New Phila boys team, Ella Ridgeway earn district golf berths

Boys golf

New Philadelphia’s boys golf team had a strong showing at the Div. I sectional tournament at Eagle Sticks Golf Course in Zanesville. The Quakers shot a solid 324 on the 6,500-yard, par-70 course to finish as district runner-up, seven shots behind champ Dover, earning a team berth in the district tourney on Oct. 6 at Lancaster Golf Club in the Columbus area in the process.

Leading the way for the Quakers was ace Brady Evans, whose 72 tied him for second with Dover’s Gauge Stingel. The pair trailed medalist Christopher Elliot of Steubenville by two strokes.

Also contributing for the Quakers were Cam Wright, who shot 81 to finish sixth; Jackson Martini (84, 10th) and Cayle McBride (87, tied for 15th). Griffin Wells was New Philadelphia’s fifth and shot 93 to tie for 21st in the 25-player field.

New Philadelphia, Dover and third-place Steubenville, along with a trio of individual qualifiers advanced to play in the Central District tournament. Play is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6. The top performers will move on to the Division I state tournament at Akron’s Firestone Country Club, to be contested Oct. 12-13. 

Girls golf

Competing in the Div. I East District Sectional tournament, New Philadelphia shot a team total of 407 to place seventh among the nine teams in the sectional. Leading that charge was Ella Ridgeway, who shot an 84 to finish in eighth place and earn a trip to the Lancaster Division I Central District tourney, Ridgeway was set to tee off on Thursday, Oct. 2 at Lancaster Golf Club with a trip to the state tournament on the line. 

Also for the Quakers in the sectional, Sadie Compher placed 23rd in the sectional with a 102; Savannah Beach finished tied for 27th with a 106; Claire Kimble shot 115 to place 38th; and Zoe Knisely finished with a 145 for 41st place. Three teams and three individuals from non-qualifying teams advanced to compete in Lancaster. 

In order to advance to the Division I state tournament, to be held Oct. 12-13 at prestigious Firestone Country Club’s North Course in Akron. Ridgeway needs to be the top individual in the field on a non-qualifying team, and just one team and five players overall will qualify for the state tourney.

Tennis

New Philadelphia’s girls tennis team was set to compete this week in the Canton-Jackson Park Sectional, which featured a 17-team field from the Akron, Canton and Youngstown areas, along with Tuscarawas County. 

In singles action, Anna Wherley was paired in the first round with Morgan DeLa Croix of Louisville; Katelyn Mamula was matched with Eloise McKrill of Perry, and Evy Power was to take on Liza Letunova of Boardman. 

In doubles action, Kate Stogsdill and Jordan Chang were matched with a duo from Perry in the first round, and Olivia Alexander and Samantha Johnson were to take on a GlenOak pair. 

Action was to begin on Tuesday and wrap up Saturday. Top qualifiers will advance to district play, which will be help Oct. 9 and 11 at Springside Athletic Club in Akron.