Mead On Course To Challenge 4A Champ Ferris
Boys golf
Ferris is the boys golf team that everyone in the Greater Spokane League would love to emulate.
Mead might be on the right course.
An abundance of young, talented players has made Mead the Ferrislike team of 2000. Ferris won last year’s State 4A team title and placed second in 1998 with four young players who have now graduated or hit their senior season.
“Ferris is still the team to beat, but we feel like we can compete and give them a run for their money,” said Mead coach Paul Peters.
The GSL season begins Friday at Wandermere Golf Course.
In the Great Northern League, Deer Park and Lakeside are both 1-0 heading into today’s home matches.
Mead
Junior David Fern figures to challenge the league’s elite after tying for seventh at last year’s state tournament. Fern had an outstanding second day at district last year, jumping into state-qualifying eighth place after standing in 15th place through 18 holes.
Senior Erik Severson is playing No. 2, then coach Peters’ team becomes an open race among four superb freshmen. Eric Hastings, Matt and Dan Jorgensen, and Tom McAndrews figure to bolster Mead for four seasons.
“We have a young but fairly experienced group of boys,” Peters said.
“We have some depth this year.”
Senior Travis Rabel and junior Chris McKinney are other veterans.
Mt. Spokane
Seven players return for coach Greg Schultz, including one of the area’s best, senior Matt Kodama.
“Matt is one of the elite players in the Northwest, if not the entire Western United States,” Schultz said.
Kodama placed fifth at the district tournament and tied for 15th at state.
The Wildcats have a strong sophomore class, including Michael Jones, the GSL’s third-best freshman in 1999.
“The program has made tremendous strides in the past two years,” Schultz said. “After entering the league in 1998 and struggling, we stepped into contention last year, finishing third overall.”
North Central
Leading the pack of eight veterans is No. 1 returner Jeremy Kruskie, a senior. Kruskie, formerly of Hawaii, was among the GSL’s top 20 in ‘99.
Coach Dave Hall’s other top-six returners are senior Brett Carlson, and juniors Adam Farr, Jason Neumiller and Chris Hampson.
“The boys should be stronger than last year … with one or two years of experience under their belts,” Hall said. “However, probably not enough experience to compete with the top five teams in the league.”
Rogers
Second-year coach Dave Hughes has a young team, with just four returners.
Seniors Bobby Bowerman and Aaron Jensen, and sophomore Justin Robideaux should be among the leaders.
Rogers’ top four players from 1999 either graduated or didn’t turn out.
The Pirates had the league’s seventh-best average last season.
Shadle Park
Coach Randy Lothspeich has issued a challenge to his seven returners and handful of new players.
“Our boys team will not be very competitive this year,” Lothspeich said. “We are simply not very deep. My juniors and seniors have not improved as much as I, or they, would have liked.”
Lothspeich said the “bright spots” should be senior Galen Satterlee, the Highlanders’ returning No. 1 player, and sophomore Scott Lewis.
“Galen has been close for a couple of years now, and both his expectations and mine are that he would qualify for state and be competitive when he gets there,” Lothspeich said.
Lewis’ nines have been consistently in the 30s this spring.
Gonzaga Prep
Senior Dan Potter, who was on target to win last year’s state title, guides the Bullpups. Potter led state by one stroke after 27 holes but finished the 36-hole tournament tied for second.
Potter also placed third at district.
Sophomore Ben Nickol, senior Joe Nickol and junior Cole Bennett were all in Prep’s top five last year. Junior Ted Wissink is also back for veteran coach Phil Kuder.
Prep had the league’s fourth-best average in 1999.
Deer Park
Coach Darren Snyder’s nine returners have shuffled the deck, thanks to the arrival of freshman Bryan Menzia. Menzia is playing No. 1, knocking last year’s top Stags golfer, junior Sam Ingram, to No. 2.
“(Menzia) was a team manager last season,” Snyder said. “Look for him to do great things during his four years.”
Last year’s No. 2, sophomore David Robinson, is now at No. 3. Junior Randy Vinneau is still in the top six, as is his freshman brother Kyle.
“I have high expectations for my boys this season, and they should too,” Snyder said.
Lakeside
Seniors Ryan Creswell, Josh Laiva and Pat Stevers are 1-3, in order, for Eagles coach Dean Field.
Sophomore Bobby McCarville has made a big jump, to No. 4.
“The top four, I expect to shoot between 80 and 85,” Field said.
Field has five other returners. Freshmen Jake Hanson and Jared Tikker are pushing for the top six.
“All of them can shoot between 85 and 95,” Field said.
This sidebar appeared with the story: Boys golf rosters Gonzaga Prep
Bill Anderson senior
Troy Bacon sophomore
Cole Bennett junior
Dan Brasch freshman
Daniel Butoccio freshman
Jason Johansson freshman
Andy LeFriec sophomore
Peter Moe junior
Ben Nickol sophomore
Joe Nickol senior
Anthony Patterson freshman
Dan Potter senior
Alex Umbdenstock sophomore
Jacob Weber freshman
Ted Wissink junior
Mead
Travis Rabel senior
Erik Severson senior
David Fern junior
Chris McKinney junior
Eric Hastings freshman
Matt Jorgensen freshman
Dan Jorgensen freshman
Tom McAndrews freshman
Alex Fern freshman
Matt Plummer sophomore
Adam Villalovoz sophomore
Mt. Spokane
Brian Ailor senior
Matt Kodama senior
Chris Lynn senior
Ryan Pitkonen senior
Kyle Gwinnup junior
Ryan Niccum junior
Michael Jones sophomore
Brad Kirsch sophomore
John Nordhagen sophomore
Eric Osterback sophomore
Dallas Belch freshman
Craig Brown freshman
Kyle Carbury freshman
Ryan Froberg freshman
Zach Zeis freshman
North Central
Brett Carlson senior
Jeremy Kruskie senior
Adam Farr junior
Jason Neumiller junior
Sam Greer junior
Chris Hampson junior
Brad Gossett junior
Ryan Conlan sophomore
Nick Mason sophomore
Dustin Apperson freshman
Steve Blair freshman
Joey Pekala freshman
Robert Hampson freshman
Rogers
Bobby Bowerman senior
Cory Grant freshman
Ty Sandberg freshman
Josh Longie junior
Aaron Jensen senior
Tony Hearrean sophomore
Sean Hawkins sophomore
Ryan Harbison freshman
Josh Gross junior
Ryan Grant sophomore
Scot Mahoney junior
Justin Robideaux sophomore
Shadle Park
Evan Herling junior
Galen Satterlee senior
Ryan Baldwin senior
Brett Gyarfas senior
Blaine Akers sophomore
Scott Lewis sophomore
Ben Nelson sophomore
Bryan Bischoff freshman
Brett Davidson senior
Kyle Johnson senior
Zach Gower freshman
Danny Largent freshman
Nick Neill freshman
Deer Park
Bryan Menzia freshman
Sam Ingram junior
David Rassmussen sophomore
Kyle Vinneau freshman
Randy Vinneau junior
Jesse Jacky senior
Lakeside
Ryan Creswell senior
Josh Laiva senior
Pat Stevers senior
Bobby McCarville sophomore
John Moriarty junior
Heath Anyan senior
Scott Lesser sophomore
Jake Hanson freshman
Jared Tikker freshman