Former Warsaw standout Jon Schram leaves Ball State, now a Lancer
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
Jon Schram has returned home, and not just for the holidays. Schram, a standout golfer and 2013 Warsaw Community High School graduate, has left Ball State University’s men’s team after one semester and will begin classes at Grace College in January. Schram will compete for coach Denny Hepler and the Lancers during the spring season. “I had a great experience at Ball State, the team was great, Coach (Mike) Fleck was great,” Schram said in a phone conversation today. “When I got to the end of the first semester, I felt like I needed to be in a more Christian community. I’m looking for growth in all areas, not just golf. I think coming home and going to Grace College is the best decision for me.” During his four seasons on the varsity team for coach Ben Barkey, Schram helped the Warsaw Tigers earn four state finals berths, three sectional titles and four regional championships. Schram was the individual regional champion at Stonehenge in June after he shot a 69 that included an eagle on the par-5 No. 18. Schram’s 20-foot putt helped Warsaw win the team championship as well. He had plenty of options to play college golf and decided on the NCAA Division I program at Ball State, where he joined former Warsaw teammate Tyler Ostrom and former Triton star Quentyn Carpenter. While Schram said he had dreamed of playing at the Division I level, he realizes now that playing for Hepler, with whom he already has a great relationship with, is best for him. Hepler, a standout golfer himself for Warsaw in the 1970s, went to Ball State and later transferred to Florida State. Hepler, getting ready for his second spring season as Grace’s coach, owns Raccoon Run Golf Course in Warsaw and is very familiar with Schram. “He’s known me since I was 6 or 7 years old,” Schram said of Hepler. “He knows everything about my game. “Every time I go out to Raccoon Run we end up talking and I always learn something from him. I’m excited about working with him.” When talking about Schram, it was clear Hepler was equally excited about his newest team member. Asked what Schram’s transfer means to Grace’s program, Hepler wasn’t shy with his answer. “We’re contenders for the conference championship immediately,” said Hepler. “We’re contenders right now. We finished last season on a roll, and adding Jon Schram will definitely help us.” At Grace, Schram will team with former Tippecanoe Valley and Rochester standout Trey Stoll, an NAIA third-team All-American last season, as well as Caleb Rovenstine, another former Valley standout. In the Crossroads League Tournament last season, Hepler said the Lancers set program records for 18-hole and 36-hole team scores. Adding a player of Schram’s caliber could take Grace to the next level. “In the conference tournament last season, we shot (a four-person score of) 300 and we had to count an 86,” said Hepler. “If Jon shoots par or below like I know he can, we’re contenders for the conference championship right now.”
