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Which District 10 boys golfers will emerge? These are golfers to watch this season

mike copper, erie times-news
·4 min read

Any scoreboard watching throughout the early weeks of District 10’s boys golf season will likely be to become familiar with the names at or near the top.

Gone to graduation are two of northwestern Pennsylvania’s elite players during this decade’s early years.

Union City’s Josh James was the state’s Class 2A gold medalist for 2021. He’ll start his college career at St. Bonaventure University later this month.

Cathedral Prep also bid farewell to Breckin Taylor, a significant member of the Ramblers’ 2020 team that won the state’s Class 3A tournament.

Next month, Taylor will strike his initial shot in a scheduled match for the University of Dayton (Ohio).

Also gone are Erie High’s Kyle Westfall and Slippery Rock’s Jacob Wolak, who were Gannon University recruits, and Mercyhurst Prep’s Nick Momeyer, last season’s Region 5 player of the year.

Sailors still solid

No 2023 team sidestepped the graduation issue more than Lakeview. The Sailors return their entire starting lineup from last fall, when they won the district’s 2A tournament and qualified for PIAA play at Penn State University’s Blue and White Courses.

Lakeview’s Jackson Gadsby was voted Region 1’s player of the year for 2022. He’s back for the Stoneboro program, as is fellow senior Chris Mong and juniors Maddox Bell, Adam Snyder and Owen Dye.

Ramblers resume with new coach

Prep, the district’s reigning Class 3A team titlist, had a larger issue to handle ahead of determining who will assume Taylor’s role as its top player.

Jay Willow resigned as its coach after last season. The Ramblers won 11 region titles, seven district championships and the state’s 3A team tournament in 2020 during his 11-season tenure.

Prep hired Michael Keim, a 1980 graduate, as Willow’s replacement. He takes over a program that has Connor Laird as its top returning talent.

Laird was the lone freshman voted to last season’s all-Region 6 team.

More: North East girls, Cathedral Prep win PIAA golf team titles

Other probable returnees

Caden Bender, Sr., West Middlesex: He was chosen the Erie Times-News preseason boys golfer of the year as the district’s lone returning qualifier for the PIAA 2A tournament. He finished fourth overall (12-over par 160) after two rounds at The Country Club of Meadville and a 36-hole score of 169 during PIAA action at State College.

Braddock Damore, Sr., Warren: Like Bender, he was an all-district, second-teamer last fall. The Dragons’ veteran finished in a tie for sixth place (12-over 160) in the district’s 3A event.

John Ferretti, Sr., McDowell: The first-team, all-Region 6 Trojan is expected to be their top player back from last season.

Jonathan Grundy, Sr., Saegertown: The only first-team golfer back from the 2022 all-Region 3 players.

Leyton Hassenplug, So., North East: He was the highest finishing freshman (first-round 86) for last year’s district 2A boys tournament. He was talented enough to be named an all-Region 5, first-teamer.

Anthony LaBoda, So., Fairview: Like Hassenplug, he also played well enough to be chosen a first-teamer among Region 5’s all-stars.

Peyton Madden, Jr., Titusville: He was a first-team, all-Region 4 player for the Rockets’ coed program.

Aiden McCracken, Sr., Franklin: Seeks another first-team, all-Region 4 berth for the Knights.

Braeden Means, Sr., General McLane: The 2022 all-Region 5, first-teamer is the most notable golfer due back for the Lancers.

Charlie Motter, Sr., Oil City: The 2022 Region 4 player of the year, is back for his final year as an Oiler.

Trent Nemec, Sr., Grove City: The returning all-Region 2, first-teamer for the Eagles made the cut for last season’s district 2A tournament.

Brandon Stubert, Jr., Greenville: He’s the top player due back for the 2023 Trojans thanks to being voted to last season’s all-Region 1 first team.

Aaron Wetjen, Jr., Rocky Grove: Was an all-Region 4, first-teamer as a second-year golfer for the Orioles.

More: What did McDowell golfer Ella Bickel credit for the rare feat of two aces in 23 days?

Dates to remember

August

  • 10: Happy Valley Invitational at Penn State University’s Blue and White Courses; Lakeview Tee Off Tournament at Mt. Hope Golf Course, Guys Mills

  • 20: Gilmour Invitational at Fowler’s Mill Golf Course, Chesterland, Ohio

  • 21: Latrobe Invitational

September

  • 7: Corry Invitational at North Hills Golf Course

  • 19: Marquette Savings Bank Meadville Invitational at The Country Club of Meadville

  • 22: Bill Mook Invitational at Wanango Country Club, Reno, Pennsylvania

  • 26: Tam O’Shanter Invitational at Hermitage

October

  • 2: District 10 team tournament at The Country Club of Meadville

  • 2-3: District 10 individual tournament at The Country Club of Meadville

  • 16-17: PIAA individual tournament at Penn State University’s Blue and White Courses

  • 18: PIAA team tournament at Penn State University’s Blue and White Courses

2022 all-stars: Meet the Erie Times-News 2022 Boys Golf District 10 and Region All-Stars

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 boys golf: New individual gold medalists assured in 2023