Turner, Tiger Golfers Honored At Reception
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Following a hall of fame career in which his teams never had a losing season and won 78 percent of all the matches they played, former Warsaw Community High School golf coach Bob Turner said his greatest accomplishment was sitting next to Ben Barkey Tuesday evening.
Turner, who coached the Tigers for 29 seasons - 15 with the girls and 14 with the boys - coached Barkey, who graduated from WCHS in 1997 and who replaced Turner when he got out of coaching three years ago.
Tuesday evening in the Tiger Den at WCHS, Turner and Barkey and the current Tiger boys golf team, which won the state championship at Legends of Indiana in Franklin last week, were honored by Mayor Ernie Wiggins, WCHS school officials and fans at a reception.
After sitting there with Ben Barkey, assistant coach Curt Barkey - a 1996 WCHS grad and Ben's brother - and seniors Jake Brodhead, Jon Clevenger and Chris Hanson, Turner said there was closure to his career.
He said the torch had been passed.
It certainly is burning bright.
"I had these seniors when they were freshman, and I knew it was just a matter of time before they did something big," said Turner, who was inducted to the Indiana High School Golf Hall of Fame at Legends in Franklin Friday. "Sitting here tonight with the team and sitting beside Ben Barkey (is my greatest accomplishment.) I passed the torch to him, and I know the program is in good shape. Sitting by a former player, and to know that he's going to carry on the tradition and turn out fine young men is special."
Turner stepped down as coach of the Tigers three years ago to spend time with family. He wanted to have time to watch his son Aaaron, who golfs for Grace College, play.
Turner, now in his 32nd year teaching at WCHS, is the head of the Science Department.
During his tenure as coach of the Tigers, Turner compiled an astonishing 404-112 record, a winning percentage of 78.3.
Under Turner, the Tiger girls program built a record of 191-65 (74.6 percent) and won four Northern Lakes Conference championships and a sectional title.
With Turner at the helm of the boys program, the Tigers posted a 213-47 record, a winning percentage of 81.9.
Turner's boys teams won 10 sectional championships, including six consecutive from 1996-2001, eight NLC titles and three regional championships, hoisting the trophy in 1994, 1999 and 2001.
In 2001, with his son Aaron playing as a junior, the Tigers finished fourth in the state tournament and posted the 10th-lowest 36-hole score in state tournament history. Warsaw's boys team finished 10th in the state in 2002.
For Turner's accomplishments, Wiggins read a proclamation from the City of Warsaw at the reception.
While Turner was quick to pass out compliments and show his pride for the current state championship Warsaw team, Ben Barkey followed suit and had nothing but good things to say about Turner.
"It doesn't get any better than Bob Turner," said Barkey. "He did such a great job getting kids excited about the golf program. I know he's done a lot for me. When I look at the people that have influenced my life, Coach Turner is one of them. He's a big reason why I got into coaching and teaching."
Said WCHS Athletic Director Dave Fulkerson, "In my 23 years as athletic director at Warsaw Community High School, two of my most outstanding coaches have been Al Rhodes and Bob Turner. Both were great coaches and were great with the kids. Most importantly, they are both great teachers. I was happy to see Coach Turner inducted into the hall of fame. He's very deserving of it."
After Fulkerson and Wiggins stood at the podium and honored Turner in front of a crowd that included Warsaw fans, WCHS staff and Tiger athletes, Barkey addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its support.
"It's special to coach or play sports in Warsaw," said 26-year-old Barkey, a science teacher at Edgewood Middle School. "Warsaw has such a great following. People read stuff in the paper, or they'll call and ask how the team did. I guess I didn't realize just how interested people are. This has been really cool."
In just three years as a head coach, and at just 26 years of age, Barkey already has two sectional championships, a regional championship, a third-place finish at state and a state championship to his credit.
Returning to the team next year are soon-to-be juniors Grant Slater and Tad Nieter who joined Brodhead, Clevenger and Hanson as the five Tigers that played the state tournament and earned the school its fifth team state title overall and first in golf.
The boys golf state championship was the first team title at WCHS since 1991 when the softball team won the state title.
Also in the stable for next year's team is Skyler Scott, who played a number of varsity matches this year, as well as a junior varsity team that posted a 17-1 record.
"We've got a lot of young talent," said Barkey. "If the kids work hard, we can have another great season next year. I thought we had a target on our back this year, next year is going to be hard, but the potential is there. It is neat knowing we'll enter next season as the defending state champion." [[In-content Ad]]
Following a hall of fame career in which his teams never had a losing season and won 78 percent of all the matches they played, former Warsaw Community High School golf coach Bob Turner said his greatest accomplishment was sitting next to Ben Barkey Tuesday evening.
Turner, who coached the Tigers for 29 seasons - 15 with the girls and 14 with the boys - coached Barkey, who graduated from WCHS in 1997 and who replaced Turner when he got out of coaching three years ago.
Tuesday evening in the Tiger Den at WCHS, Turner and Barkey and the current Tiger boys golf team, which won the state championship at Legends of Indiana in Franklin last week, were honored by Mayor Ernie Wiggins, WCHS school officials and fans at a reception.
After sitting there with Ben Barkey, assistant coach Curt Barkey - a 1996 WCHS grad and Ben's brother - and seniors Jake Brodhead, Jon Clevenger and Chris Hanson, Turner said there was closure to his career.
He said the torch had been passed.
It certainly is burning bright.
"I had these seniors when they were freshman, and I knew it was just a matter of time before they did something big," said Turner, who was inducted to the Indiana High School Golf Hall of Fame at Legends in Franklin Friday. "Sitting here tonight with the team and sitting beside Ben Barkey (is my greatest accomplishment.) I passed the torch to him, and I know the program is in good shape. Sitting by a former player, and to know that he's going to carry on the tradition and turn out fine young men is special."
Turner stepped down as coach of the Tigers three years ago to spend time with family. He wanted to have time to watch his son Aaaron, who golfs for Grace College, play.
Turner, now in his 32nd year teaching at WCHS, is the head of the Science Department.
During his tenure as coach of the Tigers, Turner compiled an astonishing 404-112 record, a winning percentage of 78.3.
Under Turner, the Tiger girls program built a record of 191-65 (74.6 percent) and won four Northern Lakes Conference championships and a sectional title.
With Turner at the helm of the boys program, the Tigers posted a 213-47 record, a winning percentage of 81.9.
Turner's boys teams won 10 sectional championships, including six consecutive from 1996-2001, eight NLC titles and three regional championships, hoisting the trophy in 1994, 1999 and 2001.
In 2001, with his son Aaron playing as a junior, the Tigers finished fourth in the state tournament and posted the 10th-lowest 36-hole score in state tournament history. Warsaw's boys team finished 10th in the state in 2002.
For Turner's accomplishments, Wiggins read a proclamation from the City of Warsaw at the reception.
While Turner was quick to pass out compliments and show his pride for the current state championship Warsaw team, Ben Barkey followed suit and had nothing but good things to say about Turner.
"It doesn't get any better than Bob Turner," said Barkey. "He did such a great job getting kids excited about the golf program. I know he's done a lot for me. When I look at the people that have influenced my life, Coach Turner is one of them. He's a big reason why I got into coaching and teaching."
Said WCHS Athletic Director Dave Fulkerson, "In my 23 years as athletic director at Warsaw Community High School, two of my most outstanding coaches have been Al Rhodes and Bob Turner. Both were great coaches and were great with the kids. Most importantly, they are both great teachers. I was happy to see Coach Turner inducted into the hall of fame. He's very deserving of it."
After Fulkerson and Wiggins stood at the podium and honored Turner in front of a crowd that included Warsaw fans, WCHS staff and Tiger athletes, Barkey addressed the crowd and thanked the community for its support.
"It's special to coach or play sports in Warsaw," said 26-year-old Barkey, a science teacher at Edgewood Middle School. "Warsaw has such a great following. People read stuff in the paper, or they'll call and ask how the team did. I guess I didn't realize just how interested people are. This has been really cool."
In just three years as a head coach, and at just 26 years of age, Barkey already has two sectional championships, a regional championship, a third-place finish at state and a state championship to his credit.
Returning to the team next year are soon-to-be juniors Grant Slater and Tad Nieter who joined Brodhead, Clevenger and Hanson as the five Tigers that played the state tournament and earned the school its fifth team state title overall and first in golf.
The boys golf state championship was the first team title at WCHS since 1991 when the softball team won the state title.
Also in the stable for next year's team is Skyler Scott, who played a number of varsity matches this year, as well as a junior varsity team that posted a 17-1 record.
"We've got a lot of young talent," said Barkey. "If the kids work hard, we can have another great season next year. I thought we had a target on our back this year, next year is going to be hard, but the potential is there. It is neat knowing we'll enter next season as the defending state champion." [[In-content Ad]]