Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
When Tippecanoe Valley girls golf coach Roger Moriarty responded to the question through the phone Monday, his answer was really no different than that of five other coaches.
"We're gonna bide our time and see what we got cooking," said the 10th-year Viking mentor. "Girls golf depends on how much you play in the summer, how hard you work in the off-season."
The off-season is now over. Four local teams teed off their season today.
Whitko and Wawasee teed off their season today at 9 a.m. at Sycamore, while Warsaw hosted East Noble and NorthWood hosted Westview at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
Manchester will begin its season Wednesday, while Tippecanoe Valley will host Concord Thursday.
For Manchester and Whitko, both Three Rivers Conference schools, the off-season has been a busy one.
The Squires will hit the links this year with a new coach, Gary Goshert, also the boys golf coach. He replaces Keri Nichols, who resigned.
Manchester finished 13-7 overall a year ago. While the Squires finished fifth as a team at the Warsaw Sectional, No. 1 player Dorey Bungitak advanced to the individual regional.
Bungitak will lead the Squires again this year, a team that will field five seniors.
"These girls were successful last year," Goshert said. "I hope they've done their work in the offseason. We've had two practices so far and our first match is Wednesday. We're going to be thrown into the fire a little early, but we have some high expectations."
Whitko, which started last year with a new coach, finished last season with an 0-11 record. Coach Jennifer Carr (formerly Jennifer Frieden) claims some girls have shaved 40 strokes off their scores.
Comparing what has already happened this year for the Wildcats and what they went through last year is like comparing day and night.
"I came in last year not knowing what to expect," Carr said. "I came in last year and had six girls who hadn't picked up the clubs all summer. Girls golf is at a perfect time. There's no reason not to work in the summer."
Carr said last year she had girls shooting in the 90s, and not one of her linksters cracked 100 at the Warsaw Sectional. This year she has two girls shooting in the 50s.
Not long ago the Wildcats had five golfers on the team. This year they have 10.
Carr lists Whitko's top five golfers like this - senior Marla Rowland, junior Christa Badskey, sophomore Miranda Krider, freshman Angie Herron and junior Terri Walter.
"Rowland is doing a good job setting an example," Carr said. "I only had five or six girls three weeks ago."
While Carr said she has players switching from volleyball to golf, Moriarty is experiencing the opposite.
Last spring Moriarty said he had 14 girls signed up to play golf, but entering its first match Valley has five girls on the roster - Kendra Koser, Trista Moyer, Jenni Yeiter, Kelly Moon and Hannah Ervin.
"We've got an awful lot of work to do," Moriarty said. "We expect to improve as the season goes along, but it's going to be tough off the bat."
Warsaw will hit the links this year after finishing 9-5 a year ago and 5-1 in the Northern Lakes Conference.
Gone from last year's Tiger roster are April Turner and Kacy Jones. Warsaw has nine golfers out this year - Kerri Wrobel, Lara Reed, Jaci Thallemer, Brenna Good, Katie Manning, Abby Schori, Erin Elliott, Dayna Ridderman and Katrina Bonnahoom.
Wrobel, Reed and Thallemer have the most varsity experience on the team.
"We'll be a little inexperienced at first," Tiger coach Bob Turner said. "The players we have this year have a lot of heart and desire. They want to get better. Our No. 1 goal is to have a winning season and get out of the sectional. The kids are a little inexperienced, but we'll get better. I'm really looking forward to working with these girls. These kids are very coachable."
Wawasee, which finished last season 8-17 overall and 0-6 in the NLC under first-year coach Scott DeHart, will field senior Ashley Ward, juniors Carrie Alles, Ashley Bell and Aimee Niles and sophomore Rebecca Stoelting this year. The Warriors graduated none from last year.
"We'll be a more competitive team than we were last year," DeHart said. "Last year was my first year, and we got to know each other. We did some things in the offseason, and we should be more competitive."
MANCHESTER
Coach/Years: Gary Goshert/first
1999 record: 13-7 (5th at Warsaw Sectional)
Key Losses: None
Key Returners: Dorey Bungitak, Lindsey Hix, Christina Evans, Monica Minnix, Lindsey Music, Linsee Ruppel, Reika Shah, Alexis Leininger, Miriel Speicher
First Match: 10 a.m. Aug. 2 at Wabash
Goshert: "These girls were successful last year. I hope they've done their work in the offseason. We've had two practices so far and our first match is Wednesday. We'll be thrown into the fire early, but these girls have high expectations and they want to be better."
NORTHWOOD
Coach/Years: Jay Taylor/fifth
1999 Record: 5-12, 3-3 NLC
Key Losses: Cori Neff
Key Returners: April Flickinger, Katie Miller, Natalie Nunemaker, Brandi Lengacher, Renee Jensen, Brooke Eby
First Match: 1 p.m. Aug. 1 vs. Westview at McCormick Creek
Taylor: "I suppose it's pretty typical (six girls on team). We just can't get a feeder system going. Next year's class looks a little more promising."
TIPPECANOE VALLEY
Coach/Years: Roger Moriarty/10th
1999 Record: 12-18 (eighth in Warsaw Sectional)
Key Losses: Erica Pontious, Terra Weaver, Ginger Ervin
Key Returners: Kendra Koser, Trista Moyer, Jenni Yeiter, Kelly Moon, Hannah Erving
First Match: 10 a.m. Aug. 3 host Concord
Moriarty: "It'll be slim pickins. We only have two girls who played varsity last year. We've got an awful lot of work to do. I expect to improve as the season goes along, but it'll be tough right off the bat."
WARSAW
Coach/Years: Bob Turner/12th
1999 Record: 9-5, 5-1 NLC (second in Warsaw Sectional; eighth in Huntington Regional)
Key Losses: April Turner, Kacy Jones
Key Returners: Kerri Wrobel, Lara Reed, Jaci Thallmer, Brenna Good, Katie Manning, Abby Schori, Erin Elliott, Dayna Ridderman, Katrina Bonnahoom
First Match: Aug. 1 host East Noble at 10 a.m.
Turner: "Our No. 1 goal is to have a winning season and get out of the sectional. We're kind of inexperienced, but we're gonna improve. I'm really looking forward to working with these girls, they're very coachable."
WAWASEE
Coach/Years: Scott DeHart/second
1999 Record: 8-17, 0-6 NLC (sixth in Warsaw Sectional)
Key Losses: None
Key Returners: Ashley Ward, Carrie Alles, Ashley Bell, Rebecca Stoelting, Aimee Niles, Shauna Magid
First Match: 9 a.m. today vs. Whitko and Concord at Sycamore
DeHart: "The NLC is so doggone tough. Warsaw and Plymouth will be tough. I'd like to finish in the top half of the conference."
WHITKO
Coach/Years: Jennifer Carr/second
1999 Record: 0-11 (ninth in Warsaw Sectional)
Key Losses: Carla Herbst, Cara Badskey
Key Returners: Marla Rowland, Melissa Cripe, Christa Badskey, Beth Truman, Terri Walter, Ashley Schrader, Miranda Krider, Angie Herron, Stephanie Boggs, Joseanne Begley
First Match: 9 a.m. today vs. Wawasee and Concord at Sycamore
Carr: "I came in last year and I didn't know what to expect. I came in last year and had six girls who hadn't picked up the clubs all summer. Girls golf is at a perfect time. There's no reason not to work in the summer."
