Poland golfers go for state repeat

They will be joined by the Lowellville boys team and two individuals.

By GREG GULAS

Vindicator Correspondent

The Poland High girls golf team would have been a disappointed group had they not gotten the opportunity to defend their Division II state title.

The Lowellville boys squad, in just its eighth year of existence, felt that with a few breaks along the way they could easily find themselves among the state contenders in Div. III.

Kelsie Teaberry of Warren JFK and Tom Lydic of Champion are just hoping their play this year has prepared them for a shot at top honors in Div. II.

The Poland girls seems to be clicking on all cylinders as they head to the state tourney.

The Bulldogs were a perfect 12-0 this season, are 26-2 over the past two campaigns, won the All-America Conference Red Tier title this year and now welcome the challenge of trying to repeat as state champions.

“We had a really outstanding year and that is directly attributed to the effort of everyone on the team,” said Poland coach Judy Young.

“Last year was the first time ever that another division was added at the state tournament. Before that, it was as if the district was our state since everyone was in one division and you had to go up against schools much larger than you in size,” she added.

The Bulldogs will playing at Ohio State’s Gray Course, where they won last year’s crown.

“Our home course is Mill Creek Park and the Gray Course is a lot like that,” said Young. “Staying focused will be the key.”

Poland qualified for the state by shooting a 339 to win the district tournament.

Senior Angela Molaskey’s 78 and sophomore Maria Mancini’s 79 paced the Bulldogs, while junior Allison Mitzel (89), senior Mariah Groner (93) and senior Meredith McKay (103) rounded out the scoring.

“Angela, Maria and Allison are all capable of shooting under 80 on any given day,” said Young. “We will definitely need that type of effort this weekend.

“Mariah has taken 10 strokes off her game from a year ago but the best thing overall is that when one of our girls has an off day, the others are right there to pick up the slack and kick their game up a notch,” she added.

Molaskey, whose strength is driving and her consistency, isn’t shy about saying that the entire team wants another state title.

“This is really exciting for everyone, but we also realize that we have a bulls-eye on our backs as well,” she said.

”We’re happy to be back defending our title, but realize that it will be plenty tough with all of the competition that we will be going up against,” Molaskey said.

Lowellville’s golf program was started in 2002 by Tom Pilkington. It took 21‚Ñ2 years to win a match.

The Rockets head to the state (they will be playing on OSU’s Scarlet Course) as the three-time defending Inter Tri-County League Tier Two champs, undefeated the past two years in league play and 50-4 overall.

“This team was amazing all year,” said Pilkington. “I never thought that we’d finish second in the Northeast district, but now that we are going to the state it’s very easy to understand and appreciate the fight in this team.”

It’s been 75 years since a Lowellville team has made it to the state tournament (the Rockets boys basketball team finished runner-up in the state Class B tournament in 1934).

Anthony Alfano is the top golfer, fresh off a 79 in the district tournament. Others that Pilkington will count on are senior Mauro Amendola, four-year letterwinner Tyler Vitus, junior Ray Carlson and freshman Joey Smith.

”We knew at the beginning of the season that we had a chance to be a good team; just how good remained to be seen,” said Alfano.

“Coach [Pilkington] helps us with the little things; what to do and what not to do in certain situations and that really helped us to become a more consistent group at the end of the season,” he said.

Teaberry and Lydic are competing for individual medalist honors in Div. II.

Champion went 18-0 this season and over the past two years was 32-4.

Lydic. a sophomore, has played as the team’s No. 1 each years for coach Doug Deas, becoming the second golfer in school history to qualify for the state; the other was Brian Garman, who was state medalist in 1985.

“I’ve only been the coach the past seven years and Tom is the best golfer that I have ever had on the team,” said Deas.

“He’s an excellent golfer who is passionate about the game. When we played at the Cardinal Mooney Classic, both club pros, Andy Santor and Dennis Miller, commented that he had the nicest swing of anyone there,” Deas said.

Lydic, whose father owns Bristolwood Golf Course, is excited to be playing at Sunbury’s North Star Golf Resort.

“I cannot wait for the tournament to begin,” he said. “I tried to get to the state last year, but missed so this is a moment that I will cherish.

“My strength is usually my ball striking so I’ll continue to hope to hit solid shots this weekend,” he said. “I had a great team behind me all season so I feel like I am representing them as well this weekend.”

JFK coach Tom Rider called Teaberry one of the area’s most dedicated golfers.

“Since last year, I’m willing to bet that Kelcie hasn’t taken but five total days off from the game,” he said.

“Her strength is that she hits the ball right down the middle and rarely gets in trouble. That she will have to do this weekend in order to stay in the hunt,” Rider said.

A sophomore and two-year letterwinner, Teaberry will count on other areas of her game.

“I don’t hit the ball very far and my short game has been consistent, so I’ll need to rely on my chipping and putting this weekend,” she said.

“I played a lot better than I thought I would in my summer tourneys. It was a goal of mine to make it to the state and since that has happened, all I can do is take it one stroke at a time and just hope for the best,” Teaberry said.