When asked about his team's goals and expectations for the upcoming season, Warsaw Community High School boys golf coach Ben Barkey doesn't mince words. "It's the same goal every year, we want to compete at the state level," said Barkey, whose team finished seventh in last year's state tournament at Legends of Indiana in Franklin. "Plain and simple, we're trying to win a state championship," he added. "That's our goal, and that's why we work as hard as we do." The Tigers haven't lost a regular-season match since 2009, and they certainly have the talent and experience to be very good again this year. Led by defending state champion Tyler Ostrom, now a senior, Warsaw returns four of its five varsity players that competed in last season's state tournament. The Tigers, who open their season April 7 in the Hall of Invite at Rock Hollow in Peru, are ranked third in the state in the preseason poll. Brebeuf and Columbus North are ranked first and second, respectively, while Evansville Harrison and Zionsville round out the top five. The Triton Trojans, led by junior standout Quentyn Carpenter, are 14th in the preseason poll and will also compete at Rock Hollow on April 7. "Four of the five guys from last year's state finals team are back," said Barkey. "We have a very solid group to work with. We have nine guys fighting for that fifth varsity spot. We have some JV players that have really improved. They're all great kids, and they're all very smart kids. The average G.P.A. of our top seven players is 12.0. The mental aspect is very important in golf, and we have some very smart players." Joining the Ball State University-bound Ostrom as returnees from last year's state finals team are senior Bennett Hollar and juniors Jon Schram and Tim Ahlersmeyer. Other players on Warsaw's roster include junior Evan Cultice, sophomores Will Petro and Jared Essig, and freshmen Ryan Cultice, Jonny Hollar, Josh Ahlersmeyer, Brandon Eckert and Reid Cameron. Warsaw's roster includes three sets of brothers – the Ahlersmeyers, Cultices and Hollars. The only player from last season's varsity team lost because of graduation is Eric Tandy, who is now playing collegiately at DePauw University. Barkey and assistant coach Tad Nieter have a team blessed with talent and experience. Their goal is to win a state championship, and their focus is get their players in the right mindset. To help with that, the players are reading a book called "Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide To Inner Excellence." The book focuses on the mental aspect of athletics, and it is endorsed by a number of professional athletes. "It was Tad's idea," said Barkey. "We're always looking for ways to improve as coaches and players, and he heard about this book," said Barkey. "There's a number of pro athletes who have said they've read it and that it works. "It's not just for golf, it's something that would help with any sport. Its full of stories and techniques for preparing your mind."
