The 2008 Sweet Home boys golf team was a hard act to follow, and the lowest turnout in Coach Tom Horn’s 14-year tenure is making things even more challenging as the Huskies get ready for their 2009 campaign.
Sweet Home won its first district championship ever last year, behind stellar play from Travis Ramoz and Taylor Huschka, along with a solid core of contributors. But only Ramoz and junior Jake Riggs are back from that group and Horn says this year will be a challenge without the depth the Huskies had last year.
“I wish I could get more kids out,” Horn said, blaming the difficulties of transportation to and from Mallard Creek Golf Course and other costs of participation as reasons why he thinks some boys aren’t playing this year.
“I wish we had a nice benefactor who could help pay for these kids.”
The good news is that the girls side has a larger-than-usual turnout, meaning Horn and his assistant, Kendra McCaslin, will have more to work with and Horn expects the girls to be more competitive as a team this year.
The Boys
Ramoz, who led the Huskies with a 78-81-159 over the two-day district tournament last year, is back and Horn expects him to show the way for the team. Ramoz has been a varsity golfer for three years and has gone to state twice, once as an individual as a sophomore and last year with the team.
“He’ll be our leader,” Horn said. “He’s by far our best player and he’s one of the best two or three players in our league.”
Also back from last year’s varsity is Riggs, whom Horn expects to be one of the top three players for the Huskies.
“Jake’s not just a spring golfer,” he said. “He plays summers and he worked through the winter.”
Horn said he expects Riggs to be back in the state tournament this year, regardless of whether the team qualifies.
The rest of the line-up Horn expects to see on the varsity are: sophomore Jason Rice, who will move up from last year’s junior varsity; sophomore Roman Kinney, who was cut last year but has been “a pleasant surprise” in improving to the point that he’s a likely varsity player this year; sophomore Paul Kim and freshman Mike Fontenot.
Horn said Fontenot has the makings of a “real good player.”
“When all is said and done, if Mike continues, he could be as good as any that I’ve had as a coach,” Horn said. “He’s going to be a dandy.”
Also on the team now is Taran Tyler, a sophomore, and Horn said he hopes to pick up a couple of players from the basketball team, which ended its season Friday. Jerome Coleman had already joined the team on Monday, according to the school Athletic Department.
The junior varsity boys will be coached by Craig Wilson.
Horn said he expects the Huskies to be competitive, though “not as good as last year.”
“Newport is probably the favorite in our league,” he said. The Cubs have the four-team league’s best player in senior Ross Martin, who was district champ last year and the highest Val-Co finisher at the state tournament, placing 11th.
Sweet Home and Taft are “close” and there is some question as to what kind of team Central will field, Horn said.
“We’re not a real strong league this year,” he said.
Horn said Ramoz will be the key to how the Huskies perform.
“If Travis can come out and play real well, and give us a low score each time, the others will come through,” he said. “These are great kids.”
The Girls
The girls sport an almost entirely new look this year, with five new players and one returnee, junior Tana Tyler, who was Sweet Home’s top finisher at district’s last year.
Horn said he expects big things from Tyler, who has “elevated her game tremendously” since last season, he said, adding that he expects her to finish in the top five to seven at districts.
“She really has put in some time,” said Horn, who expects Tyler to make the state tournament this year. “I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t.”
Also back from last year is sophomore Emily Peabody, who showed some good things last year.
“She has game. She can play,” Horn said.
The rest of the team are seniors Ariel Marlow, Leah Gates and Brittney Savage, and juniors Stephanie Szuch and Julie Bosso.
Horn said the newcomers are “hungry” and are enjoying themselves.
“When you do that, you’re gonna put in a lot more time,” he said.
The league, which is much larger than the boys, is “very, very solid” with two-time state champ Sisters as the favorite and Cottage Grove probably putting some pressure on the Outlaws, Horn said.
“Cottage Grove has turned the corner,” he said. “I expect them to be a really good team.”