BOYS GOLF PREVIEW Clemente eases into leadership role

& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;By BRIAN RICHESSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- The Warren John F. Kennedy High boys golf team has changed, but Colin Clemente has not.
Two-time defending state champion Jason Kokrak graduated and is now pursuing a golf career at Xavier University.
His departure has boosted Clemente's status into that of senior leader entering the 2003 season.
"I don't feel like I have to step into any role," Clemente said. "Last year Jason was the senior and he knew what he had to do. It's basically going to be the same for me."
Being himself
Clemente, a three-time state qualifier, will focus on his game and let the younger kids follow, but he doesn't want to make a big issue of it.
"I guess you could say I'm in the spotlight, but I'm going to play the same game as last year," said Clemente, a Hubbard native. "Everybody on the team knows who I am, what kind of player I am."
He is the kind of player who strikes the ball well and is good with his short irons. Plus, his maturity is starting to show.
"I play smarter," he said. "I used to play a lot more crazy, going after everything."
Now, Clemente isn't afraid to use a 2-iron or 3-wood off the tee, just to keep the ball in the fairway and trade distance for accuracy.
"I've been watching how the pros do it, and I'm just trying to develop all aspects of the game," said Clemente, who aims to shoot around par. "You can't be a certain kind of golfer. You have to know how to play every course."
Team tradition
Based on their past success and the tradition they've built, the Eagles head into the 2003 season as the area's favorite to return to the state tournament.
It would mark the sixth straight season they've qualified under coaches Bob Todd and Bob Heltzel, with Division III championships in 2000 and 2001 and a runner-up finish last season.
"We have as good of a chance to get back down there," Todd said. "We lost three of our top six, but we've got three who should fit right in. Plus, we have a lot of freshmen who have really improved."
Juniors Patrick Moro and Matt Nuzzi and sophomore Zach Bowen give the Eagles valuable returning experience. Moro was the sixth man at state last season.
Todd and Heltzel also expect contributions from seniors Nick Pawlikowski, Max Deibel and Anthony Mongelluzzo and juniors Nick Moody and Dave Ceglia.
"[Pawlikowski] was the first young man we had to cut when he tried out as a freshman. We never had to do that before," Todd said. "We sat him down and explained what he needed to do and how to improve. He's worked as hard as anybody on the team."
Philosophy
JFK prides itself on playing in high-profile tournaments throughout the season in preparation for a state run.
"We got the guys out of the nine-hole matches and into tournaments," Todd said. "It gives them the 18-hole experience and the opportunity to play with mostly Div. I and II schools."
That experience benefits the Eagles, especially in the district at Seven Hills Country Club in Hartville, where only two teams qualify for state.
Todd favors the OHSAA adding one or two more state qualifiers from Seven Hills' 12-team district field.
Until that happens, though, the Eagles will play their pressure golf with the stakes raised and a state berth on the line.
And they'll shoot for No. 6.
& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;richesson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;