Contributed photo
Contributed photo
The top four golfers from last year are back this season for the Mendota boys' golf team.
They will head up the Trojans’ efforts to improve on last season’s 2-5 record in the Big Northern West Division.
Seniors Jake Nurnberg, Cameron Phalen, Nolan Kaleel and Bryar Lindenmeyer are the top returners. Several other golfers are in the mix for the last two varsity spots. Juniors Sam Becker and Mason Schuler earned some varsity time last season, while junior Eli Otterbach was second in the conference at the freshman/sophomore level a year after he won it as a freshman.
Also in the mix are senior Chandler Schulz; juniors Owen Wixom and Tony Aughenbaugh; sophomores Tristan Joyce, Austin Robinson, Beau Wixom and Lane Howard; and freshmen Taylor Joyce, Colton Scheppers and Luke Ross.
“Don’t be surprised if one of the freshmen or sophomores jump up and take one of the varsity spots,” coach Brian Blumhorst said recently.
Blumhorst said that despite not qualifying any golfers for sectionals last year, there are a few Trojans capable of getting there this season.
“Lots to look forward to – hopefully,” Blumhorst said.
ST. BEDE
The Bruins have sophomore John Potthoff back this season, a Three Rivers Athletic Conference second-teamer last season.
Neal Dodda, Adam Lenkaitis, Jonathan Martin, Matthew Snyder and Ben Sons are the team's seniors this season. Devin Cook, Rory Dirks, Roger “Trey” Miskell III and Peyton Pyszka are the juniors, while Alec Boehm, Dylan Grammer and Seth Ludford round out the sophomore class. The freshmen are Nolan Richard Doyle and Eric Dudek.
STREATOR
Sophomore Camden Anderson-Pfalzgraf had the low score on the team in two of the first four events this season, shooting an 81 on Aug. 22 at Eastwood and a nine-hole 39 on Aug. 24 at Highland Park. Senior Adam Brown has a first-place finish among Bulldogs on Aug. 23 with a 42 at Eastwood and tied with sophomore Grant Mascal for first on the team at 42 on Aug. 31 at Eastwood.
Other boys' team members include seniors Todd Anderson and Trevor Schmitt, junior Nick Yanello, sophomore Cole Holloway, and freshmen Luke Elias and Austin Fairall.
OTTAWA
Seniors and sectional qualifiers Travis Noto and Riley Buhr lead the Bulldogs this season, joined by fellow 2015 lettermen and seniors Spencer McLaughlin, Thomas Duffy and John Fuller.
Coach Dave Wultzen said the team is inexperienced.
"Our scores so far are high," Wultzen said. "I hope that with each meet, we will improve. The goal is to be playing our best come regional time."
LAKE PARK
The Lancers came into the season as a young team.
Four of the six varsity spots are held down by sophomores; however, Lake Park has a key returner in senior Nick Guisti, a sectional qualifier in 2015.
The rest of the varsity members are senior Nate Stubler, and sophomores Nate Rodriguez, Cole Thompson and Jake Zeman.
Note: Not all preview-information requests were returned by press time.
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