Everything seems to be in place for another great season on the links for Alleman.
Seven letter winners, including state top-10 placer Conner Boyd, are back from the Pioneers squad that won the Western Big 6 Conference crown and took third at the Class 1A state meet.
“We have high expectations for this year’s team,” coach Gene Elsner said in an email interview.
Alleman got off to a great start this season, going 6-0 in dual meets and finishing fourth at the PND Invite in Peoria and third at Macomb’s invitational.
In addition to Boyd, a senior who was eighth in the state last year and has already been a medalist twice this season, fellow senior Dylan Cervantes – last season’s conference individual champ – has been a medalist four times.
Other returning letter winners are seniors Jordan Copeland and Peyton Tanghe, junior Hunter Love, and sophomores Ryan Rochholz and Gabe Beardsley.
STERLING
Like Alleman, expectations also are high at Sterling, which has six letter winners, including state-meet qualifier Nick Ceruzzi, back from the team that qualified for sectionals.
Other returning letter winners are seniors Ryan Blackburn and Adam Oelrichs; juniors Nate Olson and Jake Alston; and sophomore Luke Steinke.
“It truly is a fun group to be around, and watch them grow as golfers and young men,” Head Coach Nick Hubbard said in an email interview.
Sterling started the season 2-1 and 1-0 in the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference.
MORRISON
State-meet qualifier and senior Jaeden Workman returns for new coach Adam Smith.
Other returning players are seniors Eric Kull, Bryce Smith and Jacob Vegter; juniors Adam Lindstrom and Corbin Wilkens; and sophomore Logan Tucker. Other team members are sophomores Ryan Damhoff and Noah VanZuiden.
“We have a decent team including a returning girls state competitor and a couple boys who could challenge to get down there this year,” Smith said.
PROPHETSTOWN
Eight of the 12 golfers out this year for Prophetstown are returning letter winners, with Jackson Ames, Jackson Westen and Jaden Taylor leading the way, coach Karen Wiersema said.
The team was stymied this season, however, by bad weather limiting its competition schedule.
“Our team looks very promising this year with a well-rounded squad,” Wiersema said."We just need to have some meets."
ERIE
Coach Tom Rickels said his squad has many players competing at the varsity level for the first time, so there will be a period of transition with the focus on improving with each event.
Caden Swift, Kale Orman, Ben Grimes, Logan Eggers and Brady Anderson are expected to be the varsity players.
Note: Not all information request for this preview were returned by press time.
Alerts Sign-up