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04/27/2022 12:00 AMWill Sagnella is already starting to make a name for himself as a freshman with the North Haven boys’ golf team. Will showed his potential on the links when he earned medalist honors by shooting a low score of 45 in his debut with the Nighthawks this spring.
Will started golfing two years ago during the summer before he entered 8th grade. Will watched his father Peter and his cousin Alex play the sport and wanted to emulate them. Every summer, Will was at Lyman Orchards, working on his game and finding ways to improve. Will loved the sport as soon as he stepped on the course and wanted to become as strong a golfer as possible.
“They were really good. Watching them hit the ball, I wanted to be as good as them,” says Will. “I set personal goals for myself, whether it was to shoot a certain score or break a certain number. It really kept me going.”
In the spring of his 8th-grade year, Will started attending tournaments, continuing through the summer. He competed on both the US Kids and CT PGA circuits. Will started seeing massive jumps in his game as he leveled up in competition. Will began to feel more relaxed on the course, helping him get even better.
Now a freshman at North Haven, Will has quickly earned a spot in the Nighthawks’ varsity lineup. In Will’s first week of play, North Haven had three matches from April 12 to 15. Will wasn’t quite prepared for that type of schedule, but it helped him realize how serious high school golf is.
Despite the strenuous schedule, Will started off his Nighthawks’ tenure on the right foot. On April 12, North Haven faced Wilbur Cross, Career, and Hillhouse at Alling Memorial Golf Club and swept the meet by carding a team score of 198. In his first match at the high school level, Will shot a 45, becoming the medalist for best score of the day.
“It was definitely morale boosting. My putting was off, but my swing felt good,” Will says. “I was surprised I was the medalist. There are players on the team that are better than me. It was a surprise, but it was a good surprise.”
Head Coach Kevin St. Pierre was impressed with both Will’s debut medal and how well he has already meshed with the Nighthawks. Coach St. Pierre said that Will has shown an excellent work ethic in the early goings and is demonstrating that he has a bright future ahead of him.
“Will has been a fantastic addition to the North Haven golf team,” says St. Pierre. “Will has tremendous work ethic on and off the golf course. His passion for the game and continuous urge to get better is what makes him an outstanding student-athlete. Will was able to fit in instantly with his teammates. I look forward to seeing his and the team’s growth for the years to come.”
When he’s on the course, Will is obviously looking to hit the best shot that he can. However, for Will, that doesn’t always mean having the best swing. He feels that one of his biggest strengths is his mental game. Will relies on some advice that his father told him growing up and, above all else, looks to stay grounded during every round.
“I have a good mental game. I can stay in it. It’s the most important thing to have. You can have a great swing, but you need to be in it mentally,” Will says. “My dad always told me, ‘Focus on the shot at hand. You can’t get too ahead of yourself.’”
Early into his freshman season, Will has proven he has what it takes to succeed on the varsity greens. As he continues in the program, one of Will’s ultimate goals is to compete for North Haven in a state championship meet. For now, though, Will is enjoying himself as he improves his golf game every day alongside his Nighthawks’ teammates.
“North Haven is a great organization. I have great teammates and coaches,” says Will. “It’s great being a golfer.”