The 2021 boys golf season will have a different look to it with changes at the top of more than half the area teams.
Four of the seven local schools with boys golf teams have new coaches this year. Here is a look at all seven of the teams:
Columbus North
Three players return from the Bull Dogs’ 2019 team that finished fifth at state. Junior Luke Schneider and seniors Jacob Niedbalski and Luke VanDeventer will be the nucleus of this year’s squad.
“Certainly, I see those three being an important part of our team,” Bieker said. “We have a good core group and a good group of new kids. We have some younger guys that are really going to help us. I think with the returners and the younger guys, I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
Seniors Michael Gambiani and Andrew Krueger and juniors Damon Gregory and Aditya Banerjee were JV players in 2019 and are battling for the final two varsity spots with sophomores Tyler Wilks, Willy Davis and Jack Schiavello. Sophomores John Ferguson, John Merritt and Osian Guess and freshmen Alex Clark and Brennen Kushman also are pushing for spots in the lineup.
“I’m pretty excited,” Bieker said. “After not being able to coach last year and not having a season, it kind of gave me a shot of enthusiasm for the year and wanting to get back out there and coach again. I was kicking around that idea that maybe I would be done, but I’m really excited for the season. I missed it last year. I missed the kids.”
With Harrison Lake Country Club under renovation, the Bull Dogs will have only three home matches this season, all in April.
“It’s going to be crazy,” North coach Doug Bieker said. “I told the parents and the team we’re going to make the best of it.”
Columbus East
The Olympians have a new coach in Levi Simpson, who has been an assistant football coach at North and East and now is a dean of students at East.
“I’ve been pretty excited with how hard our guys have been working and the improvement we’ve been seeing,” Simpson said. “We’ve been blessed with great facilities out at Otter Creek and some great facilities for them to be able to compete in.”
Back to lead the Olympians is senior Kody Reynolds, who was their No. 1 golfer as a freshman and sophomore. Senior Cole Schaefer also returns from the 2019 lineup.
East has a pair of upperclassmen new to high school golf in senior Casey Bartholomew and junior J.T. Kuhlman. They are battling for varsity spots with sophomores Logan Stevenson and Spencer Erfmeier and freshman Pierce Arnholt.
“We’re really excited about these guys that are looking to compete now and build for the future,” Simpson said.
Hauser
The Jets have a new home course this year in Otter Creek after playing at Clifty Creek in the past.
“We have a pretty good team coming back,” Hauser coach Mike Compton said. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a much different experience playing out at Otter this year. It’s a much tougher course.”
Senior Justice Gilliland was a varsity player in 2019. Juniors Ben Johnson and Daniel Taylor were No. 6 and 7 players that year.
Junior Chase Martoccia played JV at North as a freshman, and freshman Caleb Wallace practiced with the Jets high school team while in middle school. Senior Brock Thalls and sophomore Jesse Bragg are out for the team for the first time.
Jennings County
Justin Earl, who has been middle school golf coach for three years and has been middle school and varsity assistant basketball coach, takes over the program from B.J. Bingham.
Senior Chad Gasper and junior Brett Silvey played varsity, and junior Rowan Cook played JV in 2019.
Sophomore Tanner Stearns will compete for a varsity spot. Jack George leads a group of freshman that includes Jake Grider, John Kent and Nick Brewer.
“I think we’ll be fairly solid,” Earl said. “We’re fairly young with just the one senior. Without seeing them last year, I’m coming into this with expectations that we’re going to grow throughout the season.”
Brown County
The Eagles have only one player with varsity experience in junior Cooper VanNess.
Junior Jordan Burnette played JV as a freshman. Junior Sam Normile is new to the team.
Sophomores Bradley Arndt, Brayden Hedger and Dylan Taylor and freshman Clay Austin will look to improve as the season progresses.
“We’re short on experience,” Brown County coach Brad Baughman said. “But it’s a fun group. They’re easy to work with, they’re eager to learn and they’re soaking things up fast. It’s going to take us awhile to kind of find ourselves a little bit. It will just be a growing season for sure.”
Edinburgh
Kyle Dell, the pro at Timbergate, takes over for longtime coach Doug Weddle.
Sophomore Max Blanford is the Lancers’ top golfer, followed by junior Trevor Moon and sophomore Mason Calhoun. Dell is hoping junior Cash Cunningham and sophomores Devyn Milburn or Keegan Smith can step into the No. 4 spot.
“We are very young,” Dell said. “We are very raw, but that’s not a bad thing. There’s talent there. Our biggest obstacle this year is just going to be finding a consistent fourth scorer.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars have a new coach in Doug Sabotin, who also coaches the Trinity swimmers.
Junior Jacob Sabotin played varsity as a freshman, and juniors Caleb Williams, Kade Hill and Preston Covener played JV. Senior newcomer Zephyr Wilson will join them on this year’s varsity.
Beyond that, the Cougars have three sophomores and a freshman that will look to gain experience.
“It’s a great feeder for the future,” Doug Sabotin said. “After next year, these young men will be the ones that will carry the program forward, so we’re excited about the future at Trinity Lutheran.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The 2021 boys golf schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Saturday;at Seymour Invitational;9 a.m.
April 10;at Floyd Central Invitational;2 p.m.
April 12;at Shelbyville;4:45 p.m.
April 17;at Jennings County Invitational;9 a.m.
April 20;Jennings County;4:30 p.m.
May 1;at Bedford North Lawrence Inviational;8:30 a.m.
May 3;Seymour/New Albany;4:30 p.m.
May 6;Columbus North;4 p.m.
May 8;at Bloomington North Invitational;8:30 a.m.
May 10;at Madison;4:30 p.m.
May 18;at New Albany;5 p.m.
May 19;Jeffersonville;4:45 p.m.
May 20;at Batesville;5 p.m.
May 22;HHC at New ALbany;5 p.m.
May 27;Columbus North/Providence;4 p.m.
May 28;at Greensburg;4 p.m.
May;29;at Providence Invitational;1 p.m.
June 1;Bloomington North;4 p.m.
Columbus North
Saturday;at Seymour Invitational;9 a.m.
April 6;Brownstown Central;5 p.m.
April 17;at Jennings County Invitational;9 a.m.
April 26;Bloomington South;4 p.m.
April 27;Bedford North Lawrence;4:30 p.m.
May 1;at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational;8:30 a.m.
May 5;at Franklin (with Center Grove);5 p.m.
May 6;at Columbus East;4 p.m.
May 8;at Bloomington North Invitational;8:30 a.m.
May 8;State Preview at Prairie View;1 p.m.
May 12;at New Palestine (with Shelbyville);4:30 p.m.
May 13;vs. Bloomington North at Timbergate;4 p.m.
May 15;at Brownsburg Invitational;TBA
May 17;Conference Indiana at Timbergate;9 a.m.
May 18;at Seymour;4:45 p.m.
May 24;at Greensburg;4:30 p.m.
May 27;at Columbus East (with Providence);4 p.m.
May 29;at Providence Invitational;1 p.m.
June 1;at Zionsville Invitational;11 a.m.
Hauser
Saturday;at Edinburgh Invitational;10 a.m.
April 8;Brown County;4:30 p.m.
April 19;Edinburgh;4:30 p.m.
April 20;at Austin;4:30 p.m.
April 22;at Batesville (with North Decatur);4:30 p.m.
April 28;at Columbus North;4:30 p.m.
April 29;Morristown;5 p.m.
May 1;South Dearborn;1:30 p.m.
May 3;Southwestern (Shelby);4:30 p.m.
May 4;Jennings County;4:30 p.m.
May 8;Hauser Invitational;9 a.m.
May 10;North Decatur;4:30 p.m.
May 11;at Brown County;4:30 p.m.
May 15;MHC at North Branch, 9 a.m.
May 17;Jennings County;4:30 p.m.
May 24;Rushville;4:45 p.m.
May 26;at Indian Creek;4:30 p.m.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
