Thu Sep 09 2010
BY MIKE VERNOT
Wednesday will kick off the first of several golf tournaments in the Defiance six-county area to crown league champions.
As with any year, there will be many surprises and questions that will be answered.
Will Defiance be able to make a run in the Western Buckeye League? Can Bryan repeat as champion in the Northwest Ohio Athletic League? Is Stryker strong enough to retain the crown from a year ago in the BBC?
Those along with many other questions will have answers beginning with the Green Meadows Conference tournament on Wednesday.
The following is a brief look at each conference tournament and key players to watch.
Green Meadows Conference
Wednesday
The more things change, the more they stay the same is a statement that may sum up the Green Meadows Conference. Last year Edgerton took the crown with Tinora and Hicksville right behind and 2009 looks to be no different.
"The favorite has to be Edgerton," explained Antwerp head coach John Short. "But there are some other teams who could be right up there including Antwerp, Tinora and Holgate."
If the Archers (10-6) are to win they will have to do so without number one golfer Isaac Yenser who separated his shoulder and will be unable to compete.
"We could have been right there," said Short. "But with the loss of Yenser, that definitely sets us back a little. We have four other guys that will play hard in Zach Coleman, T.J. Short, Kyle Reinhart and Aaron Hughes."
The GMC tournament will kick off on Wednesday at Ironwood Golf Course.
Western Buckeye League
Thursday
Lima Shawnee was the class of the field with Van Wert right behind, but the story of last year was Defiance who finished in third place. Corbin Stykemain garnered player of the year honors to lead the Bulldogs to a respectable finish.
The 2009 WBL tournament will see a new set of faces as favorites with Wapakoneta, St. Marys, Lima Shawnee and Defiance all in contention.
"Our team has showed a lot of improvement over the last year and throughout this season," explained Defiance head coach Steve Maxey. "Our team has a shot at winning the overall league title. The WBL title is determined by a combination of your team ranking in the regular season and your team ranking in the WBL tournament. We would need to finish the league with just two losses and win the WBL Tournament."
Defiance will field a group of talented golfers that will have to play hard for a chance at that title.
"Our team is led by our top four players this season, which include senior Corbin Stykemain, and sophomores Jacob Moore, Josh Scott, and Henry Weisgerber," said Maxey. "With just six players playing in the WBL tournament, the remaining two spots will be filled by either junior Drew Small, junior Gabe Vittorio, or sophomore Jacob Behringer. All seven of these players have made significant contributions this season and they all have put the team in the position of having a shot at winning the league title."
The WBL tournament will take place on Thursday at Tamarac Golf Club in Elida.
On the ladies side Defiance still is a young team just gaining experience according to head coach Martha Mallott.
"We are a huge underdog," Mallott explained. "The other teams have great experience and talented players, but for us three of our top six golfers are freshman. We're not at that level yet, but we are improving."
The Bulldog team consists of Nakea Jackson, Valerie Shepherd, Sara DeLeon, Kaitlyn Gerken, Kayla Bland and Tera Steffel.
"We're getting ready for sectionals and we have a shot," stated Mallott. "Our goal is to improve and get out of sectionals while shooting lower."
Lima Shawnee will again be strong in the WBL girls tournament with Celina, Lima Bath and Wapakoneta also challenging.
The ladies will tee off at 9 a.m. on Thursday at Kettenring Country Club in Defiance.
Northwest Ohio Athletic League
Friday
Bryan comes off a record year last season by setting the new tournament record of 291 and having four golfers earn all-league honors. Zach Davenport, Erik Berbenes, James Steel and Mike Ross all return for the Golden Bears with the hope of repeating for their 39th league title in a very competitive league.
"I think Bryan is stronger this year than they were last year," stated Wauseon mentor Mike Marshall. "It's their tournament to lose, but Archbold and Delta are starting to come on as well."
Archbold returns all-leaguer Jacob Nafziger, while Cody Knapp returns for Liberty Center and Austin Tuckerman will represent Wauseon.
"For us, we just are looking to get better each week," explained Archbold head coach Kevin Miller. "We want to be more consistent."
The NWOAL tournament begins at 9 a.m. on Friday at Auglaize Country Club.
Northwest Conference
Friday
Lima Central Catholic will field a very talented team that will look to repeat last year's performance by winning the league crown.
"From one through six, they are very talented golfers," explained Paulding head coach Steve Heilshorn. "They have to be favored at state as well."
Behind LCC will be a group of other teams all ready to play spoiler including Spencerville, Lincolnview and Paulding.
"We have a very young team," said Heilshorn. Sam Heilshorn and Devan Bermajo lead the Panthers into the NWC tournament.
The NWC tournament will take place at Hawthorne Hills Country Club at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Buckeye Border Conference
Friday
"Our goal is to play well and repeat as champions," explained Stryker head Coach John Ruffer.
With a solid team returning, Stryker should be favored to do just that in a league that is very young.
"It's true the league is very young," said Ruffer. "But their time is coming. Our biggest competition will be North Central with Derick Wyrick, who is very balanced, and Pettisville who has been playing better despite rebuilding with young kids."
Stryker will field a very talented group of players in Josh DeGroff, Hayden Doehrmann, Jared DeGroff, Troy Saunders, Hunter Clingaman and Taylor Brown.
Ironwood will host the BBC tournament at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Putnam County League
Monday
Ottoville will look to defend its league title from a year ago on Monday when it goes against some of the best the league has to offer. The Big Green outlasted Kalida and Leipsic last year for the title.
In the 2009 campaign, Ottoville will bring a very strong team consisting of Jordan Schimmoeller, Zach Weber, Kyle Karhoff and Chris Rieger to the tournament with hopes of a repeat.
Kalida is also a very solid team and will rely on Kyle Hoffman, Neal Recker, Alex Vorst and Tyler Verhoff to give them a shot for the title as well.
Greater Buckeye Conference
Monday
"The calendar says this is the time, so we will go out and do it," explained Napoleon mentor Greg Merrill.
The doing it part will be the challenge for Napoleon when it goes up against other league favorites Fremont Ross and Findlay on Monday at Fremont Country Club at 10 a.m.
"We really haven't seen anyone but Fremont this year," said Merrill. "Both Fremont and Findlay are good teams, but I would have to say that Fremont is the team to beat."
The Wildcats will be represented by Brandon Lambert, Colton Barnes, Jordan Miller and Chad Cramer.
"It will be a challenge but we are excited," explained Merrill. "This is probably the biggest week for us in golf of the whole season. The kids are really excited."
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