High school boys golf preview

<p>Even as a freshman, Damon Dickey became accustomed to leading the way for Franklin’s boys golf team — at least on the scorecards.</p><p>As his second season begins, he knows he’ll have to start leading in other ways as well, and he seems to be enjoying that responsibility so far.</p><p>Dickey often deferred to seniors Javan Johnson and Matt Jordan last spring, but he comes into 2019 as the unquestioned leader of a Grizzly Cubs team that should again be among the area’s best despite its relative youth.</p><p>&quot;He knows he’s the best player coming in here this year,&quot; Franklin coach Andy Findley said.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>&quot;The guys have more respect for me, so it’s easier to help them,&quot; Dickey said of the dynamic between he and his teammates this preseason.</p><p>A year ago, Dickey was the medalist at the Johnson County tournament, firing a 70 at The Legends to take top honors. He tied with Jordan for third individually at the sectional, then had Franklin’s low score at the Providence Regional, where the team came up just two strokes shy of qualifying for state despite a season-ending injury to Johnson.</p><p>Dickey expects the Grizzly Cubs to be back at the regional and in contention yet again.</p><p>&quot;We have four guys who can put up really good scores and get us out,&quot; he said. &quot;If we can’t make it out as a team, I’ll have to make it out as an individual.&quot;</p><p>That should be a realistic possibility for the sophomore, who says he focused on improving his consistency on the greens during the offseason.</p><p>&quot;I’m normally a pretty good putter,&quot; Dickey said, &quot;but I didn’t putt very well last year.&quot;</p><p>Dickey, who was a key guard off the bench for the Franklin basketball team in the winter, played a lot of competitive golf last summer. He says that those individual tournaments had a different intensity than high school golf does, but he really enjoys the camaraderie that comes with being part of a team.</p><p>&quot;The support was really good from our guys last year,&quot; he said. &quot;It feels good when you can talk about your round and make each other better.&quot;</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Scouting the county" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><span>Center Grove Trojans</span></p><p>Coach: Matt Rodman</p><p>Last season: Won county, conference, sectional and regional titles, finished second at state championships</p><p>Top returnees: Logan Anderson, Dylan Bonfield and Luke DeHaven, seniors; Alex Heck, Peyton Smart and Caleb Tidd, juniors</p><p>Outlook: Despite the loss of All-State players Noah Gillard and Sam Jean at the top of the lineup, nobody’s going to be crying any tears for the Trojans, whose second five probably could have been a state qualifier last season. Anderson, Heck and DeHaven all have state experience, and a deep talent pool has been waiting patiently to fill the two open spots. Tidd will be out early after breaking his wrist in December, but he could be a factor by season’s end. Center Grove expects to contend for the state title every year, and as the third-ranked team in the preseason, it should be in a position to do so again.</p><p><span>Franklin Grizzly Cubs</span></p><p>Coach: Andy Findley</p><p>Last season: First in Mid-State Conference, second at Center Grove Sectional, fifth at Providence Regional</p><p>Top returnees: Blake McIntire, senior; Damon Dickey, Quin Edwards and Ian McCullough, sophomores</p><p>Key newcomers: Tanner Murphy, junior; Nate Blackwell and Barrett Daily, sophomores</p><p>Outlook: The Grizzly Cubs were just a couple of strokes away from qualifying for state a year ago, and despite some graduation losses at the top of the lineup, Findley feels that his team is capable of again winning the conference title and advancing out of the sectional. Dickey should be one of the county’s top players, and veterans Edwards and McCullough will give the Grizzly Cubs a solid top three. The team’s success will be determined by whether a couple of other consistent options emerge.</p><p><span>Greenwood Woodmen</span></p><p>Coaches: Nick Goodrich and Brittany Runge</p><p>Last season: Ninth at Center Grove Sectional</p><p>Top returnees: Jacob Rothaar, senior; Jacob Reagan, junior; Trent Vislay, sophomore</p><p>Key newcomers: Braxton Christie, Elijah Poe, Aaron Rothaar and Jackson Watkins, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: The Woodmen should start reaping the benefits of what has been an outstanding middle school team the past few years. Runge, who is in the process of handing the reins of the boys team over to Goodrich, expects at least a couple of the freshmen to make an immediate impact in the top five. Jacob Rothaar leads a small group of experienced upperclassmen that can help the young players adjust. If the newcomers can deliver as hoped, Greenwood should have a shot at finishing in the top half of the conference and the sectional.</p><p><span>Greenwood Christian Cougars</span></p><p>Coach: Gary Hamilton</p><p>Last season: Seventh at Center Grove Sectional</p><p>Top returnees: Luke Yohey, senior; Gabe Vessely, junior; Matthew Heldman, sophomore</p><p>Key newcomers: Matthew Cottongim and Sutton Piercefield, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: The Cougars made a solid postseason showing last season, finishing ahead of crosstown rival Greenwood at the sectional meet. With Vessely and Yohey back at the top of the lineup and some promising young talent joining them, GCA should again be able to field a competitive squad that can make a push for the PAAC championship and finish in the middle of the pack at the county and sectional meets.</p><p><span>Indian Creek Braves</span></p><p>Coach: Bob Smith</p><p>Last season: Fifth in Western Indiana Conference, 10th at Center Grove Sectional</p><p>Top returnees: Chandler Donahue and Vincent Greene, seniors; Dakota Day and Hunter Meredith, juniors;</p><p>Key newcomers: Luke Knight, senior; Clark Haywood and Lane Sears, sophomores; Jake Johnson and Nolan Sears, freshmen</p><p>Outlook: The Braves return a strong top three in Donahue (a two-time All-WIC performer), Meredith and Day. If Indian Creek is going to contend for a conference title, it will need some more players to become consistent contributors in the fourth and fifth spots. Smith believes Haywood and Knight could fill those roles, with returning letterman Greene also capable.</p><p><span>Whiteland Warriors</span></p><p>Coach: Dan Gibson</p><p>Last season: Sixth at Center Grove Sectional</p><p>Top returnees: Max Pressler, senior; Walter Brady, Colin Goddard, Jacob Johnson, Evan McCracken and Zach Ricketts, juniors</p><p>Key newcomers: Marcus Perkins, sophomore; William Davis, freshman</p><p>Outlook: Gibson, entering his final season as the Warriors’ coach, believes he’s got perhaps the best team in school history. Promising rookie Davis and hard-working senior Pressler figure to battle with the five strong juniors for the five lineup spots. Whiteland doesn’t have a superstar that’s going to break par almost every time out, but it does have a deep, balanced lineup capable of breaking into the top three spots at the sectional and qualifying for regional as a team for the first time.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]