Kowboys, Storm to defend OBC crowns

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

The county’s golf teams are all in the same district for the first time in recent memory. Class 2A District 17 is populated by the seven Osceola schools and Bayside, Eau Gallie, Melbourne, Palm Bay and Viera.

The top four at the district tournament move on to the regional round.

The Orange Belt Conference tournaments are Oct. 10 at Royal St. Cloud Golf Links (girls) and Kissimmee Bay (boys).

Osceola

The Kowboys are the defending OBC boys champs, and to defend they’ll have to do it without graduated Player of the Year Steven Fowler, who signed to play at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

Seniors Mark Clarke, Brandon Woodard and Travis Richardson, junior Blake Sorenson and sophomore Angelo Chiarelli all played matches last year and return.

Also in the mix are senior Connor Allen, juniors Alex Heifner, Paul Zupofska and Carson Wells, sophomores Cody Dana and Connor Waldron and freshman Chris Lane.

“If we play with the same confidence as we did last year, we should be able to make a run at defending our conference championship,” Coffey said. “The district will still be tough with Viera in it.”

Coach Ray Lackey’s girls team returns four players from a team that qualified for regionals last year: juniors Charlie Muzeka, Kiera Koroitamudu and Sydney Mason and senior Karen Handlan.

Competing for spots behind them are seniors Kristie Brewer, Eli Marrero, Josie Brookhart and Alexis Jones, junior Miranda Richardson and sophomores Meg Clancy and Courtney Ausherman.

Lackey said that the OBC race is up for grabs.

“Harmony and Osceola should be the top contenders, but Celebration has been very tough the last five years and with a new coach and young team they are a mystery,” he said.

He also said that the team’s goal is to play in the state tournament in Lake County, and the district and regional realignments make it possible.

“Viera lost four of their top five to graduation, but they have a strong program and will be competitive. If  we score well we have a shot at a district title,” Lackey said.

Harmony

The boys team relinquished the OBC boys title for the first time in three years, but Coach Jerry Piester has two returning seniors, Tyler Howes and Chad Williams, and a deep roster.

Bryce Pace, Blaine Janke, Cody Landrum and Austin Tapp are seniors. Juniors include Robbie Yelverton, Adam Hamill, Jackson Tarpley and Collin Bryant, and the sophomore class has Corbin Smith, Parke Novak and Corey Herman. Tyler Bennett is a promising freshman in a class with Samuel Stickley, Justin Garrett and Kevin Brown.

“Its fun working with this group because of the competition,” Piester said. “I’m looking forward to good things from this group.”

Coach Rob Hainlen’s girls team features no seniors. Lauren Bishop and Rachel Cowart are juniors, and Meredith Hendren is a sophomore.

Hainlen said the key to the Lady Longhorns success will be the contribution from its freshman class, which includes Madison Wetzel, Kylie Wetzel, Christina Stevens, Taryn Howes, Summer Fox and Parker Bergelt.

“Madison is already in our top four, and we are also expecting solid play from the remainder of the freshmen throughout this season,” he said.

Celebration

Plenty of returning starters and a good group of new players will create  competition for playing time on Coach Mike Pagano’s boys team.

Juniors Noah Perez and Evan Wagoner, seniors Max Weber and Joe Sans and sophomores Calvin Sears and Jacob Glodde return.

Freshmen Grafton Mouen and Luke O’Connell, juniors William Santry and Jake DeLeon and senior Ben Sunnarborg also seek playing time.

“There will be a lot of competition for the top five or six spots on our team,” Pagano said. “It should help raise our play. I look forward to what should be a fun season.”

The defending OBC champion Storm girls team, coached by Dan Caughman, also returns most of its starters from last year. Seniors Natalie Benetti and Lauren Adhav and sophomore Sarah Stellwag are back, and junior Amber Hucke returned after leaving last season.

First-year players fill the rest of the squad: sophomores Kelsey Ryan, Annika Michie and Larissa Parodi and freshman Caitlin Mouen.

“We are replacing our number two and three players from last year. An early-season emphasis is gaining depth in our rotation,” Caughman said.

Gateway

Coach Larry Souther’s boys team will be thin on numbers, but two of the top four are returning. Senior Sean Turner and sophomore Shawn Fisher are competing for the No. 1 player spot. Newcomers, senior Andrew Atehortua and freshman Jason Hackett, make up the next two spots.

“I’m still waiting on a couple of players to step up and fill the fifth and sixth spots,” Souther said.

Gateway will not field a girls team this year.

St. Cloud

Shane Muller’s Bulldogs bring back enough experience to be a force in the OBC and district. Junior Caleb Sibley will make a run for conference medalist, and senior Adam Connell and junior Hayden Glasscock were also match regulars. Sophomores Josh Chambers and Brennen Merritt also fought for playing time.

Newcomers include senior Ryan Bender, sophomores Tanner Hickey, Nathan Robinson and Nicholas Whitston and freshman Diego Rodriguez.

Royal St. Cloud Golf Links will host the regional tournament as well as the OBC.

Girls coach Jesse Lawrence returns her top three players from last year: senior Shelby Kessler and juniors Lacey Makinson and Erica Dukes, who led the Lady Bulldogs with a 42 at Royal St. Cloud Links on Tuesday to defeat Osceola, 181-209.

Junior Kelly Johnson and foreign exchange student Aurora Heramb round out the team, which hopes to go to the regional tournament.

“The girls and I are extremely excited about this season,” Lawrence said. “With Shelby leading the pack, and a strong group behind her, good things are going to happen. We are a strong group, with more potential than we’ve ever had.”

Poinciana

Coach Chris Pryor welcomes back his top three players, including senior Clarke Feeney, a two-time All-Conference team member. Senior Danny Salas and junior Stephen Holt also are back from last year’s rotation.

A competitive fourth score will come from a pack of newcomers: freshmen Joel Pino and Tim Kersey, junior Matthew Ramey and sophomore Kevin Payano.

“I expect Clarke to have a strong season, Danny has dedicated himself in the off season, and I am expecting Stephen to have a breakout year this season,” Pryor said. “Joel is our top newcomer and will help the team compete at OBC tournament in October.”

Girls coach Troy Herrera is working with four players: seniors Nicole Chew and Nathally DeVasconcelos and sophomores Kiesha Crew and Imane Smichi.

Liberty

Coach Tim Burdette has five returning players on his roster of seven: seniors Kevin Gomez and Brice Padgett, juniors Tyler Haase and Adawale King and sophomore Daiquon Daniels. Freshman Kyle Atuel and senior Kevin Quinones are newcomers.

Brian O’Dell’s girls team features seniors Stephanie Ortiz and Erica Bodden and freshman Alice Munn.