How Joey Currans plans to lead the Gilbert boys golf team back to the top of Class 3A

When Joey Currans was a freshman, the Gilbert boys golf team was peaking as a program.

The Tigers won their first state championship that year. The next year they won it again.

Currans was a vital part of those teams.

He placed ninth individually during the state meet as a freshman. In his sophomore year, Currans finished in a three-way tie for seventh at the Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.

Last year the Gilbert and Currans both took a small step back. The Tigers placed third at state, and Currans tied for 21st individually.

Now as a senior, Currans is on a mission to get Gilbert back on top during his last run before going off to golf for South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz.

“Last year we fell a little short of our goals at state,” Currans said. “We’re trying to build that culture back up. We want to get a little more confident and pick up some strokes here and there. It’s going to have to be all six (golfers), not just four like it was before.”

More: Gilbert falls short of three-peat, places third at 3A Iowa high school boys state golf tournament

Currans has matured a lot since his freshman year. He used to wear his emotions on his sleeve during meets.

“He used to get madder,” said Gilbert junior Ryan Lynch. “He’s learned to relax and help other people.”

Lynch said Currans has fully embraced the role of veteran leader on the team this season.

“He’s definitely our leader,” Lynch said. “Most of our practices, he’s running them and having us do different drills and he gives us competition.”

Gilbert does have quality experience returning alongside Currans in Lynch, seniors Zach Wilson and Ian Roske, and juniors Hudson White and Logan Youngberg. Wilson placed sixth individually at state last season.

But the Tigers are not as battle-tested as their 2021 and 2022 state championship teams were. Currans wants to lead by example by showing his teammates how to regroup when things are not going well on the course.

“It’s tough being young on a team that was so dominant for so long, and just now understanding I’ve got to be a scorer on this team,” Currans said. “You’ve got to get confident. Those rounds where you’re having a bad day, those are going to count now. You’ve got to find ways to pick up strokes, pick your head up and make more pars and birdies, and less double (bogeys).”

Gilbert coach Holly Lester said no matter how everything is going, the most important thing for a golfer is always the next shot.

“We’ve been talking about that for the team as a whole,” Lester said. “One bad shot doesn’t make your round. One bad hole doesn’t make your round. It’s what you need to do to bring yourself back up after those bad shots or bad holes, so it doesn’t cause you to play worse.”

Lester is pleased with how Currans is stepping up this season.

“He is a great leader,” Lester said. “I will definitely miss him in that role next year.”

On the course, Currans shot his best 18-hole round of the season Monday in a dual meet with Adel-Desoto-Minburn. He carded a 73, which tied White and ADM's Carter Madison for the second-lowest score behind Lynch's 1-under-par 70.

Currans' average 18-hole score of 78 is the best on the team.

More: 10 Ames-area Iowa high school boys golfers to watch ahead of the 2024 season

He is motivated to eventually get to the level required to be able to compete at the Division I level in college. He looks up to current Missouri Tiger Brock Snyder, who graduated Gilbert last year, and 2022 graduate Spencer Clatt, who currently golfs for DMACC and has Division I offers.

“These guys who are older than me playing Division I golf, that’s just fueled me,” Currans said. “If I’m going to be at that level, I’ve got to play harder and practice harder.”

Another motivating factor for Currans and his teammates this year is the Gilbert girls team. The Tiger girls are the defending state champions and are favored to win it again this season.

“We’re watching them be like we were my freshman and sophomore years,” Currans said. “We’re becoming a golf school. You want to be around greatness and we’re around greatness.”

Lester has faith that Currans can help Gilbert remain in the state championship hunt this season.

“Gilbert golf has done very well,” Lester said. “His group from his freshman year all the way through — he's been to three state tournaments and has two state championships under his belt. He knows that’s something we need to continue.”

The 2024 3A Iowa boys state golf meet will again be held at Veenker.

“It’s nice to be here in Ames and have the ability to practice there,” Currans said. “But it’s a tough course for everybody. You can’t necessarily overpower Veenker, and that’s something you’ve got to learn. Your short game has really got to be dialed in at Veenker.”

Currans is focused on taking the season one stroke at a time and doing all the little things necessary to excel on the biggest stage.

“You want to take bits and pieces from every round,” Currans said. “Just keep working hard and get better at your short game. That’s always something where you’re going pick up strokes at state.”

If everything does come together, Currans and the Tigers could be hoisting up another state championship trophy in May.

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Gilbert golfer Joey Currans wants to end his career on a high note