High School Golf Preview: can another Wayne/Holmes area team make it to state?

It's been quite a decade for local golf teams.

In seven of the past 10 seasons, the Daily Record coverage area has sent a team to the OHSAA State Championships in what has an impressive run of success.

The question for the 2023 season is simple: who's next?

With a handful of returning players across the area, along with fresh-faced newcomers eager to make an impact, it should be another banner year across Ashland, Holmes and Wayne Counties.

Here’s a look at every area team:

BOYS

Chippewa

Coach: Jason Egli (10th season)

Home course: Chippewa Golf Club

Last season: fifth in WCAL, ninth in Elms D-II Sectional

Returning players: Anthony Kish (Jr.), Dylan Braswell (So.), Burk Hughes (So.)

Outlook: With three returnees, the Chipps have high hopes for the upcoming season. Braswell (44.0 average) was a second-team All-WCAL selection last fall and finished tied for 21st at sectionals, while both Kish and Hughes earned special mention in league play after posting identical 46 averages in nine-hole matches.

Dalton

Coach: Isaac Haver (first season)

Home course: The Pines Golf Club

Last season: first in WCAL, second in Pine Hills D-III Sectional, first in Tannenhauf D-III District, eighth in D-III State

Returning players: Keller McFarren (Sr.), Zach Brahler (Jr.), Madi Wade (Jr.), Isaac Mori (So.)

Newcomers: Lane Barnhouse (Fr.), Thad Weaver (Fr.).

Outlook: Brahler and Mori both bring back experience from last season's state team for first-year coach Isaac Haver, a former Central Christian and Malone standout. Weaver had a strong summer season and could be a factor as the Bulldogs look to build upon an historic 2022 season.

Hiland

Coach: Austin Kaufman (19th season)

Home course: Fire Ridge Golf Course

Last season: first in IVC, third in Cambridge D-III Sectional, second in River Greens D-III District

Returning players: Monty Coblentz (Sr.), Camden Bille (Jr.), Jack Mast (So.)

Newcomers: Andrew Beun (Fr.), Zane Rosetti (Fr.), Braden Geckler (Fr.), Benjamin Bowling (Fr.), Grant Bille (Fr.)

Outlook: The Hawks will have a strong mix of returnees and rookies in the lineup this season and look to get back to the state tournament after a one-year hiatus. Coblentz, Camden Bille and Mast all averaged 42s a year ago and are expected lead the way, along with freshman Beun who has posted strong scores on the summer golf circuit.

Best of 2022-23: All-Daily Record Boys Golf

Hillsdale

Coach: Kyle Wissel (first season)

Home course: Brookside Golf Course

Last season: seventh in WCAL, ninth in Pine Hills D-III Sectional

Returning players: Byron Bickel (Sr.), Dally Meek (Jr.), Kambin Smith (Jr.), A.J. Brown (So.), Cade Hawley (So.), Landen Timms (So.)

Outlook: With its entire roster back from last fall, the Falcons will look to make some noise in the county. Bickel, a second-team All-WCAL pick, is expected to be the No. 1 and will be supported by Meek, who missed advancing at the Pines D-II girls sectional last season by one shot and was the Times-Gazette Junior Golf Division 5 Champion this summer.

Loudonville

Coach: Jim Conley (10th season)

Home course: Round Lake Golf Course

Last season: third in Pine Hills D-III Sectional, sixth in Tannenhauf D-III District

Returning player: Judah Layton (Jr.)

Newcomers: Austin Cawrse (Jr.), A.J. Bell (Jr.)

Outlook: With four of its five players gone, due to graduation, the Redbirds will look to rebuild this fall. Layton is the lone individual with experience as the veteran was a key part in the school's first district team since 2019 and posted a 40 average in nine-hole matches a year ago.

Northwestern

Coach: Scott St. Clair (12th season)

Home course: none

Last season: third in WCAL, sixth in Pine Hills D-III Sectional.

Returning players: Luke Walton (Sr.), Easton Thomas (Sr.), Jason Diehl (So.)

Newcomers: Brooke Nolletti (Fr.), Garrett Diehl (Fr.), Jace Rickard (Fr.), Bryce Nussbaum (Fr.)

Outlook: With the closure of Mohican Hills in the offseason, the Huskies will play the entire 2023 season on the road. The veteran tandem of Walton and Thomas should provide some leadership for a team that has four freshmen. Walton was a second-team All-WCAL pick last season with a 42.9 average.

Norwayne

Coach: Joe Chaffin (second season)

Home course: none

Last season: sixth in WCAL, seventh in Bunker Hill D-II Sectional

Returning players: Gavin Ferguson (Sr.), Derek Pumphrey (Sr.), Max Graham (Sr.), Kael Mowrer (Sr.), Grady Beery (So.), Kylie Hostetler (So.)

Newcomer: Carter Slack (Fr.)

Outlook: The senior quartet of Ferguson, Pumphrey, Graham and Mowrer each bring three years of varsity experience, which should help the Bobcats work their way into the upper half of the league. Ferguson was a second-team All-WCAL selection in 2022. Slack is also expected to have an impact.

Orrville

Coach: Chuck Davis (sixth season)

Last season: seventh in PAC-7, 13th in Elms D-II Sectional

Returning players: Abby Ankenman (Sr.), Matthew Anderson (Sr.), Drew Alexander (So.), Kellen Wayt (So.), Miles Pertee (So.), Caleb Carter (So.)

Outlook: A four-year letterwinner and three-time district qualifier, Ankenman is back to lead the Red Riders and make a run at a state appearance. She won't be alone, however, as Alexander is also expected to post low scores for a team that will have four sophomores in its lineup.

Smithville

Coach: Jay Winans (second season)

Home course: Riceland Golf Course

Last season: fourth in WCAL, eighth in Elms D-II Sectional

Returning players: Hunter Pertee (Sr.), Gavin Von Almen (Jr.), Mason Shutt (So.)

Newcomers: Ethan Piatt (Jr.), Jax Riggenbach (So.), Owen Ward (Fr.)

Outlook: Despite losing seven letterwinners and nine seniors, the Smithies are hoping to keep moving up the league leaderboard. Von Almen — a first-team All-WCAL selection last season — and Pertee bring back a wealth of experience, while Shutt looks to make the most of his time after waiting his turn behind that deep, now-graduated senior class.

Triway

Coach: Brian Kiper (16th season)

Home course: Wooster Country Club

Last season: 5th in PAC, 10th in Elms D-II Sectional

Returning players: Tyler Snyder (Sr.), Isaac Moorman (Jr.), Jaxson Zemrock (So.)

Newcomer: Gabe Roth (Fr.)

Outlook: Snyder, a member of the Titans' back-the-back state teams as an underclassman, is one of the top No. 1s in the area and had one of the top nine-hole averages (40.0) locally. Look for Moorman, who emerged as a strong complement to Snyder, to be another player to watch.

Tuslaw

Coach: Matt Halter (7th season)

Home course: The Elms Country Club

Last season: third in PAC-7, 15th in Pine Hills D-III Sectional

Returning players: Evan Back (Sr.), Andrew Smith (Sr.), Lincoln Cocklin (So.)

Newcomers: Nick Lytle (Fr.), Kole Back (Fr.), Avery Rodocker (Fr.)

Outlook: Back and Smith are expected to be the one-two punch atop the Mustangs lineup this season, after posting 42.1 and 44.5 averages, respectively, in 2022. Back also won his division of the Galen Swartzentruber Junior Series in July. According to Halter, Lytle has a strong preseason and will be among the top freshman in the PAC-7.

Home course: The Pines Golf Club

Waynedale

Coach: Melinda Budd (29th season)

Home course: Riceland Golf Course

Last season: second in WCAL, fifth in Elms D-II Sectional

Returning players: Mark Yoder (Sr.), Jordan Miller (So.), Hank Miller (So.), Brayden Schlabach (So.), Doug Gingerich (So.), Adi Weirick (So.)

Newcomers: Caden Snyder (So.), Mason Henderson (So.), Hudson Barkman (Fr.), Micah Gessel (Fr.)

Outlook: One of two All-WCAL first teamers back in the area, Jordan Miller will look to build upon his impressive freshman campaign and lead a youthful Bears team back to the county title. Yoder, the team's lone senior, along with Hank Miller and Schlabach are others to watch on a team with nine underclassmen competing for spots.

West Holmes

Coach: Mike Molnar (fifth season)

Home course: Fire Ridge Golf Course

Last season: seventh in OCC, seventh in River Greens D-II Sectional

Returning players: Trey Baker (Sr.), Grady Toye (Sr.), Kenzie Woods (Sr.), Daniel Baird (Sr.), Connor Burchfield (Jr.), Maverick Rickly (Jr.)

Newcomers: Memphis Jones (Jr.), Zane Kinsey (Fr.), Blake Harford (Fr.), Ford Jones (Fr.)

Outlook: Behind the strength of veterans in Baker, Toye and Woods, this upcoming season could be a big one for the Knights. Both Baker and Woods were district qualifiers in their respective tournaments a year ago, while Toye just missed the cut. All three will be entering their fourth varsity seasons and should be joined by Harford and Jones atop the lineup.

Wooster

Coach: Brent Dillon (first season)

Home course: Wooster Country Club

Last season: fifth in OCC, ninth in Good Park D-I Sectional

Returning players: Jackson Readinger (Sr.), Ian Snode (Sr.), Sam Fleming (Jr.), Anthony Long (Jr.), Andon Hart (So.), Grady Hahn (So.)

Newcomer: Aidan Cleveland (Jr.)

Outlook: With five players back from last fall, the Generals are poised to move up the OCC standings. Senior leadership like Snode — a second team All-OCC selection who had the top 18-hole average (88.57) on the team in 2022 — and Readinger (89.71) are expected to lead the way.

GIRLS

Wooster

Coach: Mark Snowbarger (fifth season, 15th overall)

Home course: L.C. Boles Golf Course

Last season: third in OCC, eighth in Elms D-I Sectional

Returning players: Payton Haynes (Sr.), Kailey Kartisek (Sr.), Gabrielle Rice (Sr.)

Newcomers: Kiessa Davis (So.), Hailey Bode (Fr.)

Outlook: Haynes and Kartisek both return for a Generals team that will need to replace a strong senior class from a year ago. Along with those veterans, newcomers like Bode will be looked upon by Snowbarger to help the Generals compete in the rugged OCC against the likes of Ashland and Lexington.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Golf: team-by-team preview of every Wayne/Holmes County area team