Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
With the largest turnout he’s ever had in his 13 years of coaching golf at Sweet Home High School ,Coach Tom Horn says he is looking forward to this season.
The fact that all five of his varsity boys golfers from last year are back is just the icing on the cake.
“Our prospects are outstanding,” he said. “This could be potentially the most outstanding team I’ve ever had.”
Horn said this is the first year he’s had to make cuts, though he has 13 boys on the team. He also has seven girls.
The depth on the boys side is coupled with experience, which leaves Sweet Home in an unusually positive position going into the season.
Horn said he usually doesn’t like to make predictions on his team’s chances, but this year, he says, the Huskies “should” win a district title.
“I really think we’re in a position to do that,” he said.
Back on the links for Sweet Home are two returning state qualifiers, senior Taylor Huschka, who placed 20th, and junior Travis Ramos, who finished in the middle of the pack at last year’s 4A championships.
Huschka is “poised to really play well,” Horn said. “He could be one of the three best in the district and one of the top 12 in 4A. I’m hoping for a top-10 finish for him.”
Also back from last year is Nick Zahler, another senior.
The potential starting five are rounded out by senior Marcus Thedford and sophomore Jake Riggs, both of whom played in the district tournament last year.
“They’re all ready to take a leadership role,” Horn said. “They will do a fantastic job.”
The boys team is rounded out sophomore Austin Dishaw, Cory Ellingboe, Chris Elmore, Eric Holmes, Kaleb Lane and Kyle Moore, and freshmen Brandon Basham and Jason Rice.
“They have outstanding potential,” Horn said of the youngsters. “We are not going to take a huge nose dive with this group. They are enthusiastic about golf and that leads to more play and better golf. These are guys you like to be around.”
Horn said Newport, which won the Val-Co District and placed ______ in last year’s 4A tournament, has heavy losses to graduation and is not expected to be as dominant this year. The Cubs will still be a factor, though, as both they and Taft have good individual golfers, just not as much depth as the Huskies this year, he said.
That leaves the Huskies, as things look now.
“They truly believe they’re the team to beat,” Horn said of the Huskies.
Girls Golf
Horn has seven girls on the roster now, including three returnees from last year, but the team is inexperienced, he said.
“We are young, very young – very little golf experience,” he said. “But the improvement made from Day 1 to the end of the second week of practice has been as good as any I’ve ever had on the girls side.”
The lone returning senior from last year’s team is Megan Moser, who has the potential to make the state tournament this year, he said.
Also back are sophomores Tanna Tyler and Savana McCalister.
Tyler “has golf ability – she’s a good athlete,” Horn said. “She’s striking the ball well and she’s going to be a good player for us.”
McCalister did not play a lot last year but has shown “drastic improvement” this year, he said.
The other golfers are Jillian Marvin, Emily Peabody, and Haley Voldbeck.
The special girls district in which Sweet Home competes on the girls side is “very, very strong,” Horn said. Sisters is expected to be the top team in the state and Marist is right behind the Outlaws.
“I think we’ll be able to compete with the others,” he said of Junction City, LaPine and Elmira. “Our goal is to get to that position. The girls realize that.”
He said that one big positive for the Huskies is that they have fun playing golf, like the boys.
“These girls are a kick to be with,” he said. “They’re fun. They don’t grouse about things.
“We will improve as the season continues.”