By Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Leader Photo by Morgan Rode Bonduel golfers take swings during Wednesday’s outdoor practice behind Bonduel High School. The Bears are hoping for a strong season in the CWC.
Contributed Photo Menominee Indian/Gresham’s Josh Hoffman hopes to help the co-op improve on the course this spring.
With an improved group of returning golfers, the Bonduel High School boys golf team is eager to get the spring season underway.
The Bears are coming off a fourth-place finish in the Central Wisconsin Conference, but the lone all-conference golfer has since graduated.
Still, with three of the five regional golfers back, coach Dave LaBerge believes the team can again finish in the top half of the conference.
Leading the charge for the Bears will be Carter Siolka, who missed out on qualifying for sectionals by just four shots.
The junior has some big individuals goals — which if achieved, could lead Bonduel to some of its team goals.
Siolka said he’d like to make the all-conference first team and also reach sectionals.
“I think that as a leader of this team the things that I need to do are just making sure the team is getting out to the course as much as they possibly can — because if everyone puts in their time, I think that we can compete in the conference and I think we can make it out of regionals as a team considering that we fell just short of it last year.”
Seniors Aaron Schaal and Colin Hanus also return after helping form the regional team last spring.
Of the team’s 11 golfers, four are dual-sport athletes, which is something LaBerge encourages.
Before Wednesday, the Bears had been forced to stay indoors with lingering snow covering the courses and practice areas. After finally being able to step outside, LaBerge hopes to see the team get geared up for action.
“The biggest thing is just to get them thinking about their swing, thinking about being outside,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of the rules stuff because of the changes this year, so we’ve done a rules quiz already, we’ve watched several videos. But first and foremost, I want them to understand the etiquette of the game — how to play competitive, yet be supportive.”
Menominee Indian/Gresham
The Menominee Indian/Gresham co-op is hoping to take another step forward this season after finishing seventh in the CWC last spring.
That finish was an improvement over the team’s 10th-place finish in 2017, and co-coaches Amber Bystol and Ben Dieck are looking for more growth this year.
Only three co-op golfers competed at regionals last year, but with a few more golfers to utilize this spring, the co-op will have a better chance to fill out a full, five-golfer lineup.
Morgun Fish and Anthony Corn are a pair of seniors the team can turn to for guidance, while juniors Josh Hoffman and Tyson Webster also have valuable experience on the course.
Senior Nathanial Juga and sophomore Raven Bennett are two other golfers that could also slide into a starting varsity role this spring.
Bonduel and the Menominee Indian/Gresham co-op will each compete in the Division 2 Bonduel Regional on May 21 or 22. Amherst, Clintonville, Marinette, Mosinee, Oconto Falls, Peshtigo, Seymour and Wittenberg-Birnamwood round out that regional pod.
Qualifiers will advance on to the Mosinee Sectional on May 28 or May 29.
The state meet will be held at University Ridge Golf Course on June 3-4.