Mitchel Weber, junior Audrey Francis, sophomore Anthony Cambareri, sophomore Luke Flowers, sophomore Ben Kline, sophomore Brady Kreitzburg and sophomore Trentan Sines will all be pushing for varsity action.

“We definitely have a lot of competition for the fourth, fifth and sixth positions this fall,” head coach Keith Waesch said. “We have as many as seven or eight kids who could fill out the final three spots in our lineup. The competition throughout the summer and at our August tryouts should make our program stronger.”

Reason to be Optimistic: “We have three returnees (Hostetler, McKenzie and Biggin) that continue to get better and better, but we still need to post a solid fourth score to win matches in what should be a very competitive conference race. In my opinion, the school that can develop players at the back end of their lineup will have the best chance of hoisting the trophy in late September.”

Something Interesting: Rootstown’s sole female golfer from last season, Ava Huebner, is now part of the Marietta College women’s golf team. She is the second female golfer from Rootstown to play in college, joining Katie Jenior (University of Akron 2008-2012).

Also, for the first time since 2010, Rootstown will field a middle-school golf program.

SOUTHEAST PIRATES

Head Coach: Mike Jenior, 6th year.

2021 Recap: 6-8 overall; 5-5 Portage Trail Conference; 4th in PTC.

Home Course: Olde Dutch Mill.

Returning Lettermen (6): Nolan Truex, sr.; Adam Peelish, sr.; Matt Wood, sr.; Jacob Slider, jr.; Brandon Arnold, jr.; Cooper Kelly, jr.

General Outlook: “This will be the most well-round team we have had in years,” head coach Mike Jenior said.

The Pirates feature a solid core of upperclassmen led by seniors Adam Peelish, Matt Wood and Nolan Truex. All three earned All-PTC honors in 2021.

Juniors Jacob Slider, Brandon Arnold and Cooper Kelly all contributed at the varsity level a year ago.

Jenior said he expects freshman James Morgan to make an immediate impact after a successful summer of tournaments, including a qualification for the U.S. Kids Junior Worlds.

Another freshman, Shade Stevens, is expected to contend for a varsity spot as well.

Reason to be Optimistic: “The determination of our guys this off-season has been infectious. I can’t stress how important summer tournaments are to prepare for the high school season and 75 percent of our varsity squad competed in at least one summer tournament.”

STREETSBORO ROCKETS

Head Coach: Bruce Thomas, 20th year.

Coaching Staff: Phil Starks, assistant.

Home Course: Boulder Creek.

2021 Recap: 3-16 overall record; 3-11 Metro Athletic Conference; 6th place MAC.

Returning Lettermen (3): Kyle Liddle, sr.; Tyler Paul, jr.; Jayden Vyse, soph.

Lettermen Lost (1): Jayce Yusko.

General Outlook: Three returning lettermen boost the Rockets’ lineup, along with the addition of senior Josh Williams (CVCA) to the roster.

“I feel that we can compete in all of our league matches,” head coach Bruce Thomas said.

Newcomers that could also help lift the Rockets this season are senior Bryson Jacobs and sophomore Andrew Burton.

Something Interesting: “The golf program was able to purchase a golf simulator this past winter and it has benefited our players this off-season,” Thomas said.

WATERLOO VIKINGS

Head Coach: Matthew Flanagan, 10th season, 79-83 record.

2021 Recap: 17-6 overall; 10-2 Mahoning Valley Conference Scarlet Division; 5th place at Division II sectional.

Home Course: Paradise Lake Country Club, par 70.

Returning Lettermen (4): Noah Hughes, sr.; Jackson Eichler, jr.; Drew Flarida, jr.; Trevor Simons, soph.

Lettermen Lost (3): Drake Miller, Hunter Rothermel, Luke Simons.

General Outlook: The Vikings are looking to maintain their status in the MVAC Scarlet Division after surging to a second-place finish a season ago.

“In order to improve on last-year’s finish, our group of sophomores and juniors will need to continue their growth,” head coach Matthew Flanagan said.

Flanagan said he anticipates McDonald, which is the reigning league champion, along with Jackson-Milton and Mineral Ridge will provide steep competition.

“Lowellville, Springfield and Sebring McKinley all showed improvement last season and will prove they have great potential.”

Reason to be Optimistic: “Noah Hughes, our lone senior, will look to lead the team. Jackson Eichler, Drew Flarida and Trevor Simons gained a lot of experience last year and performed very well in the varsity lineup.”

Creating competition for varsity time are Isabella Jenior, Clayton Smith and Mitchell Shepherd, while a number of other young players join the program.

“We look forward to their development and potential impact,” Flanagan said.

Something Interesting: Graduated senior Luke Simons is on the roster at the University of Mount Union.

WINDHAM BOMBERS

Head Coach: Cody Apthorpe.

2021 Recap: 12th at sectional tournament.

Returning Lettermen (3): Chase Eye, sr.; Zack Turk, sr.; Jack Eye, soph.