Golf team succeeds despite low participation
by Bre Stephens, Staff Writer
November 18 , 2010
Introduced as a club two years ago, the golf team never attracted much attention from students. Sticking with Leechburg’s traditional fall sports of football and volleyball, most students, both male and female, shy away from golf, a co-ed sport, and gravitate toward the team sports. However, the golf team strengthened itself this year with more players, all male, and ended with a more successful season than they did last year.
Last season, the golf team failed to win a single game. With the team’s record at 7-7 this fall, both senior Caleb Orendi and freshman Matt Barto said that reaching .500 was the highlight of the season.
|
Orendi and Barto both also qualified for golf’s WPIAL playoffs, played as individual, not team events. Orendi, who earned a ticket to the playoffs the last two years, lost in the first round by two strokes both times. This year he made it to the finals. First year player Barto qualified for the championship, but did not make the final cut. However, he said he was just happy to get that far as a freshman.
Golf coach Dan Rzewnicki said he hopes more individuals set a goal to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs next season. However, with low student participation in the golf program, it’s possible that the golf team’s future could be in jeopardy.
Rzewnicki said that the problem of students avoiding playing on the golf team is that Leechburg has not concentrated on individual sports. “Students need to realize that golf is a sport they can play for a lifetime, unlike team sports. They need to go out and give it a try,” Rzewnicki said.
Orendi said that a way to get more kids interested in golf is to have them start at a younger age.
Even though his team accomplished a far better record than they did last season, Coach Rzewnicki said the team experienced growth in another way.
“They all exceeded their goals as individual players,” he said. “As individuals took responsibility for what they needed to do on the golf course.” Rzewnicki said he also believes that if players can improve their short game next season, more success will come.
|
