2019 Mercury-Area Boys Golf Preview

Boyertown
Head coach: Mark Takacs, 33rd season.
Last year’s record: 3-7 PAC and overall.
Players to watch: John Engle, Brandon Staniszewski, Alex Young, Zach Little, Griffin Weand, Brad Fenstermaker.
Outlook: Bears are loaded with seniors and optimistic as they try for their first PAC Final Four berth since 2012. … Split their first four matches this season, losing to 2018 Final Four teams Spring-Ford and Owen J. Roberts. … Engle finished seventh in the PAC tournament and was an All-PAC second-team selection and district qualifier with a nine-hole average of 37 as a sophomore.
Home course: Hickory Valley Golf Club.

Daniel Boone
Head coach: Ian West, 1st season.
Last year’s record: 7-7 Berks County and overall.
Players to watch: Colton Yenser, Jr.; Chase Ring, Jr.; Braylon Kuhn, Jr.; Kyle Vonderlinden, Jr.; Davis Myer, Jr.; Tyler McKinney, Jr.; Brady Dolan, Jr.
Outlook: Blazers are trying to find a consistent fourth scorer behind Yenser (6th in the County tournament, 72 average), Ring (80 average) and Kuhn (81 average) in order to compete in the division and county. … Entire varsity lineup is comprised of juniors. … Won five in a row after dropping first two matches this year.
Home course: Arrowhead Golf Course.

Hill School
Head coach: Joseph Lagore, 9th season.
Last year’s record: 5-6 overall.
Players to watch: Echo Wu, Sr.; Billy Gussler, Jr.; Stuart Sopko, Sr.; Nick Rafetto, So.; Will Medendorp, So.
Outlook: Last year’s fall team finished fourth in the PAISAA and won the Keystone Cup competition. … Team competes in both fall and spring and stroke and match play. … Newcomers expected to battle for lineup spots include Lucas Steinmetz, Mac Sims, Thomas Beaudoin and Sam Mitchell (this summer’s Brookside Junior Champion).
Home course: Brookside Country Club.

Methacton
Head coach: Kevin Flanagan, 13th season.
Last year’s record: 9-1 PAC, 11-1 overall.
Players to watch: Nick Martin, Sr.; Andrew Lasecki, Jr.; Jason Rieger, Jr.; Jeff Cooper, Jr.; Sean Cooper, Jr.; Mitch Thompson, Sr.; Elliot Meyer, So.; Colin Meyer, So.
Outlook: Warriors are trying to rebuild after graduating four players from the team that won seventh PAC Final Four championship in nine years. … Good core of players returning with hope that some younger players can contribute. … Martin finished tied for third in PAC tournament with a 73 at Gilbertsville and was All-PAC first team selection.
Home course: Skippack Golf Course.

Norristown
Head coach: Ian Morris, 15th season.
Last year’s record: 1-9 PAC, 2-10 overall.
Players to watch: Josh Ryan, Jr.
Outlook: Eagles could struggle due to a lack of depth, but hope to draw in and develop younger players as the season progresses. … Josh Ryan, who qualified for the PIAA Tournament as a freshman and sophomore, shot a 70 at Gilbertsville last year to win the PAC title by a stroke over older brother Caleb Ryan and went on to finish fourth in the district, fifth in the region and tied for 19th in the state.
Home course: Jeffersonville Golf Club.

Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Ted Snyder, 20th season.
Last year’s record: 9-1 PAC, 11-3 overall.
Players to watch: Conrad Benford, Sr.; Christian Brofft, Sr.; Sam Diehl, Sr.
Outlook: Wildcats hope to make the PAC Final Four playoffs, something they’ve done the last six years. … Finished second during regular season to undefeated Spring-Ford and lost to eventual champion Methacton in last year’s semifinals. …  Benford qualified for districts and was named to PAC second team.
Home course: Kimberton Golf Club.

Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Tavio Hunsicker, 6th season.  
Last year’s record: 5-5 PAC, 7-7 overall.
Players to watch: Kyle Colombo, Sr.; David Fetzer, Sr.; Ryan Horenci, So.; Chris Cowgill, So.
Outlook: Vikings have finished at .500 four seasons in a row and aim to be competitive again this year.
Home course: Raven’s Claw Golf Club.

Phoenixville
Head coach: Stephen Winnick, 19th season.
Last year’s record: 7-3 PAC, 9-3 overall.
Players to watch: Parker Stevens, Sr.; Kyle Resuta, Jr.; Bryan Maguire, Jr.; Ryan Jasudowich, So.
Outlook: Phantoms made it to the PAC Final Four for first time since 2010 last year with only one district qualifier and lost to Spring-Ford in semifinals. … A lot of youth and lack of depth, but quality swings this year and Winnick and assistant Rob Huston hope they can develop into another playoff team.
Home course: Pickering Valley Golf Club.

Pope John Paul II
Head coach: Mike Thompson, 2nd season.
Last year’s record: 5-5 PAC, 6-5 overall.
Players to watch: Paul Brady, So.; Alex White, So.; Logan Beyer, Sr.
Outlook: Golden Panthers graduated six players from District 1-2A championship team and would appear to be rebuilding, but look to defend their title. … Brady placed 15th in the PAC tournament and he and White qualified for district play.
Home course: Gilbertsville Golf Club.

Pottsgrove
Head coach: Don Petrella, 11th season.
Last year’s record: 3-7 PAC, 4-8 overall.
Players to watch: Josh Kraybill, Sr.; Steven Rinda, Jr.
Outlook: Falcons lost four key players to graduation. … Kraybill and Dylan Higgins will provide senior leadership for younger players who are showing great ability, including Rinda, John Ryan McMenamin and Michael Krueger.
Home course: Gilbertsville Golf Club.

Spring-Ford
Head coach: Jeff Mast, 33rd season.
Last year’s record: 10-0 PAC, 11-2 overall.
Players to watch: Luke Watson, Jr.; Nate Pierce, Sr.
Outlook: Rams made it to the PAC championship match last season, losing to Methacton, and have qualified for the Final Four eight years in a row. … A lot of seniors, but not much experience at the varsity level this year and hoping to improve their play on the road. … Watson, the Philly Junior PGA Player of the Year,  placed fifth in the PAC and qualified for regionals with a seventh-place district finish and Pierce was a district qualifier.
Home course: Turtle Creek Golf Course.

Upper Merion
Head coach: Ryan Mitchell, 3rd season.
Last year’s record: 0-10 PAC, 1-10 overall.
Players to watch: Kevin Donohue, Sr.; Connor Gemmill, Sr.; Michael Nikolaou, Sr.; Amanda Schuebel, So.; Audrey Schuebel, Fr.; Anika Villivalum, Jr.; Justin Kravitz, Jr.
Outlook: Vikings have strong underclassmen, including three girls playing on the boys team. … Amanda Schuebel finished 10th in the PAC girls tournament and was a district qualifier.
Home course: Gulph Mills and Westover Golf Clubs.

Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: John Brittain, 18th season.
Last year’s record: 3-7 PAC, 5-7 overall.
Players to watch: Zac Rozanski, Sr.; Zach Gehman, Jr.; Nate Reinhart, So.; Soren Svanson, Jr.; Donovan Hanney, Jr.; Conor Martin, Jr.; Mikey Montero, Sr.
Outlook: Indians graduated six players, including their top three scorers, and could struggle in the PAC, but will try to build a winning culture and improve by the end of the season.
Home course: Macoby Run Golf Course.