2022 Mercury Boys and Girls Golf Team-by-Team Preview
Boys
Boyertown
Head coach: Joe McClelland, 2nd season
Last year’s record: 6-4 PAC and overall
Athletes to watch: Chase Dillman, Soph.; Josh Bardsley, Sr.; Deven Bhatia, Will Swartley, Chase Kline.
Outlook: Josh Bardsley and Chase Dillman are returning All-PAC performers and will be looked to lead the Bears this fall with Final Four qualification in their sights. “I feel we can shave a few strokes off each of these players and the rest of the team which should put us in a good position to compete with the rest of the league,” said coach Joe McClelland.
Home course: Hickory Valley Golf Club.
Daniel Boone
Head coach: Ian West, 4th season
Last year’s record: 4-11 overall
Athletes to watch: Chase Yenser, Fr.; Eli Rhoads, Sr.; Chase Cleaver, So.; Collin Wagner, Sr.
Outlook: Daniel Boone graduated District 3 qualifier Kole Washleski but coach Ian West believes the Blazers, while still a young group, has improved its depth and can push toward a winning record. With no returning golfer qualifying for the county championships last fall, sending golfers to the postseason will be a goal for Boone.
Home course: Reading Country Club.
The Hill School
Head coach: Joe Lagor, 13th season
Last year’s record: 7 -5, Keystone Cup Champions, PAISSA 5th place.
Players to watch: Lucas Steinmetz ‘23, Harrison Hu ‘24, Constantine Kontes ‘25
Outlook: Hill put together a strong campaign in 2021 that included a winning record, Keystone Cup championship and fifth-place finish in the PAISAA tournament. Many of its scorers graduated but the Blues do return a front-line talent in senior Lucas Steinmetz. He’s the son of Rich Steinmetz, the Spring-Ford Country Club teaching pro who is a consistent winner on the Philadelphia PGA Tour. “The team has many strong players, but some of them must be able to step up to the lofty competition,” said coach Joe Lagor. Hill has a stout schedule that includes Inter-Ac powers Malvern Prep, Episcopal Academy and Haverford School and PAC favorite Spring-Ford and will need some new contributors to rise up to maintain last season’s level.
Methacton
Head Coach: Kevin Flanagan
Last year’s record: 7-3 PAC, 7-4 overall, PAC Final Four qualifier
Athletes to watch: Will Bowers, Sr.; Devin Charles, Sr.; Bobby Kleckner, Sr.; Matthew Rieger, Soph.
Outlook: Methacton graduated three All-PAC performers and will need returners like Bobby Kleckner and Matthew Rieger to step into leading spots to keep the Warriors as the PAC contender the program has been throughout its history. “We are looking to be competitive and our goal is to make the final four,” said coach Kevin Flanagan.
Home course: Skippack Golf Course.
Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Brian Sponagle, 1st season
Last year’s record: 8-2 PAC, 9-3 overall, PAC runner-up
Athletes to watch: Stefania Fedun, Sr.; Luke Riefenstahl, Sr.; Erik Harken, Jr.; Olivia Savochka, Jr.; Brody Calle, Fr.
Outlook: Stefania Fedun, a commit to Division I Lehigh, returns for her senior year and will again compete on the boys’ team. She was Mercury All-Area Golfer of the Year as a sophomore and was first-team All-PAC in 2021. Erik Harken, who was PAC honorable mention last fall, and Fedun were scorers a year ago when OJR lost the PAC team title to Spring-Ford by a single stroke. After graduating five of its top eight from a year ago, OJR will need new faces to step up to return to that level.
Home course: Kimberton Golf Club.
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Tavio Hunsicker, 9th season
Last year’s record: 7-3 PAC, 9-4 overall, PAC Final Four
Athletes to watch: Shea Fusco, Sr.; Clayton Roynan, Sr.; Evan Lichtenstein, Sr.; Ayush Patel, Jr.; Andrew Brendlinger, Fr.
Outlook: Junior Ayush Patel is the Vikings’ leading returner after qualifying for the District 1 tourney last year. He’ll lead the list shooting to replace the spot of graduate Ryan Horenci, who was PAC first team and third at PACs in 2021. PV is consistently in the Final Four mix and should be again in 2022. “Our goal is to improve throughout the season and we hope to be competitive in every match,” said coach Tavio Hunsicker. “The league will be very competitive again this year.”
Phoenixville
Head coach: Rob Huston, 1st season
Last year’s record: 2-8 PAC and overall
Athletes to watch: Ryan Jasudowich, Jake Geiger, Will Smith, Will Linko, Tom Locker, Kyle Reedy.
Outlook: The Phantoms will hope to have someone emerge to compete for a top PAC finish and District 1 tournament qualification.
Home course: Pickering Valley Golf Course.
Pope John Paul II
Coaches: Mike Thompson, 5th season; John Miles, 1st season
Last year’s record: 7-3 PAC, 8-3 overall record
Athletes to watch: Aidan Canning, Sr.; Jack Brennan, Sr.; Adam Profrock, Sr.; Ryan McQuarrie, Soph.
Outlook: Pope John Paul II must replace graduated PAC first team selections Alex White and Paul Brady. Four-year starter Aidan Canning and three-year starters Jack Brennan and Adam Profrock will take the mantle in 2022 and hope to keep the Golden Panthers on the winning track. “ We are looking to compete for one of the four PAC playoff positions,” said coach Mike Thompson.
Pottsgrove
Head coach: Neil Rusiewicz, 1st season
Last year’s record: 4-6 overall
Athletes to watch: Cooper Simon, Sr.; Koda Browne, Sr.; Dylan Penot, Sr.
Outlook: New head coach Neil Rusiewicz is encouraged by the Falcons’ balance and foundation entering the season. “Pottsgrove is looking to have a great season with multiple returners that are integral to the program, along with a lot of young talent,” he said. “There is a strong core of senior leaders that are eager to help their teammates and the team contend this season.”
Home course: Landis Creek Golf Club.
Spring-Ford
Head coach: Jerry Hollingsworth, 2nd season
Last year’s record: 13-1 overall, PAC champion
Athletes to watch: Luke Fazio, Sr.; Jaden Minter, Sr.; Jake Blackmore, Sr.; Charlie Ferrise, Jr.
Outlook: Spring-Ford looks to be in great position to defend its PAC championship with four returning starters, including Luke Fazio, last year’s Mercury All-Area player of the year who won the PAC individual title and qualified for states. Jaden Minter and Jake Blackmore also were accorded All-PAC honors in 2021. The Rams will need to build depth to match last year when seven of eight players moved onto districts but are poised to be a frontrunner in the PAC again.
“Losing four seniors and the leadership that went with that will be difficult to replace,” said coach Jerry Hollingsworth. “With a strong turnout of underclassmen and a strong JV program, we are hoping to fill in the remaining spots. Hard work during the summer will hopefully pay off in the fall.”
Home course: Turtle Creek Golf Course.
Upper Merion
Head coach: Ryan Mitchell, 6th season
Last year’s record: 2-7 overall
Athletes to watch: Audrey Schuebel, Sr.; RJ Monroe, Sr.; Jack Rogers, Jr.; Alyssa Schuebel, Soph.; Amala Villivalam, Soph.; Jack McCarthy, Fr.
Outlook: Upper Merion counts three boys and three girls among its top six golfers, five of whom are the Vikings’ top returners from last season. There’s belief Upper Merion can take a step forward this fall and push for the PAC Final Four. “We have a chance to compete in the PAC this year and I am excited to see what our team can do,” said coach Ryan Mitchell.
Home course: Westover Golf Club
Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: John Brittain, 21st season
Last year’s record: 2-8 PAC and overall
Athletes to watch: Branden Rozanski, Zack Silver, Blake Gehman, Connor Gehman, Joe Cornesi, Cole Pierce, Ethan Smith.
Outlook: A young team last year gained some match experience and will hope to benefit from it this fall and improve on a two-win 2021.
Home course: Macoby Run Golf Course.
Girls
Boyertown
Head coach: Mark Schwegler, 2nd season
Last year’s record/accomplishments: 3-9 overall
Athletes to watch: Maddie Brennan, Kamryn Pier, Riley Pier, Hailey Schildt
Outlook: Our returning golfers have improved markedly since last year, and we have some first-year golfers that we are happy to have on our team,” said coach Mark Schwegler.
Home course: Twin Ponds Golf Course.
Methacton
Head coach: Chris Lloyd, 8th season
Last year’s record: 3-5 PAC and overall
Athletes to watch: Kate Thomas, Julia Sala, Caley Stein, Isabella Mandracchia.
Outlook: Kate Thomas is a returning All-PAC second team selection and will fill Methacton’s top spot left by graduate Sarah Lawrie, a PAC first team choice in 2021.
Home course: Skippack Golf Course.
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Karen Moliver, 7th season
Last year’s record: 7-3 overall
Athletes to watch: Grace Bruno, Sr.; Abigail McCorkel, Jr.; Meridith Imes, Jr.; Nadia Yackanicz, So.; Brianna King, So.
Outlook: Abigail McCorkel is the Vikings’ top returner after her sophomore year where she placed seventh at the PAC Championships and was first-team All-PAC. Fellow junior Meredith Imes was second-team All-PAC last fall, too. “We’re looking to improve on last year’s record and qualify more players for PAC’s,” coach Karen Moliver said of the squad’s goals.
Home course: Spring Hollow Golf Club.
Phoenixville
Coach: Sandy Waltz, 9th season
Last year’s record: 7-2 PAC and overall
Players: Seniors Chloe Zach, Taryn Blitzer, Mackenzie Thompson; junior Kate Roberts; freshman Kayley Roberts.
Outlook: The Phantoms are primed for a great fall with the return of PAC champion Kate Roberts. She’ll be joined by a strong complementary cast that has Phoenixville envisioning qualifying for the District 1 championships as a team for the first time. Roberts, now a junior, went on to place sixth in District 1 and 12th in Pa. last season and was the Mercury All-Area player of the year. Over the summer she was a regional runner-up at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championships and won a Philly junior tour event at Penn State in May. Kayley Roberts, Kate’s freshman sister, is a golf standout in her own right after tournament wins at the U.S. Kids regional in Galloway, N.J., and Philly Junior Tour at Chester Valley CC this summer. Along with the pair of state-level sisters, the Phoenixville lineup will be aided by seniors Chloe Zach, Taryn Blitzer and Mackenzie Thompson. “With the venue change of PACs to our home course, Turtle Creek, I hope to advance the team on to Districts, which would be a first for the Lady Phantoms,” said coach Sandy Waltz.
Home course: Turtle Creek Golf Course.
Spring-Ford
Head coach: John Brennan, 4th season
Last year’s record: 10-0 in PAC, PAC champions, 4th place in PIAA District 1 team tournament
Athletes to watch: Nicole Yun, Sr.; Morgan Kunze, Sr.; Cierra Griffith, Sr.; Audrey Cumming, Sr.; Meghan McPoyle, Sr.; Alie Adams, Jr.; Mary McNelly, Jr.; Sousan Hejazi, Jr.; Devon Armour, Soph.
Outlook: What’s better than entering a season and undefeated defending champions? Having all 5 starters back to defend that reign. Spring-Ford swept the table in the PAC and placed fourth in District 1 in 2021 and are primed to take it even further this fall. Senior Nicole Yun, last year’s PAC runner-up, has unfinished business after missing PIAA tournament qualification by just two strokes last fall when she placed 11th in districts. She was joined on the All-PAC first team by Morgan Kunze and Alie Adams, all of whom qualified for the District 1 championships in 2021, as did senior Cierra Griffith. “We are extremely optimistic about the 2022 season,” said coach John Brennan, who had his own golf success this summer when he won the 118th Golf Association of Philadelphia Open Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club on July 21. “The girls have worked hard on their game during the offseason and are looking forward to a competitive season in the PAC.” The Rams have scheduled non-league tests against 2021 PIAA champion Downingtown East, Unionville and Central Bucks East with sights set on improving last year’s impressive results.
Home course: Linfield National Golf Club.
