Wyoming Seminary's Nick Werner, Anna Zapletalova claim District 2 golf titles
Oct. 3—EXETER — Nick Werner's successful district title defense highlighted a Wyoming Seminary sweep of the Class 2A boys and girls titles at Tuesday's District 2 Individual Championships at Fox Hill Country Club.
Werner was joined in victory by teammate Anna Zapletalova, who was in complete command from the jump in a nine-stroke victory in the 2A girls tournament.
"I feel great, I'm so proud of these two," said Seminary coach Nick Occhiato after Werner and Zapletalova received their gold medals. "They're awesome."
At the Class 3A level, it was a strong showing from the Lackawanna League. Alec Hamilton of Abington Heights won gold in the boys tournament, while North Pocono's Gwen Powell wrapped up her fourth consecutive District 2 title with a round of 70.
Werner clinched his second straight District 2 title with the best score of the day across any classification, carding a 3-under 67 to hold off a strong challenge from Lake-Lehman's Cael Ropietski and earn himself another gold medal.
"I wasn't trying to do anything special, I was just trying to play for par and play some golf," Werner said. "It ended up working out for me."
Of the six Class 2A boys golfers who successfully qualified for the PIAA Individual Championships, four are returning state qualifiers from last year: Werner, Ropietski (who won silver on Tuesday with a round of 70), Lake-Lehman's Michael Lugiano (who took fourth place with a 74) and Gavin June from Lackawanna Trail, who came in fifth place.
Joining them will be bronze medalist Michael Maslanka of Riverside, and Western Wayne's Jamie Chapman.
There were three state spots up for grabs in the District 2 Class 2A girls championship, and after a strong showing in last week's qualifier, Zapletalova fired a round of 77 to win gold and lock up one of those spots in the state tournament for herself.
"I feel really good," she said after her round. "It feels amazing to be able to share this with (Werner)."
Lillian Sedlak took silver, and Holy Redeemer's Arden Brunn's 88 was good enough for a bronze medal and to secure a return trip to the state tournament.
The Class 3A boys field yielded four qualifiers for the state championships: Hamilton edged out teammate Cade Kelleher and Dallas' Ryan Roman, shooting a 71 to their matching 72s.
The fourth and final spot was determined by a playoff between Brad Kugler, of Dallas, and Wilkes-Barre Area's Michael Hamel.
Hamel had to win a playoff last week just to make it to districts, but couldn't pull off another win: after the two golfers were even through the first playoff hole, Kugler won the final medal spot on the second hole.
In 3A girls, Powell will be joined in states by Tunkhannock's Hallie Brown (78) and Lyla Jones, Powell's North Pocono teammate, who won bronze with a round of 82.
District 2 Individual Golf Championships
Class 2A Boys (Top 6 medal, advance to states)
1. Nick Werner (Wyoming Seminary) 33-34-67
2. Cael Ropietski (Lake-Lehman) 35-35-70
3. Michael Maslanka (Riverside) 35-36-71
4. Michael Lugiano (Lake-Lehman) 37-37-74
5. Gavin June (Lackawanna Trail) 39-37-76
6. Jamie Chapman (Western Wayne) 37-39-76
— —
Levi Smith (Montrose) 38-39-77
Gavin Walsh (Scranton Prep) 40-37-77
Ben Boyanoski (Scranton Prep) 40-38-78
Nate Coates (Holy Redeemer) 37-41-78
Ben Walsh (Scranton Prep) 37-41-78
Jackson Norconk (Lake-Lehman) 39-40-79
Alex Martin (Holy Redeemer) 40-40-80
Grady June (Lack. Trail) 40-41-81
Chuckie Weidner (Lake-Lehman) 38-43-81
Lorenzo Damiano (Lack. Trail) 38-45-83
Liam Ong (Scranton Prep) 41-42-83
Guy Rothery (Scranton Prep) 42-41-83
Andrew Dovin (Montrose) 41-43-84
Lex Lispi (MMI Prep) 39-45-84
Mason Rickert (Riverside) 40-44-84
TJ Stott (Scranton Prep) 43-41-84
Robbie Castaldi (Riverside) 43-42-85
Brayden Jones (Lack. Trail) 40-45-85
AJ Borchert (Lake-Lehman) 44-42-86
Kyle Connor (Riverside) 44-44-88
Tyler Rockwell (Blue Ridge/Susquehanna) 41-47-88
Adam Riggi (Dunmore) 47-48-95
Gehrig Dibble (Blue Ridge/Susquehanna) 46-50-96
Patrick McComb (Montrose) 50-49-99
Hayden Lord (Elk Lake) 51-52-103
Leo Nockley (Wyoming Seminary) 50-53-103
Class 3A Boys (Top 4 medal, advance to states)
1. Alec Hamilton (Abington Heights) 36-35-71
T2. Cade Kelleher (Abington Heights) 36-36-72
T2. Ryan Roman (Dallas) 33-39-72
4. Brad Kugler (Dallas) 34-39-73 (advanced via playoff)
— —
Mike Hamel (Wilkes-Barre Area) 36-37-73
Derek Johnson (Crestwood) 37-37-74
Robbie Lucas (Abington Heights) 36-38-74
Charlie Letwinsky (Dallas) 36-39-75
Robert Munley (Abington Heights) 39-36-75
Matt Mesaris (Pittston Area) 39-38-77
Kevin Wortmann (Wallenpaupack) 36-41-77
Gabe Fatula (Hazleton Area) 41-37-78
Brady Mapes (North Pocono) 40-38-78
Jason Walsh (North Pocono) 38-40-78
Pete Modrovsky (Honesdale) 38-41-79
Robert Bingham (Abington Heights) 40-40-80
Luke Swank (Abington Heights) 41-39-80
Tommy Biscotti (Crestwood) 41-42-83
Brady Noone (Wyoming Area) 47-36-83
Nate Greene (Honesdale) 39-45-84
Patrick Ruane (Pittston Area) 41-43-84
Jordan Wychock (Wilkes-Barre Area) 43-41-84
Mario Belza (Wyoming Area) 43-42-85
Kristian Pugliese (Wyoming Area) 42-44-86
Grady Hearn (Wallenpaupack) 45-42-87
Kaden Dittus (Wyo. Valley West) 44-44-88
Brady Gerrity (Wilkes-Barre Area) 44-44-88
Lucas Stephens (Honesdale) 44-44-88
JT Homentosky (Valley View) 42-47-89
CJ Koger (Delaware Valley) 48-41-89
Kale Knorr (Berwick) 45-46-91
Aidan Montross (Tunkhannock) 42-49-91
Luke Palmieri (Hazleton Area) 44-47-91
Andrew Nocito (Pittston Area) 48-44-92
Dane Schutter (Wyoming Area) 44-48-92
Shawn Cawley (Valley View) 46-50-96
Class 2A Girls (Top 3 medal, advance to states)
1. Anna Zapletalova (Wyoming Seminary) 38-39-77
2. Lillian Sedlak (Mt. View) 43-43-86
3. Arden Brunn (Holy Redeemer) 43-45-88
— —
Chloe Lynch (Scranton Prep) 43-47-90
Kayla Benson (Honesdale) 49-43-92
Ally Legg (Montrose) 46-50-96
Sophia Galko (Scranton Prep) 56-58-114
Class 3A Girls (Top 3 medal, advance to states)
1. Gwen Powell (North Pocono) 35-35-70
2. Hallie Brown (Tunkhannock) 35-43-78
3. Lyla Jones (North Pocono) 41-41-82
— —
Sienna Smith (Crestwood) 43-46-89
Alex King (Scranton) 45-46-91
Jackie Martin (Tunkhannock) 44-50-94
Ava Pabst (North Pocono) 47-47-94
Kate Peters (Abington Heights) 50-48-98
Rose Peters (Abington Heights) 51-48-99
Kylie Zaleski (Tunkhannock) 49-50-99
