Smithies aim high as area golf teams prepare for postseason

Like any high school golf team, the summer for Smithville’s boys team was filled with players logging hours on courses across the area to prepare for the upcoming season.

For the Smithies, however, this offseason was a little different.

After fighting their way at the end of the 2023 season to win the Wayne County Athletic League Championships — finishing one point shy of the overall conference title and then advancing to the district tournament as a team — the months leading into the 2024 campaign had Smithville with a whole new mindset.

“I think the team realized that we really had a great chance of going to state as a team (after last season),” Smithville coach Jay Winans said. “Getting a taste of districts and knowing that we were good enough to go to state instantly did motivate us over the summer to get better.”

That work has shown already this fall as the Smithies entered the final week of the regular season with just one dual-match loss and a returning group that is using their experience from last fall to pull themselves within sight of a handful of school records — and that elusive state appearance.

Before that, however, Smithville and other local teams will open the sectional tournament this week at various sites across the region.

The Smithies, who moved down to Division III, will take part in the Bunker Hill Sectional on Sept. 24, along with Dalton, while both Orrville and Waynedale are scheduled to participate in the Div. II Sectional at The Elms on Sept. 23.

Both district tournaments — Div. II at Windmill Lakes and Div. III at Tannenhauf — will be held Oct. 1, with the top three teams and individuals advancing.

And with the majority of its lineup back, outside of all-league player Hunter Pertee, the goals are set high for Smithville.

Senior Gavin Von Almen headlines that list. The veteran, coming off a season in which he was medalist at the State Farm Invitational and The Elms Sectional, fired a personal-record 33 in a recent dual-match win over Waynedale.

Van Almen is far from alone, however, as both Mason Shutt and Owen Ward picked up valuable experience as underclassman and are making a strong punch atop the roster.

A newcomer in Brennan Piatt has filled out the No. 4 position while the team has used a rotation of players in the other two spots including returnees Cameron Ceriani, Ethan Piatt, Jax Riggenbach and freshman Logan Winans.

And despite not having a set fifth or sixth man in the lineup, coach Winans likes the battle for the spots that has emerged.

“It’s a good problem to have,” he said. “The competition has been great all season.”

But the process to prepare for another postseason run started way before the first ball was hit this season.

The moment the Smithies walked off the course at Windmill Lakes, following an 11th-place finish at the district, the mindset was on the 2024 season.

It didn’t take long to show. In their first event of the year, the Western Reserve Invitational, the team carded a 306 to finish one stroke shy of the program record.

And it all started with that passion heading into the year that has taken the program to new heights.

“We have a lot of golfers that are dedicated and help each other get better,” Winans said. “It is not uncommon for these guys to play 18-27 holes a day over the summer. They love the game, and it shows when they play.”

Along with Smithville, Dalton will be another local team to watch in the Div. III Sectional as the tandem of Zach Brahler and Thad Weaver have been consistent leaders.

In Div. II, Waynedale is always a threat to advance in the postseason. The Bears’ Jordan Miller has been on a tear all season long as he currently is among the area’s best in both 18-hole (76.0) and nine-hole averages (37.4). Orrville also will be among the field with Drew Alexander leading the way.