GSL, GNL teams head for new season on fairways

Joe Everson Correspondent Correspondent Mike Boyle contributed to

North Side high school golf teams, both boys and girls, have a mix of youth and experience, experts and beginners this season.

There are teams with everybody back, teams with almost nobody back. state veterans and, of course, state hopefuls.

At this point of the season, everybody's an optimist, and with May weather in March, what better place to be than the golf course on a weekday afternoon?

A rundown of the girls and boys team prospects:

Mt. Spokane girls

The Wildcats have four returning players and three new ones. The returners are juniors Katie Gumke and Sheila Howerton, senior Erica Johnson and sophomore Amanda Blair. Freshmen Claire Susz and Krysta Froberg and senior Nicole Edwards are the newcomers.

Gumke shot a 90 in Mt. Spokane's first tournament, the Clarkston Invitational, which is where they open league play next week. The Wildcats finished sixth last season in the GSL. Mt. Spokane is coached by Eleen Northcott.

Shadle Park girls

Coach Larry Poffenroth has six returners, led by seniors Sarah Schuster and Taylor Jordan, and six new girls. Sophomores Sarah Lewis, Andrea Pohle, Brittany Salazar and Ellen Stone also return from last season. Among the new girls are freshmen Holly Troup and Jordan Mason, junior Angela Lloyd and sophomore Andrea Craig.

With six girls back, Poffenroth says, the Highlanders should be in the middle of the back. He also likes Shadle's youth - "our six younger kids will give us a good base for years to come."

North Central girls

First-year coach Brett Meenach has five girls who have played the last couple years, but no seniors on the squad. His top two players are sophomore Jessica Nebergall and freshman Jenessa Johnson, both of who both scored well at NC's first tournament. Juniors Shae Daniels, Stefani Earle and Rachel Pierce and sophomore Amanda Macklin also return.

"Our goal right now," he said, "is to reduce the number of double- digit scores we're taking. We have several girls who haven't played before or who haven't played much. If they're willing to commit to improving individually, we'll also improve as a team."

Mead girls

Junior Amy Eneroth is a two-time state veteran and finished seventh last season in the 4A event. She's joined in the top five by sophomores Sarah Villalovoz and Allison Jorgensen, junior Dana Christensen and Mead's only senior, Kelly Kinzebach.

Coach Don Beloved is optimistic: "Gonzaga Prep will be loaded again, but we're going to be better than what I first thought. With five returners, we should be in the top three or four."

Rogers girls

New coach Mike McCracken has two solid players in junior Tiara Cruise and up-and-coming freshman Candice Curley, but the Pirates - with eight freshmen on a 10-girl squad - will not field a varsity team this year. "Many of our girls have little or no experience," he said, "and I don't want to put a freshman out there to struggle and get discouraged. But I do have four or five girls who spend some time around golf, and I think they'll be pretty good."

Gonzaga Prep girls

The Bullpups are the defending GSL champions, and finished second at the state tournament last season. Gonzaga Prep lost just one golfer from that team and returns perhaps two of the top golfers in the state in the Brophy sisters, senior Ellie and sophomore Annie.

"I don't think there's a better 1-2 in town, it's just a matter of trying to get enough depth," said head coach Phil Kuder. "It helps a lot because we have the Brophy girls who are very good leaders. They play hard, they work hard, but they don't take the game so seriously. It's still a lot of fun for everybody."

Junior Kim Davidson will start the year at No. 3, while sophomore Ashley Lightfoot will start at No. 4. Sophomores Mimi Faller, Natalie Salinas and Kelly Barton will fight it out for the No. 5 and 6 slots, while classmate Kayla Whitkowski will battle with those three for a spot on the varsity.

"We have some good young talent," said Kuder. "I just have to get them to shoot around 90-95 and I'll be really thrilled."

Deer Park girls

Call coach Darren Snyder an optimist, and he'll plead guilty. The Stags have five returners, "unheard of in the Great Northern," and he feels that at least three of his girls have a good chance to make it to the state 2A tournament.

Senior Karrah Lundgren qualified last season. Senior Shayne Dougherty and sophomore Jaclyn Watson are other key performers with a shot at the postseason, and Snyder also praisessenior Tristen Creekmore, sophomore Melissa Menzia and freshman Brianna Nap.

Lakeside girls

Coach Rob Rowe's team is super-young, with only one returner, sophomore Amanda Price, and four brand-new players, junior Marissa Chivers, sophomores Scotti Brown and Jennilyn Hatch and freshman Alyssa Bresnahan.

"My goal is for the new girls to learn the game and have fun," Rowe said, "and so far they are. I think that Amanda has a great chance to go to state. She's grown up around the game - her grandparents have owned the Sun Dance course."

Mead boys

The Panthers finished third at the state tournament last season and coach Paul Peters lost his top four players to graduation. "It's tough to replace players like that," he said, "but we have some kids who've been waiting around to break into our lineup."

One did: senior Todd Christensen, Mead's No. 5 player last season. The Panthers have four other seniors: Dan Schneider, Jon Karademos, Mitch Loewen and Aaron Zollinger. Juniors Jeff Wilcox and Jordan Brink, and sophomores Corbin Kembel, Jordan Lee, Matt Housden and Max Martin also hope to crack the lineup.

Rogers boys

The Pirates are young, with only one senior among their top five players. Juniors Nick Talarico and Jonathan Bingle, sophomore Chris Linville and freshman David Miller join senior Garrett Rubendall.

"Everyone except Garrett will be returning next year," said new coach Bruce Benedict. "Our JV is a mixed group of young and beginning players, so things really look good down the line. I'm encouraged by our turnout."

Shadle Park boys

The Highlanders were in the middle of the GSL last season and the whole varsity returns. Whether they can crack the top four, says coach Rand Lothspeich, will depend upon their depth.

Seniors Nelson Hunt and Aaron Pohle shot 76 and 78, respectively, in season-opening tournament play. Five others return: senior Deric Latendresse, juniors Jeff Arnold, Cody Salib and Brent Schultz and sophomore Tyler Nelson. Freshmen Chris Dunne, Kyle Baker and Keith Jordan will push the Nos. 4 and 5 spots.

Mt. Spokane boys

Coach Greg Schultz has only one senior letterman, senior Adam Kleckner. His best newcomer is freshman Bobby Moore who, Schultz says, may have a chance to become an elite player. The rest of the varsity team consists of juniors Jason Ferraro, Jared Louie and Brian Shields and sophomore Andrew Goudreau.

"We lost our top five players to graduation," said Schultz, "but we have a chance - it totally depends upon our improvement. All our kids have improved over last year because of their work ethic. We have six straight first-division finishes, and we'd like to be there again."

North Central boys

The Indians have a steep learning curve with a number of new players, says coach Dave Hall, but they also have some experienced veterans. "Our returners understand what it takes to compete in the GSL," he said, "and our newcomers have quite a bit of promise."

Seniors Ben Cates, Matt Kestell, James Lytton and Quinn Martin return, as do juniors Daniel Maxfield and Dylan Nusbaum and sophomores Jeff Lytton, Darren Emerson and Zach Saugen. Sophomores Tim Vache, Matt Strandberg and Jacob Higgins are newcomers along with freshmen Andrew Christ, Brian Copely, Spencer Johnson and Jordan Adolph.

Gonzaga Prep boys

The Bullpups finished third in the GSL last season behind Mead and Central Valley, and lost just one player from that team. Junior Brad Blakeley is back at the No. 1 spot for Gonzaga Prep, who figures to challenge for the top of the league this season.

Senior David Padgalskas will start at No. 2, sophomore Shawn King is at No. 3, and junior Ryan Brutocao will be at the No. 4 spot. With sophomore Ian Parry and senior Eric Milhem at No. 5 and 6 in the lineup, the Bullpups have the depth to fight with Ferris and CV for the top GSL spot.

"We've got to get our overall team score down to where we're averaging 75-77 to even be in the hunt," said head coach Phil Kuder. "We're going to have to be that good to even be close to those other top teams. It's kind of one of those things where we've shot the scores before, but playing in the GSL is different than August golf."

Deer Park boys

Senior Andrew Weil finished 15th at State last spring, and Snyder thinks that he's got some other quality players in No. 2 Tommy Wolf, a junior, as well as sophomore Scott Huffman, senior Kyle Nap and junior Jon Lipke.

"It's wide open after that," he said. "I've got lots of young, inexperienced kids I haven't really seen. We're solid at the top, and expect to win more than we lose. We have a bunch of kids who can score in the 80s."

Lakeside boys

Junior Brandon Filion finished third in district play and went to State last spring, and juniors Joe Noland, Shane Mickelsen and Max Towry and sophomore Logan Erickson also return.

"We're still looking for a sixth man," said coach Dean Field. "Chewelah lost a bunch of seniors, and that may bring them back to the pack. They'll still be tough, but I think it will be a more competitive league. We hope to surprise some people."

Northwest Christian boys and girls

The Crusaders will have six returners to a team that finished second in the Northeast A/B league last season. Northwest Christian is poised to get back to the league title they won two years ago.

Senior Grant Martin and junior Jesse Bowels will battle for the top two spots on the Crusader team. Senior Josh Greenslade will start off at No. 3, while senior Ian Hume is at No. 4. Juniors Matt Roberts and Ray Kelly, senior Eli Sykes and sophomore Andy Butler will battle for the final boys varsity spots.

Sophomore Lianne Matkin has the girls spot on varsity locked up after qualifying for state in an impressive freshman season. Sophomore newcomer Allison Turner will join her on the Crusader squad.

"I'm hoping Lianne wins state," said coach Gary Dupree. "She should have a good chance of getting there. She's got some competitive experience last year in her first time at state."

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