Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Regina

Coach: Christopher Stauffer (1st season)

Last season: Fifth at RVC Meet

Top returners: Mark Schomer, Jr.; Nic Hein, Jr.; Andrew Miller, Jr.

Headliner: Junior Mark Schomer is seeking a return to the state meet after placing 44th with a two-day total of 167 last season at the Class 2A state meet.

Keep an eye on: Junior Nic Hein was the top Regina finisher at the River Valley Conference meet last season placing 13th with an 86.

Circle the date: May 7 at River Valley Conference Meet at Blue Top Ridge. The Regals will attempt to improve on their fifth-place RVC finish from last season as the host team at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside.

Outlook: First-year head coach Christopher Stauffer inherits a solid group of returners as Regina brings back of its top five finishers as the RVC meet last season.

Schomer and Hein headline the list of returners after placing 17th and 13th at the RVC meet respectively while Andrew Miller is also back with varsity experience.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: Chad McCarty (3rd season) 

Assistant coach: Brad Fox

Last season: 14th at WAMAC Meet

Top returners: Brandon McCarty, Jr.; Ryan Navara, Soph.; Isaac Quinn, Sr.; Kaden Gisleson, Jr.; Ethan Fairholm, Jr.

Newcomers to watch: Cole Liebe, Sr.; Nolan Schwarting, Sr.

Headliner: A first-team all-conference performer that finished eighth at the state meet Brandon McCarty will look to build on a sophomore season that saw him establish himself as one of the top young golfers in the state.

Keep an eye on: Ryan Navara will look to take a big step forward this season after notching the third best finish for a CCA golfer at the WAMAC Super Meet last season with a 102.

Circle the date: May 6 at WAMAC Super Meet. McCarty should be in contention for an individual title and the Clippers will be looking to improve on their 14th place finish from a year ago at the 14-team Super Meet at Saddleback Ridge Golf Course in Solon.

Outlook: McCarty had a breakthrough season a year ago as a sophomore finishing runner-up at the WAMAC super meet and placing eighth at the Class 3A state meet.

McCarty fired a 36-hole nine-over-par 153 at the state meet last May to finish in a tie for eighth place, 11 shots back of the state champion.

He will look to take another big step forward this season as Clear Creek Amana seeks to improve as a program.

Senior Isaac Quinn and juniors Kaden Gisleson and Ethan Fairholm return with varsity experiences while seniors Cole Liebe and Nolan Schwarting will look to break into the lineup.

Solon

Coach: Adam Stahle (12th season)

Assistant coaches: Scott Wolfe

Last season: Third at WAMAC Super Meet

Top returners: Lucas TePoel, Soph.; Joe Stahle, Jr.

Newcomers to watch: Stetson McIlravy, Soph.; Sully Steen, Jr.; Jake Van Roekel, Soph.

Headliner: Junior Joe Stahle will be looked to as a leader on a young solon roster that returns just two players with full-time varsity experience from a year ago.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Lucas TePoel saw varsity action last season as a freshman shooting a 93 at the WAMAC Super Meet at the challenging Amana Colonies Golf Course.

Circle the date: April 5th Solon Invite. The Spartans get a chance early in the season to size themselves up against quality competition at its home course.

Outlook: Solon lost a large chunk of its lineup from a team that placed third at the WAMAC Super Meet last season and returns just two players with extensive varsity experience this spring.

Stahle and TePoel will look to take the spots at the top of the line after getting their feet wet at the varsity level a year ago.

Sophomores Jake Van Roekel and Stetson McIlravy and junior Sully Steen are expected to make an immediate impact in the lineup as well.

West Branch

Coach: Randy Sexton (23rd season)

Assistant coaches: Jason Miller, John Walsh

Last season: Runner-up at RVC Meet; Eighth at 2A State Meet

Top returners: Ted Bridges, Sr.; Mitchell Knoop, Sr.; Brady Lukavsky, Sr.; Evan O’Neil, Sr.; Matt Whaley, Jr.; Kaleb Sexton, Soph.

Headliner: Senior Ted Bridges finished sixth at the Class 2A state meet with a nine-over-par 149 last May just five strokes off the state title.

Keep an eye on: Senior Brady Lukavsky played in the number three spot most of the season but had the second best performance for a West Branch golfer at the state meet placing 35th as an with a two-day total of 162.

Circle the date: May 10th at 2A Sectional Meet. The first step to a second consecutive state meet appearance comes in the form of the sectional meet at the Tipton Golf Course.  

Outlook: The stage is set for West Branch to add another chapter to its impressive history as four members of last year’s state meet team return.

West Branch reached the state meet for the first time since 2006 a year ago but brings back plenty of pieces to improve on its eighth-place team finish.

Bridges posted the second-best score at state by a non-senior and will lead the way for a West Branch squad that returns six players that saw time on the varsity a year ago.

Lukavsky, junior Matt Whaley and sophomore Kaleb Sexton all earned state meet experience a year ago while seniors Mitchell Knoop and Evan O’Neil have plenty of varsity experience.

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