Warren JFK seeks third straight title

The Eagles are led by seniors Jason Kokrak and Jim Scheiber along with junior Colin Clemente.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- The run actually began five years ago.
Bob Todd had just been hired to coach the Warren JFK golf team in 1997 and the first thing he and assistant coach Bob Heltzel changed was the Eagles' schedule.
After that, everything else changed.
Instead of playing local nine-hole matches, the Eagles began playing 18-hole tournaments around the state -- facing teams like Cleveland St. Ignatius and Lakewood St. Edward. "That really gives you confidence once you get down to state," JFK junior Colin Clemente said. "Once we get down there, we've already played way, way harder courses and we've hardly played any another Division III teams.
"That makes a huge difference."
Clemente, along with seniors Jason Kokrak and Jim Scheiber, have led the Eagles to back-to-back state championships.
Tourney this weekend
They'll try to defend their title at this weekend's state tournament at Ohio State University's Gray Course.
"The first year we went down, we were just tickled to qualify," Todd said. "We kind of thought we had a chance to make the top three, but we never really thought about winning it."
The Eagles shot 293 for their first round in 2000 -- the next closest team was Worthington Christian with 304 -- and broke a state record with a two-day total of 585.
"It was just a shock," Kokrak said. "Nobody knew about us. We just played really well when it counted."
Added Todd, "It was just unbelievable. I actually had tears in my eyes."
In 2001, Kokrak won the state individual title, shooting 146 over two rounds on the Scarlet Course. Chris Macali, who graduated last spring, and Clemente placed 3-4 as the Eagles beat Gahanna Columbus Academy 618 to 636.
Their success has continued.
Rolled through district
The Eagles won last week's district title with a score of 298 -- 22 strokes better than the second-place team, Gilmour Academy.
Kokrak (who shot a round of 65 for the individual title), Clemente (74) and Scheiber (78) finished in the top five. Senior Max Capito shot an 81 and sophomore Patrick Moro shot a 91.
"Not everyone on the team is on the same level, but everyone knows what they have to do," Clemente, who also finished third in the state as a freshman, said. "I think we've all found goals that we need to shoot in order for our team to win."
The Eagles' depth has carried them over the past three years. Todd had 20 players try out for the team and he kept 13.
"I think the freshmen were a little awed by the older guys," Todd said. "But the older guys just take them off to the side and work with them individually, showing them things. It really helps."
Most of the players also golf extensively during the year. Kokrak and Clemente have each been playing since they were 3.
Kokrak, who expects to major in either business or sports management, is being pursued by Ohio State, Kent State and Xavier.
But he'll worry about that starting next week.
"It's been fantastic the past four years," Kokrak said. "Now we're ready to give it another run."
scalzo@vindy.com