Palmerton has as many losses in its first Colonial League match this fall as it had the previous four regular seasons combined: 1.
It is a sign that graduation hit coach Alex Knoll’s Blue Bombers hard and perennial contenders Southern Lehigh and Moravian Academy are primed to take the top spot.
Coach Matt Greenawald’s Spartans are led by juniors Colin Sarnoski and Frankie Boensch, both of whom shot 68 in a season-opening win over Salisbury. Fellow junior David Burmeister fired a blistering 64. Sophomore Caleb Walsh heads up the rest of the Spartans. Sarnoski was eighth at last year’s District 11 Class 3A tournament. Boensch was tied for 10th.
Coach Geri Higgins’ Lions are led by sophomores Collin Schreiber, who was third in last year’s district 2A event, and Mara Dubacher, a league runner-up and district champion who tied for 21st in her first PIAA tournament. Ford Koch and Emma Xu are others in the lineup.
Palmerton is led by Jared Reinhard and Aiden Leister. Simon Weed, who was 10th at last year’s district tournament, leads Notre Dame-Green Pond. Stone Sosnovik heads up Northwestern. Pen Argyl, which beat Palmerton in its league opener, is led by Joey DoSantos, Jake Martini, Shane Moser and Luke Hackman.
There also could be a changing of the guard in the EPC.
Liberty, which has dominated in recent years, has two stellar players in Jase Barker, a district 3A runner-up last season, and Matt Ronca.
But Nazareth, Northampton and Emmaus will be in the mix.
The Blue Eagles are led by senior twins Luke and Lewis Ronca, who captured the Wasser Cup tournament by one shot.
Trent Moyer and Gavin Pychinka are the Konkrete Kids’ top players.
Senior Noah Schurman, who was fourth at districts, is among the Green Hornets’ top players.
Other players to watch: Stroudsburg’s two-time PIAA qualifier Hunter Probst, Pocono Mountain East’s Evan Murphy (District 11 3A sixth last year), Nazareth sophomore Camryn Hoff (2023 District 11 3A girls champion) and Parkland’s Chloe Chase (2023 District 11 3A third).
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
High school golf dates to remember
Colonial League tournament: 8:30 a.m., Sept. 18, Bethlehem Golf Club
EPC tournament: 9 a.m., Sept. 18, Olde Homestead Golf Club, New Tripoli
District 11 qualifier: 8:30 a.m., Sept. 26, Olde Homestead GC, New Tripoli
District 11 Golf Championships: 8:30 a.m., Oct. 3, Steel Club, Hellertown
PIAA Golf Championships: Oct. 16-17, Penn State’s Blue (Class 3A) and White (2A) courses
PIAA Team Golf Championships: Oct. 18, Penn State’s Blue (Class 3A) and White (2A) courses
