BY COREY GESFORD
Correspondent
Get ready quick is the mantra for local teams as they begin play in the Lackawanna League Golf League’s Division II this week.
After beginning official practice on Aug. 13, teams had the opportunity to play in the 55th Irving Jackman Memorial on Thursday and began league play this past Monday with matches also scheduled for Wednesday and Friday.
The teams will also compete in three matches the following week. The rash of bad weather to begin the fall sports season also dampened preseason preparations for the schools.
Elk Lake enters the season small in number. Coach Ryan Kipar’s Warriors feature two of the top players on both the boys and girls’ side with junior Jason Mowry and sophomore Taegan Mills.
Kipar expects big things from Mills after her stellar freshman campaign and feels she will compete to be one of the better female players in the area.
“She just works, so hard,” said Kipar. “She goes home from practice and practices more.”
Mills spent a lot of time in the summer in Georgia where her uncle works as a golf instructor and competed in American Golf Association (AGA) tournaments there.
Kipar noted that Mowry is another one of the golfers who works extremely hard in the offseason. Mowry also competed in AGA events on some of the better courses in Northeastern Pennsylvania against top competition.
“Jason played on some great courses against a lot of the players he is going to be competing against at the league and district level,” said Kipar.
Kipar felt that experience paid off in the Jackman where Mowry had the low Junior Score and finished tied for fifth overall. Mowry was pleased with his performance but continues to focus on simple things as the season approaches.
“I want to work on my short game and tighten my irons,” said Mowry
The squad will also feature senior Nate Sheldon, sophomores Colby Baker and Payton LaRue, and freshmen Jenna Daye, Chloe Sipe, Nate and Reese Warriner.
According to Coach Ryan Kipar they have decided to have separate boys and girls teams so that the girls can compete in the District Team Championships. If a team competes as a co-ed team they will not be eligible for District II team play. This will leave the boys team of Mowry, Sheldon, Baker, and Nate Warriner shorthanded for matches and surrendering two points at the start.
Mills, LaRue, Daye, Sipe, and Reese Warriner competed as a team in yesterday’s girls’ Irving Jackman Memorial tournament and will compete against other schools that have girls teams.
“We just decided that was in the best interest of everyone,” said Kipar. “The girls are excited about it and we hope it generates even more interest.
That decision will leave the boys side shorthanded in match play with only four players and giving up two points at the beginning of matches. Kipar hopes that the squad might be able to pick up another player as school returns to session.
Montrose
Fortunately for Elk Lake their first match will be against Montrose who enters the season battling small numbers and Mother Nature, according to Montrose Coach Mike Zuba.
Currently, only four male players are out for the team and there are five female players who are trying out. Zuba stated that the school district is deciding whether to play the team as a co-ed group or remain separate.
The rain and flash floods that plagued the county last week impacted the amount of practice time Montrose has been able to have.
“We are going to be counting on our two seniors (Riley Brown and Isaac Walker) to lead the way, and hopefully our underclassmen can give additional help” Zuba said.
Joining Brown and Walker on the team are senior Gabrielle Baker, juniors Jared Corson, Caroline Stack, Theresa Vaccarro, and Shannon Stewart, and freshmen A.J. Dovin and Alexis Hawley.
Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge while not having huge numbers does have eight golfers out for the team and that will help his team said Coach Steve Galloway. Blue Ridge and Susquehanna join together to form the Raider golf team.
“We definitely have more quality of depth this year,” Galloway said.
The Raiders will be led by senior Kevin Silfee and junior Tyler Hillard and Coach Galloway noted that both players played quite a bit over the offseason and worked to improve.
“Kevin has a very good short game, and Tyler’s strength is in the irons,” said Galloway. “Their experience and commitment to playing throughout the summer will help us.”
Galloway is also counting on sophomores Andrew Scott and Preston Perry to contribute after solid freshman campaigns. They along with fellow sophomores Kyle Spoor and Jake Downton, junior Shane Muiter, and freshman Joe Curtis will compete for spots in the starting lineup and push the competitiveness of the squad.
Information about the Forest City golf team was unavailable at press time. However, Coach Art McLain’s Foresters should feature one of the areas top sophomores in Henry Nebzydoski.
Golf Schedule
Wednesday, Aug. 22
Elk Lake @ Lakeland
Montrose @ Forest City
Holy Cross @ Mt. View
- Wayne @ Blue Ridge
Friday, Aug. 24
Lakeland @ Montrose
Elk Lake @ Holy Cross
Forest City @ L. Trail
Mt. View @ Carbondale
Blue Ridge @ Mid Valley
Monday, Aug. 27
Holy Cross @ Blue Ridge
Montrose @ Dunmore
Scr. Prep @ Elk Lake
Forest City @ W. Wayne
Old Forge @ Mt. View
Wednesday, Aug. 29
Dunmore @ Blue Ridge
Montrose @ Old Forge
Mt. View @ Elk Lake
Thursday, Aug. 30
Blue Ridge @ Carbondale
Scr. Prep @ Montrose
Elk Lake @ Old Forge
Mid Valley @ Forest City
Tuesday, Sept. 4
Mid Valley @ Mt. View
Forest City @ Old Forge
Elk Lake @ W. Wayne
Riverside @ Montroze
Blue Ridge @ L. Trail
Thursday, Sept. 6
Blue Ridge @ Mt. View
Carbondale @ Forest City
- Trail @ Elk Lake
Friday, Sept. 7
Mt. View @ W. Waybe
Forest City @ Scr. Prep
Elk Lake @ Riverside
Blue Ridge @ Montrose
Monday, Sept. 10
Elk Lake @ Mid Valley
Forest City @ Mt. View
Montrose @ W. Wayne
Wednesday, Sept. 12
Mt. View @ Riverside
Dunmore @ Forest City
Elk Lake @ Blue Ridge
Montrose @ L. Trail
Thursday, Sept. 13
Forest City @ Elk Lake
Mt. View @ Lakelans
Mid Valley @ Montrose
Riverside @ Blue Ridge
Monday, Sept. 17
Blue Ridge @ Scr. Prep
Montrose @ Mt. View
Lakeland @ Forest City
Thursday, Sept. 20
Montrose @ Carbondale
Lakeland @ Blue Ridge
Dunmore @ Elk Lake
Scr. Prep @ Mt. View
Riverside @ Forest City
Monday, Sept. 24
Holy Cross @ Montrose
Carbondale @ Elk Lake
Blue Ridge @ Forest City
Mt. View @ Dunmore
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