Hillsdale Academy golf plays for, honors local alumni veteran at Corporal B. Invitational
HILLSDALE — The Hillsdale Academy boys golf team had the opportunity to participate in one of the most competitive invitationals one can find in the state of Michigan, but also an event that serves to highlight a larger purpose to educate and help families across the United States.
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The Colts competed in the Corporal B. Boy's High School Invitational at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan. The 18-hole, five-layer team stroke play tournament had nine division 1schools, six division 2 schools, two division 3 schools and one division 4 school (Hillsdale Academy) in attendance.
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The invitational aims to educate, highlight and showcase the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational support to the families of American heroes across the country. The tournament made contributions to Folds of Honor Foundation on behalf of each team participating.
The tournament is named in honor of American Hero United States Corporal Brock Bucklin,who died in Balad, Iraq, of a non-combat-related cause. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. He died on May 31, 2006.
In addition to educating the players about the Folds of Honor Foundation, each team that participated in the tournament played to honor a veteran from their school or community.
The Colts chose to honor and play for Hillsdale Academy alum Gregory Whalen. Whalen was a graduate of Hillsdale Academy in 2017 and joined the Marines in January of 2018, serving until 2022. Towards the end of his service, he was deployed to the Middle East to help evacuate refugees from the Taliban after America withdrew from Afghanistan. Helping to evacuate more than 100,000 refugees, he was stationed in Kabul's airport and accepted the fact he may never get out alive.
"His willingness to sacrifice is not only the definition of American patriotism, but honorable in the fact that this bravery was not only for America, but for human life itself," two members of the Colts team said in their written essay for the event.
After service, he returned to Hillsdale and is currently finishing up his degree at Hillsdale College, where he is studying English. Upon graduation, he plans to go back to the Marines to become either an infantry or aviation officer.
"Who our students become is a chief focus of a Hillsdale Academy education," Hillsdale Academy A.D. Nathan Nevau said. "Greg’s courage and valor displayed through his military service demonstrates his quality as a human being. He is an exemplar for other young men, and we are proud to claim him as one of our own."
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Results
As the only Division 4 team in attendance, it was an opportunity for the No. 1 ranked Colts to play against teams in every division in the state of Michigan, going up against potential state champion golf teams.
The Colts ended up placing 14th with a final team score of 355. The event was won by Grand Rapids Christian with a final score of 301. Detroit Catholic Central took second with a 306 and Traverse City West took third with a 316 final score.
Leading the way for the Colts was senior Rykert Frisinger. The Northwood golf commit had a 77 to tie for 10th overall. He finished the invitational with two birdies. Senior Ridley Fast, Trine Commit, tied for 45th place after shooting an 86. Junior Kahle Welden carded a 95, while junior Vincent Reagle and freshman Lincoln Knirk took a 97 and 98, respectively.
"I think it was an eye-opening experience for our players to see how the best players in the state perform under pressure situations," coach Rolla Frisinger said.
The Colts will look to use the invitational to continue their reign of dominance in SCAA play as they chase down another conference title. They continued that journey with another performance setting a new team-low score of 151, beating their previous league best of 155. Frisinger finished two-under par in that recent SCAA jamboree.
About the Folds of Honor Foundation
The Folds of Honor Foundation was started by Lt. Col Dan Rooney in 2007. In 2006, then-Major Rooney was witness to the heart-wrenching homecoming when Corporal Bucklin's flag-covered casket was brought back to his family.
Since 2007, the Folds of Honor Foundation has provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America's fallen or disabled military. Their mission has expanded to the families of America's first responders. More information about the foundation can be found on their website.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale Academy golf honors Colts alum and veteran at invitational
