Rebuilt, Poland returns to state tournament

October 13, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

Wilson, Graham back at NorthStar

Putting together a state tournament-worthy golf team requires a lot of hard work, but Poland girls golf coach Joe Colella also made an educated guess.

The third-year coach had the task of rebuilding the program from scratch. The Bulldogs program he took over had won a state championship in 2008 and was the state runner up in 2011, but previous coach Judy Young retired in 2013 and left behind a bare cupboard. His first team had just six golfers.

Needing more bodies for his team, he approached Gina Ungaro. Here’s all he knew about her: She’s a cousin of Maria Mancini, who was part of the 2008 state title team and she was a decent athlete. Now a senior, Ungaro swam through her high school career and bounced between the track and softball teams.

“I knew there were some good bloodlines and I thought, ‘Let me see what we could do with this young lady,’ ” Colella said.

Ungaro initially declined.

“It was so different, swimming is high intensity and then there’s ugh ... golf.” Ungaro said. “Patience, persistence and all that.

“I really wanted nothing to do with it, but my family is a big golf family so I knew they could hep me, which made it easier,” she said,

Ungaro is now the lone senior on a Poland team heading for the Division II state tournament on Ohio State’s Gray Course. The tournament starts Friday along with the Division III boys tournament. Poland is the area’s lone representative in D-II.

The rest of the Bulldogs’ roster is a similar story. There’s sophomores Jenna Jacobson, Marlie McConnell and Elena Cammack. Ungaro’s sister, Carly, is on the starting five as a freshman. Colella said the most experienced golfer of the group is Jacobson. It wasn’t until the team won the Christine Terlesky Invitational on Sept. 20, that they began to realize they could make noise in the postseason.

“I remember that day. We got off the bus and [Colella] said, ‘I really think we can win’ and we thought, ‘No way,’” Ungaro said. “We did that and we had hopes for sectionals, but we didn’t expect anything in districts. We just wanted to play our best and see what happens.”

That’s the mantra for Friday. Making an appearance in Columbus is a reward for taking a chance with a sport wasn’t Ungaro’s favorite at first.

“I can’t imagine going out this way,” Ungaro said. “All the hard work we put in and being so young. even the other girls started not that long ago, so it’s just hard work paying off.”

BOYS

COLUMBIANA

Junior Jared Wilson and the Clippers are making their third consecutive Division III state tournament appearance, playing at the NorthStar Golf Club this weekend. Wilson played on NorthStar as a freshman. Joining him Friday are returning starters sophomore Seth Ross and senior Griffin Williams. The newcomers are senior Matthew Pinciaro and sophomore Nate Whitehead.

“Everyone is going to get birdies or a good hole, but the team or person that comes out on top just has to avoid the trouble areas,” Wilson said. “NorthStar has a lot of trouble. Whether it’s water or high grass or bunkers, avoiding it is key.”

Columbiana was the state runner-up last season, finishing eight strokes behind Lancaster Fisher Catholic. Wilson took fifth individually.

“I remember those last nine holes. I knew we had a chance to win the state title and that was really special,” Wilson said. “I didn’t really know what was going on as far as where everyone else was. Coach [Jeff] Jackson just told me to worry about my own score.”

Jackson described this season as up-and-down, but the Clippers still have a shot to do well.

“We knew we were, if not the best, the second best,” Jackson said. “It’s a little less defined [this year]. It depends on how we play, but I think the top half is reasonable.”

WARREN JFK

Sophomore Jimmy Graham is going it alone this year. He travelled with his team to state last year when the Eagles finished in 10th place. Graham qualified by finishing second in districts by shooting 73.

“My first priority was to go down as team. It would have been more fun,” Graham said. “I do get to go down and represent Warren, the school and myself. It’ll be new for me.”

BROOKFIELD

The Warriors make it to state after taking first in districts with freshman Connor Stevens shooting a team-low 77. Joining him are freshman Justin Atkinson, junior Nate Smoot and seniors Bryce Schell and Jake Bower.