Spartans working hard to earn another trip
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
CORTLAND
The Boardman High School’s boys golf team once again is swinging for state after placing sixth last year in the Division I tournament in Columbus.
A 155-179 win against Howland on Wednesday at Tamer Win Golf and Country Club gave Boardman a 2-0 record, but it’s still early in the season and the players are looking at ways they can improve individually and as a team.
“I have to make it competitive in practice to push them to the next level,” Boardman coach Brian Terlesky said.
All of the qualifiers who played at the OHSAA Division I state golf tournament last fall have returned with confidence and hopes to place higher.
As a senior, Brian Terlesky Jr. has been to state three times. Seniors Cade Kreps and Bobby Jonda and junior Cole Christman have made it twice, while last year was the first trip for senior Bryan Kordupel.
“It’s always a good experience to go down there as a team and compete for each other,” Terlesky Jr. said.
He led the team at state last year by shooting 76 and earning second-team all-state honors as he tied for fifth overall.
“We didn’t do as well as we wanted to last year, but we still had a lot of fun with each other. It’s a great challenge,” Kordupel said.
On Tuesday, Kreps shot a team-best 37. Kordupel and Christman shot at 38 and 39 respectively. Rounding out the winning foursome was Bobby Jonda with a 41.
Joey Vitali was the lowest scorer for Howland at 41. Connor Tamrkin and Colin Davis each shot 45 and Hunter Gordon shot 48.
One thing that continues to come up among the players and their coach is the need to sharpen their short game. They feel they need to work on keeping their mistakes at a minimum, improving their putts and eliminating big numbers.
“We’re about where we left off last season,” Terlesky said. “Everyone has a chance to get better, golf is not an easy game.”
Terlesky said Northeast Ohio is loaded with great teams and competition this year. This motivates the Spartans to get better each time they go out and play.
When the high school season is over, many of the athletes play around the United States all year long. Golfing at different courses and playing against competitors from all around the nation gives the Boardman athletes an advantage when it comes to the diversity of the game.
Kreps had the opportunity to play at Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course — the site of the state tournament — for another tournament.
“I think more experience on that course is huge,” Kreps said. “That course is so tough that every chance you get to play is a chance for improvement.”
The Spartans are working on staying healthy and keeping a positive attitude as they continue their season.
Staying composed and continuing to win their matches will help the players keep the confidence they need to make it to state. The players spend a lot of their time together allowing them to become friends and rely on each other when it comes to playing the game.
“We’re hoping to make it this year,” Kordupel said. “We’ve got to keep playing on our own high level and keep confident.”