Boys golf preseason coaches reports
Union’s Eddie Abellar tees off at the Jeff Hudson Invitational high school golf tournament at Tri-Mountain Golf Course, Tuesday, September 10, 2013. (Steven Lane/The Columbian)
Preseason reports from high school boys golf coaches
4A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE
BATTLE GROUND
Coach: Eric Liljedahl
Key players: Alex Grymko, so.; Jed McBride, sr.; Waylon Kasberg, jr.; Kyle Pfister, so.; Serge Hannson, so.; Casey Spencer, fr.; Brent Spencer, fr.; Trevor Reese, fr.
Outlook: After losing a couple key players to graduation, the Tigers are rebuilding with a lot of young players.
CAMAS
Coach: Ed Givens
Key players: Brian Humphreys, so.; Braeden Campbell, sr.; Brett Ball, so.
Outlook: The Papermakers look loaded with defending 4A individual champion Humphreys leading the way.
EVERGREEN
No report submitted
HERITAGE
Coach: Dwight Patterson
Key players: Gabe Brye, jr.; Jackson Wagner, jr.; Vaschon Dills, so.; Austin Cornell, so.; Avery Bailey, so.
Outlook: The Timberwolves return a young program: no seniors and seven freshmen and sophomores.
SKYVIEW
Coach: Eric Estes
Key players: Brady Nash, jr.; Brandon Zilles, sr.; Jackson Guffey, so.; Jacob Jones, sr.
UNION
Coach: Gary Mills
Key players: Eddie Abellar, jr.; Ben Gruher, jr.
Outlook: Abellar steps into the role as team leader after placing third at 4A state tournament last year.
3A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE
COLUMBIA RIVER
Coach: David Long
Key players: Brandon Barnes; Sam Walker.
Outlook: River has six returning players led by all-leaguer Barnes.
FORT VANCOUVER
Coach: Mike Witkowski
Key players: Trent Standard, sr., Fort Vancouver; Spencer Tibbits, fr.
Outook: Tibbits, an experienced junior tournament player, joins defending 3A district champion Standard to form a potent 1-2 punch for the Trappers.
HUDSON’S BAY
No report submitted
KELSO
No report submitted
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Coaches: John McCausland, James Peterson
Key players: Zach Ng, sr.; Austin Chang, sr.; Peter Lu, jr.; Jared Berg, jr.; Christian Maddox, so.
Outlook: The Thunder graduated eight seniors off last year’s league championship squad. Ng placed fifth at district last season.
PRAIRIE
Coach: Paul Shapard
Key players: Jace VavRosky, sr.; Tucker Reilly, sr.; Steven Whitlock, sr.; Weston Parks, jr.; Reid Maahs, jr.; David Harring, so.
Outlook: The Falcons return a solid group of juniors and seniors. But other team have also improved as Prairie looks to challenge for the league title.
2A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE
HOCKINSON
Coach: Bruce Tedder
Key players: Diego De La Torre, jr.; Casey Turner, sr.; Tanner Christensen, sr.; Taylor Rennaker, sr.; Michael Phillips, jr.,; Jack Bloss, jr.
Outlook: The Hawks return three key players from last year’s state championship team and remain hopeful for improvement with some underclassmen improvement to make another for state.
MARK MORRIS
No report submitted
RA LONG
No report submitted
RIDGEFIELD
No report submitted
WASHOUGAL
Coach: Brian Anderson
Key players: Bryce Samwel, jr.; Jacob Weis, sr.
Outlook: The Panthers had 17 golfers turn out for the program, including eight first-time players. Samwel qualified for state last season.
1A TEAMS
LA CENTER
Coach: Rusty Kigginger
Key player: Keaton Wilbanks, sr.
Outlook: Wilbanks is a returning state qualifier, leading the Wildcats to challenge Woodland for league title.
WOODLAND
Coach: Aaron Blackwelder
Key players: Tanner Huddleston, sr.; Ryan Sturdivan, jr.; Dalton Burnett, sr.; Hayden Huddleston, so.; Jon Watts, jr.
Outlook: The Beavers return four players who qualified for state last year, including Tanner Huddleston who place eighth at state. The Beavers won the 1A league title and placed second in district.
