Mercury-Area Team-By-Team Preview Capsules

Boyertown
Head coach: Mark Takacs, 29th season.
Last year’s record: 4-5 PAC-10, 4-5 overall.
Players to watch: Olivia Steinmetz, Sr.; Miguel Rocero, Sr.; Kyle Green, Jr.; Connor Fellin, Jr.; Jim Gassner, Jr.
Outlook: Takacs says the team has plenty to look forward to heading into the season. With an array of players returning with varsity experience, including Steinmetz (Mercury-Area Honorable Mention), the team will look to contend for a spot in the PAC-10 Final Four this season. “There are some very good teams in the PAC-10,” said Takacs. “So for us to contend for a playoff spot will depend on how much improvement we made over the past year and how consistent we can be through September.”
Home course: Hickory Valley Golf Club.

Daniel Boone
Head coach: Rich Simmons, first season.
Last year’s record: 1-7-1 Berks Conference, 5-8-1 overall.
Players to watch: Ethan Resh, Sr.; Jake Canning, Sr.; Nick Morton, Sr.; Faith Hughes, Jr.; Colin Gabbett, So.
Outlook: With the return of Mercury All-Area Honorable Mentions Resh and Gabbett, the Blazers will look to make a push in the Berks Conference under first year coach Simmons. “We have a strong group of core players with an addition of some new, good players,” said Simmons. “Our goal is to improve on last year’s record and to qualify for the Berks County playoffs.”
Home course: Arrowhead Golf Course.

Methacton
Head coach: Kevin Flanagan, ninth season.
Last year’s record: 10-1 PAC-10, 10-2 overall (PAC-10 Champions).
Players to watch: Adam Duca, Sr.; Zach Feaster, Sr.; T.J. Cinelli, Sr.; Kyle Vance, Jr.; Dan Rieger, Jr.; Max Rennie, Jr.; Gunnar Gale, Jr.; Harvey Smith, Jr.; Caleb Ryan, Fr.
Outlook: The Warrior program returned 17 of 18 of its players from last season’s PAC-10 title team, including the 1-2 punch of Vance (Mercury All-Area Boys Golfer of the Year) and Rieger (All-Area First Team). The roster consists of three seniors and several juniors as the Warriors look poised to secure their third straight PAC-10 team title and fifth in the past six seasons. According to Flanagan, the team isn’t even thinking about defending its title at this point, instead concentrating on playing good golf. “It’s another really competitive group of kids. Our goals haven’t changed from years past,” he said. “Our guys want to compete throughout the season and play well enough to get into the PAC-10 Final Four. If we can do that, we’ll see where it takes us.”
Home course: Skippack Golf Club.

Owen J. Roberts

Head coach: Ted Snyder, 14th season.
Last year’s record: 7-2 PAC-10, 11-4 overall (lost to Methacton in PAC-10 Final Four).
Players to watch: Maddie Sager, Sr.; Matt Folk, Jr.; Ward McHenry, So.;
Outlook: Sager, the Mercury All-Area Girls Golfer of the year, will return in the top portion of the Wildcats’ scorecard coming off a stellar 2014 season. She’ll look to cap off her senior season with her third PAC-10 individual medal and finish with another medal at the PIAA Regionals. Alongside Sager, McHenry will look to put together another strong season as OJR looks to bounce back after losing to eventual-conference champion Methacton in the Final Four opening round. “We’re hoping to make the PAC-10 playoffs,” said Snyder.
Home course: Kimberton Golf Club.

Perkiomen School
Head coach: Pete Dougherty, 17th season.
Last year’s record: 6-2 overall.
Players to watch: Minuette Laessig, Sr.; Levi Stoudt, Sr.
Outlook: Laessig (Mercury-Area First Team) will look to build off a stellar finish to her 2014 season, where she won the PAISAA Championship with a 75 at Brookside CC. Alongside her, Stoudt (Honorable Mention) will also return for his senior campaign.
Home course: Butter Valley Golf Port.

Perkiomen Valley

Head coach: Tavio Hunsicker, second season.
Last year’s record: 7-2 PAC-10, 8-4 overall; (lost to Spring-Ford in PAC-10 Final Four).
Players to watch: Nate Guerrini, Sr.; Kyle Zahour, Sr.; Dallen Hall, Jr.
Outlook: The Vikings will need to replace five seniors lost to graduation in order to earn a third straight berth in the PAC-10 Final Four. No. 1 Guerrini (First Team All-Area) will look to build on success from last year, where he qualified for both districts and regionals. “We hope to compete in every match,” said Hunsicker.
Home course: Raven’s Claw Golf Club.

Phoenixville
Head coach: Stephen Winnick, 14th season.
Last year’s record: 2-7 PAC-10, 2-9 overall.
Players to watch: Michael Ellis, Jr.; Max Farbstein, Jr.; Tyler Skomsky, Jr.; James Peterson, So.; Johnny Kettelle, So.
Outlook: Coming off a down season, the Phantoms hope that the experience players gained last season will help down the stretch. Despite their youth, Winnick boasts optimism of the incoming sophomore class. “A lot of unknown going into the season,” said Winnick. “It will definitely be a young team with little experience, but (we have) a sense of optimism from the efforts of last year’s freshman class.”
Home course: Pickering Valley Golf Club.

Pope John Paul II

Head coach: Tony Romano, third season.
Last year’s record: 5-4 PAC-10, 8-5 overall.
Players to watch: Thomas Schaffer, Sr.; Jaclyn D’Angelo, Sr.; Luke Moratelli, Sr.; Michael Limongelli, Jr.; Matt Grim, Jr.; JT Spina, So.;
Outlook: Despite the loss of team captain Joe Morgan and Sam Bush to graduation, the Golden Panthers return several of their top players from this past season in Spina (First Team All-Area), Limongelli (Second Team All-Area) and D’Angelo (Second Team All-Area). It will be up to the back of the PJP scorecard to play up to par throughout the season. “The league looks strong, as usual, but I think with our starting lineup we should be competitive among the perennial league powers this year,” said Romano. “The players worked hard in the offseason and I see improvement in every player.”
Home course: Linfield National Golf Club.

Pottsgrove
Head coach: Don Petrella, seventh season.
Last year’s record: 1-8 PAC-10, 2-10 overall.
Players to watch: Anthony Hawkins, Sr.; Eric Maynard, Sr.; Mike Hueber, Sr.
Outlook: The Falcons have earned only one PAC-10 win in each of the past two seasons. Still, Petrella says the program has plenty to look forward to this upcoming season. “Our program is moving in a positive direction this year in terms of numbers and overall talent,” he said. “We struggled the past couple of years in both of these areas, and it will take some time for the wins to come, but I am very excited about the direction we are going in.”
Home course: Blackwood Golf Course.

Spring-Ford

Head coach: Jeff Mast, 29th season.
Last year’s record: 8-1 PAC-10, 9-3 overall (Lost to Methacton in PAC-10 Final).
Players to watch: Justin Schuler, Sr.; Connor Boham, Jr.; Chase Armour, Jr.; Jack Wilson, Jr.; Ben Pochet, So.
Outlook: The Rams will have some tough shoes to fill with the departure of three-time All-Area First Team member Matt Keim to graduation. Still, the team has plenty to hang its hat on, including the return of Pochet (All-Area First Team) as well as Second Team members Boham and Armour. Mast says if the team wants to get as far as it did last season, the Rams will need to depend on the underclassmen, boasting a roster of just one senior with varsity experience. “Our goal is to improve throughout the season,” said Mast. “We hope to be playing our best golf at the end of the season. We’ll depend on our underclassmen if we’re going to be competitive.”
Home course: Turtle Creek Golf Course.

Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: John Brittain, 14th season.
Last year’s record: 3-6 PAC-10, 7-6 overall.
Players to watch: Aaron Benner, Sr.; Anthony Boyle, Jr.; Macauley Swenk, Fr.
Outlook: With the departure of All-Area First Team member Drew Kriebel — the program’s top player for four straight years — along with Blake Bennett, the Indians will turn to their youth this season. UP’s varsity lineup will consist of three freshmen. “We are young and inexperienced to start the season,” said Brittain. “Our goal is to improve throughout the season and play our best golf at the end.”
Home course: Macoby Run Golf Course.