Many golfers take to the course | Spring sports preview

By Mandi Johnson • March 16, 2020 1:30 am
Tate Thomson/Staff photo Kneeling from left to right: Torsten Raichlen, Nicholas Al-Gattas, Jonah Strasbourger, Tyler Fleming, Wade Knapik, Cody Balcomb-Bartok, Yumi Thomas. Second Row standing left to right: Teagan August-Frocklage, Ethan Germain, Jack Knapik, Rachel Starr, Hailey Jamieson-McCutcheon, Marcella Kirkland, Coach Jack Rice. Back row left to right: Assistant Coach Gordy Waite, Assistant Coach Greg Sawyer, Jasper Williamson, Dexter Prescott, Ethan Havel, Ty Vague, Hank Erickson, Sander Van Hamersfeld.
Tate Thomson/Staff photo Kneeling from left to right: Torsten Raichlen, Nicholas Al-Gattas, Jonah Strasbourger, Tyler Fleming, Wade Knapik, Cody Balcomb-Bartok, Yumi Thomas. Second Row standing left to right: Teagan August-Frocklage, Ethan Germain, Jack Knapik, Rachel Starr, Hailey Jamieson-McCutcheon, Marcella Kirkland, Coach Jack Rice. Back row left to right: Assistant Coach Gordy Waite, Assistant Coach Greg Sawyer, Jasper Williamson, Dexter Prescott, Ethan Havel, Ty Vague, Hank Erickson, Sander Van Hamersfeld.

*ALL HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS GAMES HAVE BEEN CANCELED*

Coach Jack Rice is hoping this year’s Friday Harbor High School Wolverines golf team can bring home a state trophy.

“In my 11 years of coaching the only state tournament trophy I’ve put in the school trophy case was a third-place women’s team championship. Megan Como and Kendra Meeker teamed up to bring home the bronze,” Rice said. “I’m excited to see if we can start building on something like that again.”

Rice said the team has a tremendous turnout this year. In 2019, there were 24 players on the team, all boys. This year, there are 28, including four girls.

“What’s really great is, we have a number of young ladies who decided to try golf,” Rice said.

Four Friday Harbor Wolverine golf players went to the 1B2B High School State Tournament last season. Three of those players are returning: Ethan Havel, Weston Schwartz and Jack Mason.

“Junior Ethan Havel is our best-returning player. He has been working on his game a lot during the off-season so I’m looking for a great year out of him,” Rice said. “Senior Weston Schwartz and sophomore Jack Mason both are recovering from injuries right now and we hope as the season progresses will be able to get back on the course.”

Other golfers this year include seniors Ethan Germain and Teagan August.

“We are fortunate to have [Germain] out for the team this year. He grew up on the golf course but has been an outstanding baseball player for the last three years and decided to give golf a try his senior year. We look forward to his senior leadership,” Rice said. “We’re also looking for good things out of returning senior Tegan August who missed the state tournament last year by only one shot. I’m confident he’ll find that shot and more this year.”

Rice’s concern for this season, he explained, is where the team will be parking a fleet of 20 cars, making sure everyone knows where the bathrooms are and trying to provide half the players with clubs and golf bags.

“Life was a lot simpler when you only had five or six show up,” Rice joked. “Some of these kids don’t even know what end of the club to hang on to. One thing for sure, we’re going to have fun and as I tell them every day ‘safety first.’”

Rice explained the golf program wouldn’t be possible without the help of assistant coaches Gordy Waite and Greg Sawyer. He also wanted to thank the San Juan Golf and Tennis Club staff; PGA Pro Connie Gregor; the club’s board; and the members who embrace these youth golfers with open arms.

“I could never thank them enough for all their help,” Rice said.