Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Mike Bevelacqua (2nd season)

Assistant coaches: Jeremy Wells

Last season: 11th at MVC Super Meet

Top returners: Emily Knoche, Sr.; Kaylee Paulsen, Sr.; Alexa Fredericks, Sr.; Grace Bormann, Jr.; Lauryn Varo, Soph.; April Wilson, Sr.; Kayla Hefley, Sr.; Anna Knoche, Soph.

Headliner: Senior Kaylee Paulsen had the lowest nine and 18-hole average for the Little Hawks last season and shot a team-best 102 at the MVC Super Meet.

Keep an eye on: Senior Emily Knoche was second to Paulsen in both nine and 18-hole average and showed her potential by shooting a team-low nine-hole low round of 41 a year ago.

Circle the date: April 29 at MVC Super Meet. The Little Hawks finished last in the MVC Valley Division in the three-event final standings and a strong performance at the annual Super Meet at The Meadows Golf Course in Asbury will go a long way in helping improve on that finish.

Outlook: With eight players returning with varsity experience City High has the pieces in place to take a step forward in year two under head coach Mike Bevelacqua.

The lineup from last season returns virtually intact for City High with all six players that competed at the MVC Super Meet returning.

Paulsen and Emily Knoche are joined by seniors Alexa Fredericks, April Wilson and Kayla Hefley and sophomore Lauryn Varo as regulars in the City High lineup.

Anna Knoche and Grace Bormann also return with varsity experience as City High seeks to climb the MVC standings.

West High

Coach: Mary Goodfellow (20th season)

Last season: Ninth at MVC Super Meet

Top returners: Ellie Kouba, Sr.; Claudia Chia, Jr.; Rylee Goodfellow, Soph.; Laurel Kelley, Sr.; Mackenzie Donovan, Soph.; Madison Kiersch, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Leigha Pacha, Fr.

Headliner: Senior Ellie Kouba was a Mississippi Valley Conference honorable mention all-division performer last season for her performance that included a 101 at the MVC Super Meet.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Rylee Goodfellow got her feet wet at the varsity level last season and will look to take a big step forward after firing a 104 at the MVC Super Meet.

Circle the date: May 13 MVC Valley Divisional. The Women of Troy will have home course advantage at the final MVC meet of the season as West High hosts a divisional meet at Finkbine Golf Course.

Outlook: West High returns three of its top four golfers from a team that placed fifth in the MVC Mississippi Division last season.

Senior Ellie Kouba headlines the list of returnees after leading the Women of Troy in both nine and 18-hole average while earning honorable mention all-division honors.

Junior Claudia Chia ranked second on the team in nine-hole average at 52.3 and posted the top nine-hole score for West High last season with a 40.

Sophomore Rylee Goodfellow and senior Laurel Kelley also return with varsity experience while sophomores Mackenzie Donovan and Madison Kiersch and freshman Leigha Pacha will look to strengthen the West High lineup.

Regina

Coach: Kevin Kahler and Tim Scholze (2nd season)

Last season: Sixth at RVC Meet

Top returners: Ellie VanLandschoot, Sr.; Suzy Lobodiak, Sr.; Grace Sharpless, Sr.; Jenna Zimmerman, Sr.; Taitiana Ochoa, Sr.; Alisa Pursley, Sr.

Newcomers to watch: Josie Kruger, Sr.

Headliner: Senior Ellie VanLandschoot is set up for a strong senior season after qualifying for the regional final meet and earning all-conference honors with a third-place finish at the RVC meet a year ago.  

Keep an eye on: Senior captain Grace Sharpless is a leader for the Regals and ranked second on the team last season in both nine and 18-hole average.

Circle the date: May 6 vs. West Branch. The final tune up for the Regals before the postseason begins is a home dual with rival West Branch at Pleasant Valley Golf Course. 

Outlook: Expectations are high at Regina as the Regals return their top four golfers from a squad that placed sixth at the River Valley Conference meet last season.

Regina will be among the most experienced teams in the RVC with six seniors returning with varsity experience led by VanLandschoot and Sharpless.

Seniors Jenna Zimmerman and Tatiana Ochoa ranked third and fourth on the team in average a year ago while Alisa Pursley and Suzy Lobodiak also return with varsity experience.

Regina coaches have been impressed with the improvement Lobodiak has displayed this spring.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: Cam Stockman (5th season)

Assistant coaches: Liz Jackson

Last season: 14th at WAMAC Super Meet

Top returners: Emily Greathouse, Jr.; Thea Clennon, Jr.; Ellexia McCredie, Jr.; Jayden Knapp, Jr.

Newcomers to watch: Elle Hagen, Fr.; Nevaeh Trimble-Roszell, Fr.

Headliner: Junior Emily Greathouse returns as the top golfer in the Clear Creek Amana lineup after leading the Clippers with a 52.8 nine-hole average last season.

Keep an eye on: Juniors Ellexia McCredie and Thea Clennon battled for the second spot behind Greathouse a year ago and both return with plenty of varsity experience.

Circle the date: May 6 at WAMAC Super Meet. Head coach Cam Stockman made no bones about the desire to improve on a 14th place finish at the WAMAC Super Meet last season. That opportunity comes on May 6 at Gardner Golf Course in Cedar Rapids.

Outlook: The goal for the Clippers is to improve on last year’s conference finish and the pieces appear to be in place for Clear Creek Amana to do just that.

The top four players from last season all return and several freshmen with golfing experience join the fold.

Greathouse, McCredie and Clennon lead the way while junior Jayden Knapp is also back with a year of experience under her belt.

Solon

Coach: Curtis Hendrickson (4th season)   

Assistant coaches: Matt Messenger

Last season: Ninth at WAMAC Super Meet

Top returners: Reegan Helle, Sr.; Leah Woessner, Jr.; Elle Schadler, Jr.; Katlyn Jeter, Soph.; Grace Helle, Soph.; Emma Bluder, Sr.; Katy Yeomans, Sr. Emma Freerks, Sr.; Emily Galindo, Sr.

Headliner: A four-year varsity golfer, senior Reegan Helle returns as the top golfer in the Solon lineup after leading the Spartans in nine and 18-hole average last season.

Keep an eye on: Junior Leaeh Woessner is already a three-year varsity contributor and was the number two golfer in the Spartan lineup last season.

Circle the date: May 29 at WAMAC East Divisional. Solon enters postseason play with the WAMAC Divisional meet at Dyersville Country Club.

Outlook: The Spartans have all the pieces in place to make a climb in the WAMAC standings after placing ninth at the WAMAC Super Meet last season.

With 20 golfers on the roster numbers are at an all-time high at Solon. The Spartans also have talent and experience with five of six varsity players returning from last season including the top three.

Reegan Helle and Woessner headline the list of returners along with junior Elle Schadler who ranked second on the team in 18-hole average last season.

Sophomores Katlyn Jeter and Grace Helle return with a year of varsity experience under their belts while seniors Emma Bluder, Katy Yeomans, Emma Freerks and Emily Galindo all expect to battle for spots in the varsity lineup. 

West Branch

Coach: Jan O’Neil (21st season)

Assistant coaches: Angie Miller, John Walsh

Last season: Third at RVC Meet

Top returners: Lauren Nalan, Sr.; Lexi Clemens, Sr.; Savannah Sexton, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Olivia Shultice, Jr.; Olivia Poppen, Soph.

Headliner: Senior Lexi Clemens will look to take over the top spot in the Bear lineup after playing in the number two spot last season.

Keep an eye on: Senior Lauren Nalan ranked fourth on the team in nine-hole average last season with a 55.4.

Circle the date: May 8 at RVC Meet. The Bears have been among the top programs in the RVC for years and will look to continue that success at the conference meet at Muscatine Municipal Golf Course.  

Outlook: West Branch must replace its number one golfer from last season in departed senior state qualifier Aleah Rocha but has three strong players with varsity experience returning.

Nalan and Clemens are capable of taking over the top spot while sophomore Savannah Sexton is back with a year of experience after averaging a 55.5 last season as a freshman.

Junior Olivia Shultes and sophomore Olivia Poppen are expected to provide a boost to the lineup.

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