Boys golf season preview

Center Grove boys golf managed to win a state championship last June without winning a state championship.

At a time when the coronavirus snuffed out all high school sporting events, the Center Grove Legacy, led by seniors Alex Heck, Peyton Short and Caleb Tidd, won a two-day finals-caliber event hosted by the Indiana Golf Association.

This time around, Center Grove wants the real thing.

“We have the same goal every year, and that’s to get to Prairie View,” said coach Matt Rodman, referring to the annual state finals site where the Trojans won the 2017 state championship and had runner-up finishes in 2015, 2018 and 2019. “The thing that’s the most different right now is the unknown.

“In past years, you had a good idea who the number 1 and 2 teams were and who were the top players on each team. I do know Franklin is going to have a really good team this season, and I’m excited to see what Whiteland and Greenwood can do, too. I think you’re going to see some solid golf in Johnson County this year.”

Two members of that Center Grove Legacy squad return in seniors Sam Slaughter and Brandon Heffner, who placed 23rd and 60th, respectively, in last year’s unofficial state tourney at Purdue’s Ackerman-Allen course. They are expected to lead Rodman’s current team along with classmate Austin Shelley.

“I expect a lot. I think very highly of the guys on this team,” Slaughter said. “It puts a little bit of pressure on you knowing the golfers who have come through the program, but coming out and playing is just part of being part of the legacy at Center Grove.”

As is custom, Trojans practice sessions will be incredibly competitive as players vie to either remain in the starting lineup or work their way in. Juniors Sam Hord and Drew Rowen are proven junior league players who were at different high schools the last time Center Grove had a season.

Hord represented Windermere (Florida) High School’s team as a ninth-grader, while Rowen was a regional qualifier as Triton Central’s No. 1 player.

In short, the cupboard is anything but bare at Center Grove — new faces and all.

“I’m very excited for the season,” Heffner said. “I’ve put in a lot of work over the summer and offseason and am as confident in my game as I’ve ever been. All of us are very solid players, and we know we have as good of a chance as anyone to win state.”

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<strong>Center Grove Trojans</strong>

Coach: Matt Rodman

Top players returning: Brandon Heffner, Austin Shelley and Sam Slaughter, seniors; Luke Beetz, Sam Hord and Drew Rowen, juniors

Key newcomers: Brady Schier, sophomore; Jack Kristel, Ted Lasaru and Nate Olson, freshmen

Outlook: The Trojans open the regular season at the Floyd Central Invitational on April 13, a first glimpse into what kind of hand Rodman, now in his fifth season, has been dealt. The three seniors are expected to be key elements, particularly at the outset, with plenty of promising underclassmen to push them for spots in the top five.

“I think we have the top six or seven who are really, really solid. Maybe even the top eight,” Rodman said. “Brandon Heffner could be the low guy one day, Sam Slaughter or Luke Beetz or Drew Rowen the low guy on another day. We’re going to be deep and balanced.”

<strong>Edinburgh Lancers</strong>

Coach: Kyle Dell

Top players returning: Cash Cunningham and Trevor Moon, juniors

Key newcomers: Max Blandford, Mason Calhoun, Devyn Milburn and Keegan Smith, sophomores

Outlook: None of the players on the current roster were part of the team in 2019, though Dell, who would have been in his first season last spring, figures Blandford to be the Lancers’ No. 1 player, followed by Moon and Calhoun.

“We are starting from scratch this season,” Dell said. “They are excited to learn and have put in a lot of hard work already. If we can continue to improve and find a consistent fourth score, there’s no reason we can’t compete at conference.”

<strong>Franklin Grizzly Cubs</strong>

Coaches: Ted Bishop and Crystal Morse

Top players returning: Nate Blackwell, Damon Dickey, Quin Edwards and Ian McCullough, seniors; Will McGuinness, junior

Key newcomers: Barrett Daily, senior; Michael Clark, sophomore; Luke Bechert, Conner Diebold, Kyle Diebold, Kadin Gibson and Jake Lock, freshmen

Outlook: The Grizzly Cubs’ senior quartet made up four-fifths of the postseason starting lineup from two years ago, led by Butler recruit Dickey, who tied for 34th place at state as an individual qualifier. The combination of players with big-meet experience and promising underclassmen should make for another successful season.

“We’ve seen a lot of great things out of them,” Morse said. “All of the guys are extremely coachable, and I feel we can be in a good position to be a competitive team. I’m excited about our freshmen class, too. We have a lot of good potential and good talent.”

<strong>Greenwood Woodmen</strong>

Coach: Thom Hord

Top players returning: Eli Poe and Jackson Watkins, juniors

Key newcomers: Corey Barnett, Ethan Baugh, Conner Chase, Drew Dhondt, Jackson Kidwell, Dylan Pringle, Ethan Pringle and Blake Roscoe

Outlook: Watkins, who carded a 75 at the Whiteland Sectional two years ago to advance to regional, takes over the No. 1 spot in the Woodmen lineup. He’ll be followed, at least initially, by, in order, Poe, Chase, Dhondt and Roscoe. That could change as the season progresses, as there are eight sophomores in all on varsity.

“I think we’re going to be very competitive,” said Hord, whose team opens at the Edinburgh Invitational on April 3. “Our number 1, 2 and 3 players are going to be consistent for us. They have great leadership skills and know and love the game.”

<strong>Greenwood Christian Cougars</strong>

Coach: Gary Hamilton

Top players returning: Noah Cottingim and Sutton Piercefield, juniors

Key newcomers: Evan Stinnett, senior; Ian Reed and Parker Satre, sophomores; Coen Bauschek, freshman

Outlook: Holdovers Piercefield and Cottingim form a dependable nucleus to this Cougars’ squad as both were starters in 2019. GCA captured its first PAAC crown two years ago and hopes to duplicate the feat later this spring.

“We are very excited. One of our team goals is to retain that conference championship, and we would also like to finish in the top three at county,” Hamilton said. “In sectional, we feel we have the opportunity to contend for one of the top three spots. The future is bright.”

<strong>Indian Creek Braves</strong>

Coach: Bob Smith

Top players returning: Clark Haywood and Lane Sears, seniors; Nolan Greene and Toby Strugell, juniors

Key newcomers: Braxton Christie, junior; Ryan Lengerich and Tyler Rumble, sophomores; Kaleb Hicks and Hayden Westerfeld, freshmen

Outlook: The arrival of Christie, who two years ago was Greenwood’s No. 1 player as a freshman, should help the Braves be one of the teams to watch in the Western Athletic Conference. Haywood was part of Indian Creek’s starting lineup in 2019.

“This may be the best team I’ve had when it comes to all-around talent,” said Smith, whose squad opens the season April 8 on the road against a very good Owen Valley outfit. “We are going to be able to contend in conference with the boys that we have.”

<strong>Whiteland Warriors</strong>

Coach: John Morin

Top players returning: Marcus Perkins, senior; Will Davis, junior

Key newcomers: Jakon Copes, junior; Garrett Butler and Evan Meece, sophomores; Brody Polesel and Eli Zahm, freshmen

Outlook: Davis, who carded a team-best 75 when the Warriors hosted the 2019 sectional, is the lone holdover from that regional qualifying lineup. He will take over the top spot in the lineup this spring for a team that hopes to be competitive in light of graduation losses.

“We lost a lot of seniors from what would have been last year’s team,” Morin said. “After Will and Evan Meece, we’re going to have a tough time trying to figure out our number 3 and 4 players, but they’re good kids. I’m enjoying working with them.”

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