Click here to subscribe today or Login.
The high school golf season may have officially started last week when less than half of the teams opened up play. But for the 17 teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference, the season doesn’t get into full swing until the Tryba Tournament.
The longtime event will be held for the 16th time on Monday at Fox Hill Country Club, as close to 100 players will take in 18 holes in the season’s first big event.
Last year, Dallas busted onto the scene as a championship contender by winning the team portion of the event for the first time in six years.
That win by the Mountaineers started a sweep in all league competitions last year as they also won the WVC Division 2 title, the team Class 3A league crown, and Mason Gattuso was a Class 3A district titlist who represented the WVC at regionals.
Gattuso returns this season along with the majority of last year’s competitors, making Dallas a strong contender to repeat all those accomplishments this season.
But coach Jane Kilduff doesn’t see it that way.
“That was last year, and everything changes,” she said. “We’re looking at a whole new year and we’re trying to keep them in the moment and what’s in front of them. I really deter any of those thoughts (of being the favorite) with the team atmosphere.”
One of the reasons that Dallas can’t look too far ahead is because perennial power Crestwood sits in the same division and classification.
The Comets return five letter-winners from last season, including senior Shane Angle, who was runner-up at the Tryba last year and was the pre-district champion of Class 3A.
Crestwood and Dallas both finished tied atop the divisional standings last year with each beating the other on their home courses. On the neutral course in the team playoffs, the Mountaineers defeated the Comets by seven strokes. The teams are scheduled to meet for the first time this season on Wednesday at Crestwood’s home course, Blue Ridge Trail Golf Club.
“I think both sides have to show up ready. I think there’s a level playing field between the two of us, and it’s not going to be easy,” Kilduff said. “We’re going to have to be ready, prepared and mentally strong. I am excited, and I think the kids are excited for it as well.”
Around Division 1
While Dallas and Crestwood are the favorites in Class 3A and Division 2, the two squads will have to deal with squads from Division 1 who are also in Class 3A.
A strong Tunkhannock team won the division last year, holding off Wyoming Area. Both teams graduated a few standouts from a year ago. But they have solid contenders this year in the Tigers’ Tyler Faux and the Warriors’ Cole Coolbaugh.
Coughlin and Pittston Area round out D1 and could also be in contention in a division that may be up for grabs if one or two things don’t pan out.
Around Class 2A
Lake-Lehman and Wyoming Seminary have been the two teams in the WVC that had a hold on the classification the last two seasons.
Both teams lost important pieces from the last two seasons and will certainly be challenged by Holy Redeemer this year.
The Royals, who have had down seasons by their standards the last two years, appear to be ready to take the next step and get back into championship contention thanks to experienced players like Kenny Wallace, Derek Answini and Conor Maloney, who were all district qualifiers last year.
Sem returns district qualifiers from a year ago in Bobby Wilson, Dan Rogers, Greg Godlewski and Jeremy Callahan. Also looking to make a run in Class 2A Division 3 is Meyers and GAR. Lehman, which already lost a match to Hanover Area this season, will also have to deal with MMI, Berwick and Nanticoke.
The Preppers dealt Lehman its only divisional loss last season and return two of their top players in Jessica McClellan and George Palermo.
Top Returning Golfers
Mason Gattuso, Dallas: The senior is the reigning Times Leader Golfer of the Year after winning the D2 title last October and being the only male golfer from the WVC to reach the regional portion of the PIAA Championships.
Jessica McClellan, MMI: A junior, she is the only female in the conference returning as a regional qualifier. She was D2 Class 2A runner-up last year and joined the now-graduated Brittany Zamber from Tunkhannock in advancing to the round after districts.
Shane Angle, Crestwood: Now a senior, Angle won his first high school tournament last year when he claimed the 3A Pre-district crown. He’s had quite a career with the Comets with several top-10 finishes.
The Fox Hill effect
Last year, the conference’s postseason events — and the District 2 boys championships — were supposed to be held at Fox Hill Country Club. But with work occurring on the bunkers, those were moved to different courses.
All events will once again be held on the course in Exeter this season. That includes the D2 championships the next two years. Normally, districts alternates between Elmhurst and Fox Hill. Since the event was held at Elmhurst the last two years, Fox Hill will host this year and in 2018.