If history is any indication, the area is in store for another banner golf season.
Last year, Hiland took home its second Division III state title in the past three seasons, Triway won a program-record 18 victories and made a second straight state trip, Dalton made its first trip to state in 27 years, while Waynedale and Loudonville both continued their respective streaks of bringing home conference championships.
The 2022 season is already off to a strong start, with a host of teams and individuals eager to add their names to the local history book.
Here’s a look at each of the area teams:
BOYS
Chippewa
Coach: Jason Egli (ninth season)
Home Course: Chippewa Golf Club
Last season: 7th in WCAL, 11th at Elms Div. II Sectional
Returning players: Ethan Douglas (sr.), Matt Yeager (sr.)
Newcomers: Anthony Kish (so.), Burk Hughes (fr.), Dylan Braswell (fr.).
Outlook: The Chipps are still in rebuilding mode but have two quality seniors in Douglas and Yeager to build off of. A host of freshman are expected to make up the rest of the lineup, while Kish is an underclassman stepping up into a bigger role for Chippewa after showing growth last fall.
Dalton
Coach: Jeff Feller (fifth season)
Home Course: The Pines Golf Club
Last season: 2nd in WCAL, 3rd at Pine Hills Div. III Sectional, 2nd at Tannenhauf Div. III Sectional, 11th at Div. III State
Returning players: Jaden Schlabach (sr.), Brendan Lehman (sr.), Todd Brahler (sr.), Zach Brahler (so.).
Newcomers: Alex Cross (so.), Madison Wade (so.), Isaac Mori (fr.).
Outlook: Fresh off of their second trip to state in program history, the Bulldogs have a wealth of talent back in the lineup this fall to make another deep postseason run. Schlabach and Lehman were both first-team All-WCAL selections last year and posted sub-40 averages, while Todd Brahler is another 12th grader capable of going low.
Hiland
Coach: Austin Kaufman (18th season)
Home Course: Fire Ridge Golf Course
Last season: 1st in IVC, 1st at Cambridge Div. III Sectional, 1st at River Greens Div. III District, 1st at Div. III State
Returning players: Nathan Kline (sr.), Lucas Yoder (sr.).
Newcomers: Cowan Miller (Sr.), Christian Miller (Sr.), Monty Coblentz (Jr.), Camden Bille (So.), KJ Henry (So.), Jack Mast (Fr.), Kylie Miller (Fr.).
Outlook: The Hawks have been one of the most successful teams in the area, highlighted by capturing the Div. III state title last fall. With four players gone due to graduation, Hiland looks to returnees like Kline and Yoder to lead the way. The tandem each were key players in the Hawks’ undefeated season last fall, averaging 39 and 40, respectively. Coblentz and Mast are key newcomers to the lineup.
Hillsdale
Coach: Mark Colter (fourth season)
Home Course: Mohican Hills Golf Club
Last season: 6th in WCAL, 13th at Pine Hills Div. III Sectional
Returning players: Bryon Bickel (jr.), Ty Lantz (jr.), Dallie Meek (so.), Vincent Scalesi (jr.), Kambin Smith (so.).
Newcomers: Ryan Nalley (fr.), Blake Schwan (fr.), Cade Hawley (fr.), AJ Brown (fr.), Landon Timms (fr.).
Outlook: Bickel returns as the Falcons No. 1 and looks to help the team into the upper half of the WCAL standings. Along with Bickel, Lantz is one of the most improved golfers for Hillsdale, according to Colter, and Meek was busy on the Galen Swartzentruber Junior Series this summer.
Loudonville
Coach: Jim Conley (ninth season)
Home Course: Round Lake Golf Course
Last season: 1st in MBC, 5th at Pine Hills Div. III Sectional
Returning players: Isaac Gessner (sr.), Chandeler Gribble (sr.), Gabe Gerhart (sr.), Brendon Hess (jr.), Judah Layton (so.).
Outlook: Experience will be key for the Redbirds, who are poised to make a postseason run in 2022. With just one player lost from a year ago, the top four spots in the lineup are loaded with veterans. Led by Gessner, Layton and Gribble, each were within a shot of each other last fall. Loudonville’s MBC title streak will be stuck at three in a row, however, as the MBC doesn’t have enough teams this fall.
Northwestern
Coach: Scott St. Clair (11th season)
Home Course: Mohican Hills Golf Club
Last season: 3rd in WCAL, 8th at Bunker Hill Div. II Sectional
Returning players: Joe Buchholz (Sr.), Kylee Purdy (Sr.), Luke Walton (Jr.), Easton Thomas (Jr.).
Newcomers: Jason Diehl (fr.), Carson Seabolt (fr.).
Outlook: After tying for 14th at the Div. II state tournament last season, Purdy brings a wealth of experience for this Huskies lineup. Purdy is not alone as Buchholz was a district qualifier last fall and shared second-team All-WCAL honors with Purdy and fellow returnee Walton.
Norwayne
Coach: Joe Chaffin (first season)
Home Course: Hawk’s Nest Golf Course
Last season: 4th in the WCAL, 7th at Pine Hills Div. III Sectional
Returning players: Gavin Ferguson (jr.), Kael Mowrer (jr.), Derek Pumphrey (jr.), Max Graham (jr.).
Newcomer: Grady Beery (fr.)
Outlook: Chaffin takes over the Bobcats, after serving as the program’s assistant coach for the previous seven seasons. Ferguson was an All-WCAL special mention and is one of four starters back from last season, along with Graham, Mowrer and Pumphrey. The quartet made up the 3-6 spots in the lineup a year ago.
Orrville
coach: Chuck Davis (5th season)
Home Course: The Pines Golf Club
Last season: 5th in PAC, 9th at Elms Div. II Sectional
Returning players: Noah Mulpas (Sr.), Abby Ankenman (Jr.).
Newcomers: Matt Anderson (Jr.), Miles Pertee (Fr.), Drew Alexander (Fr.), Caleb Carter (Fr.), Kellen Wayt (Fr.).
Outlook: With four freshmen in the lineup for the Red Riders, they are one of the younger rosters in the area. Don’t overlook Orrville, however, as Mulpas is a legit No. 1 and was busy on the summer golf circuit. With Ankenman — a district qualifier last season — the Riders have a 1-2 combo atop the lineup that will be key to the team’s success.
Smithville
Coach: Jay Winans (first season)
Home Course: Hawk’s Nest Golf Course
Last season: 6th in WCAL, 6th at Pine Hills Div. III Sectional
Returning players: Max Yochheim (Sr.), Jaydon Marty (Sr.), Nate Stenglein (Sr.), James Arthur (Sr.), Carter Piatt (Sr.), Reece Riggenbach (Sr.), Jake Kromer (Sr.), Hunter Pertee (jr.), Gavin Von Almen (so.).
Newcomers: Cameron Ceriani (fr.), Mason Shutt (fr.).
Outlook: For the second straight season, the Smithies have a new coach with Winans taking over the program this fall. Smithville has a slew of veterans and the first-year coach plans on rotating 10 different into the six-player lineup throughout the season to help the program get back into the upper half of the league.
Triway
Coach: Brian Kiper (15th season)
Home Course: Wooster Country Club
Last season: 1st in PAC, 1st at Elms Div. II Sectional, 1st at Windmill Lakes Div. II District, 7th at Div. II State
Returning players: Drake Starkey (Sr.), Tyler Snyder (Jr.), Isaac Moorman (So.).
Newcomers: Dan Nuzum (so.), Jackson Zemrock (fr.).
Outlook: Just one of its top five golfers from last season’s state-qualifying team, placing the Titans in rebuilding mode. They do, however, have a solid No. 1 in Snyder — a key member of last year’s squad that put together the best season in program history that featured winning the PAC, sectional and district titles en route to a 7th-place finish at the Div. II state tournament.
Tuslaw
Coach: Matt Halter (sixth season)
Home Course: The Elms Country Club
Last season: 4th in PAC, 6th at Windmill Lakes Div. II Sectional
Returning players: Adam Sibila (Sr.), Alexis Crawford (Sr.), Van Hamrick (Sr.), Evan Back (Jr.), Andrew Smith (Jr.).
Newcomers: Lincoln Cocklin (fr.), Caden Kiefer (fr.).
Outlook: Back comes into the season after winning the top division of the Galen Swartzentruber Junior Series this summer and was second overall in scoring average for the Mustangs last fall. Sibila and Smith also shot identical averages to Back and should help lead a lineup eager to move up the PAC standings.
Waynedale
Coach: Melinda Budd (28th season)
Home Course: Riceland Golf Course
Last season: 1st in WCAL, 3rd at Elms Div. II Sectional, 7th at Windmill Lakes Div. II District
Returning players: Trey Barkman (sr.), Mark Yoder (jr.).
Newcomers: Hank Miller (fr.), Jordan Miller (fr.), Brayden Schlabach (fr.), Braedon Lorentz (fr.), Luke Lorentz (fr.), Doug Gingerich (fr.), Adi Weirick (fr.), Caden Snyder (fr.), Cooper Reynolds (fr.).
Outlook: It will be an emotional season for the Golden Beans, who will be playing in honor of Deegan Bee, their teammate who died in June after a car accident. Bee was one of the best golfers in the area, qualifying for the state tournament as a sophomore in 2021. With only players back from last season’s county championship squad, there will be a handful of fresh faces in the Golden Bears lineup. Barkman, a three-year letterwinner, was a first-team All-WCAL selection in 2021, while Yoder brings two seasons of experience to the lineup. Waynedale will be out to replace reigning WCAL Player of the Year Ean Miller as well.
West Holmes
Coach: Mike Molnar (fourth season)
Home Course: Fire Ridge Golf Course
Last season: 4th in OCC, 3rd at Cambridge Div. I Sectional, 4th at Eaglesticks Div. I District
Returning players: Trey Baker (Jr.), Grady Toye (Jr.), Kenzie Woods (Jr.).
Newcomers: Marcus Miller (Sr.), Daniel Baird (Jr.), Connor Burchfield (So.), Maverick Rickly (So.), Zachary Craft (So.).
Outlook: The Knights bring back half of their roster from last season’s district-qualifying squad. Baker was a second-team All-OCC and All-District selection after posting a 41.8 average, with Toye (42.1) and Woods (47.1) rounding out the returnees. Baird also saw some varsity time in 2021, experience that should help him as a full-time player this fall.
Wooster
Coach: Steve Young (first season).
Home Course: Wooster Country Club
Last season: 5th in OCC, 9th at Good Park Div. I Sectional
Returning players: Dominic Tomassetti (sr.), Ian Snode (jr.), Jackson Readinger (jr.), Sam Fleming (so.), Anthony Long (so.).
Newcomers: Andon Hart (fr.), Grady Hahn (fr.).
Outlook: Snode had the second-best average for the Generals last fall and will look to take over the No. 1 spot after the graduation of All-OCC selection Devon Starcher. Fellow returnees like Fleming and Readinger also picked up key varsity experience, which will be helpful in guiding this youthful Wooster lineup.
GIRLS
Wooster
Coach: Mark Snowbarger (fourth season, 14th overall)
Home Course: The Pines Golf Club
Last season: 7th at Elms Div. I Sectional
Returning players: Abbi Jones (Sr.), Lizzy Hohman (Sr.), Payton Haynes (Jr.).
Newcomers: Gabby Rice (Jr.), Kailey Kartiser (Jr.).
Outlook: A pair of solid veterans in Jones and Hohman are back for another season, eager to help the Generals compete in the three-team OCC. Both Jones (42.1/87.6) and Hohman (42.8/86.3) not only bring key varsity experience, but they have been busy on the junior golf circuit this summer. Haynes is slated to be the No. 3, behind both Jones and Hohman.