SYRACUSE - When Wawasee's golf team competes at the state meet for the first time in school history Wednesday, there will be a big change in the coaching staff.

Head coach Don Deck, who has worked to bring the program to where it is for the past five years, will not be at the state meet because of health concerns. Stepping into his spot at the meet will be assistant coach Steve Dodds and his right-hand man will now be Terry Skaggs.

Deck has missed three matches this year because of varying heart problems, and while his health will be on the minds of his five golfers at the state meet, the "win one for the Gipper" mentality will be a factor.

"Sometimes those kinds of things sound a bit hokey," Skaggs said during a Wawasee practice session Monday. "But I think there's nothing they'd rather do than go do well for him. Deck has worked for this for five years, and he won't be able to see the fruits of his labor."

The meet starts Wednesday at Prestwick Country Club in Avon, near Indianapolis.

Of course the coaching switch won't make for much of a change in team philosophy. When a new coach takes over a basketball team, there can be an expected adjustment period. But in an individual sport like golf, that adjustment isn't really a problem since it is essentially just the player and the course.

"The only adjustment will be concern for their coach," Dodds said.

And although it is an individual sport, the Warriors got to the state meet on the strength of team play. All five members of Wawasee's golf team are capable of shooting rounds in the 70s and a different member of the team has stepped up in big meets all year.

At the Warsaw Sectional, Chad Wortinger placed second among individuals with a 74. At the Homestead Regional, Wortinger's 87 was the worst score among the Warrior golfers. However, No. 5 golfer Ryan Skaggs shot an 81 for Wawasee's best score at the meet.

Among all teams at the regional, only Fort Wayne Concordia had a better fifth score than the Warriors.

"Our strength as a team got us through the regional," Dodds said. "The whole team is tenacious. It looked like we were going nowhere at the regional. But we came back strong on the back nine."

Every Wawasee player shot better on the last nine holes than the first nine at the regional. That translated into the Warriors' come-from-behind third-place finish.

For Wawasee to achieve its goal of advancing to the second day of competition Thursday, the Warriors need to display that type of tenacity and character. To advance, Wawasee must finish in the top nine of 18 teams Wednesday.

It won't be easy, but Dodds doesn't need to worry about his team choking under pressure. For one, he's got an experienced group of kids who have competed in big meets their entire careers.

Also, he knows he has five golfers that he can count on. Many teams have two or three great golfers and then need to hope for a solid fourth score. Although Dodds probably won't see any of his golfers shoot in the 60s, he knows that he won't have to worry about finding a good fourth score.

Finally, this team won't fall apart due to nerves. Dodds even quoted a historical figure in summing up this golf team.

"Youth has no nerves. As Mark Twain said, 'It's too bad youth is wasted on the young.'"

Wawasee will compete in the state finals Wednesday. The meet begins at 8 a.m. and Wawasee will tee-off at 12:56 p.m. Warsaw's Justin Howell will also take part in the meet and he will tee-off at 8:24 a.m.

State Golf Meet

June 17-18

Prestwick Country Club

Local tee times

8:24 a.m. - Justin Howell, Warsaw

12:56 p.m. - Chad Wortinger, Wawasee

1:04 p.m. - Lucas White, Wawasee

1:12 p.m. - Travis Coy, Wawasee

1:20 p.m. - Scott White, Wawasee

1:28 p.m. - Ryan Skaggs, Wawasee [[In-content Ad]]