The high school boys golf season began July 28. Here are season previews for schools in The Wayne Bargain Hunter’s coverage area:
Waynedale
The Golden Bears will be an experienced bunch this season with six letter-winners returning.
Seniors Jordan Miller, Hank Miller, Brayden Schlabach and Caden Snyder and juniors Logan Troyer and Hudson Barkman are all back. Jordan Miller was the Player of the Year in the Wayne County Athletic League last season while Hank Miller and Barkman earned second-team honors.
“Our depth and experience will push each other every day in practice,” 31st-year coach Melinda Budd said. “Inter-squad competition should push us to stay focused and handle pressure even on practice days.”
Waynedale finished 22-1 overall, 17-1 in WCAL play and won the conference tournament by two strokes over Smithville.
“The WCAL has been very competitive the last few seasons,” Budd said. “We expect the same, as every team has good players returning. Most of these players played in several summer tournaments. We will be disappointed if we’re not at the top of the standings at the end of the season.”
Dalton
The Bulldogs will be led by junior Thad Weaver, a WCAL first-team selection in 2024, and senior Isaac Mori. Sophomore Gavin Downs also is a returning letter-winner.
“We will need three spots filled on varsity with two of our top scorers (Thad Weaver and Isaac Mori) returning,” third-year coach Isaac Haver said. “We previously relied on experience to make it through but now will be putting some younger golfers in an unfamiliar position.”
Others in the mix with the three returning letter-winners are junior Grady Hirst, sophomore Landon Fivecoat, and freshmen Ky Steiner and Matthew Geiser.
“Our strength will be our passion and dedication to the game,” Haver said. “I’ve been impressed with the work ethic that I’ve seen out of our younger golfers, and I expect them to reap the rewards as they gain experience.”
Haver expects Waynedale, the reigning WCAL champ, to be the team to beat in the conference once again.
“If we can grow and finish in the top half of the league, I would be very pleased,” he said.
