Valley Boys’ Golf Priming Itself For the Postseason
For the Valley Regional boys’ golf team, as the temperature rises and the showers of April wash away and dry up for the month of May, the Warriors are in lockstep with the weather by heating up as a group with their collective juices flowing towards hitting the pin of postseason qualification.
In 2022, Valley finished 10th as a group at the Shoreline Conference Championship with a score of 397. This year, the Warriors are 2-10 overall in match play for the regular season and maintain a 2-6 mark in Shoreline Conference competition. Valley also sits at 13th in the Division III State Rankings, where the top 15 squads qualify.
Second-year Head Coach Scott Harger maintained that when it comes down to the home stretch of the season for the Warriors, they are focused on climbing the ladder within the league and state standings with additional aspirations to outswing their seed for states.
“Our goals the rest of the season are to play well in the Shorelines and beat teams ahead in the standings,” said Harger. “Plus, we want to come in higher than our [current] standing in the state tournament at Stanley Golf Course.”
A tandem of upperclassmen captain the Warriors on the links this spring. First up is junior Tyler Ruel, a steady hand on the course and even steadier positive mindset when it comes to his influence over the club far from the fairway.
“Tyler is our No. 1 and is the most consistent golfer,” said Harger. “He has a chance to make the All-Shoreline Conference Team and has a positive attitude towards the younger golfers.”
Joining him is senior captain Kevin King–a young man who has always figured heavily into the Warriors’ plans each campaign he has been a part of the program as a four-time varsity letter winner.
“Kevin is our No. 2 golfer [in the lineup],” said Harger. “He has been one of the top two players for us all four years he has played.”
The depth of talent does not halt with those two squad stewards in Rule and King. Senior Will Kelly occupies the No. 3 slot in the links lineup for Harger’s group. Fellow classmate and newcomer Jake McKenna is right behind him in the No. 4 spot. Freshman Owen Gallagher rounds out the Warriors as the fifth golfer with another freshman in Braeden Nunes currently holding firm at sixth.
“Will Kelly is our No. 3; he has played the last two seasons and is improving each match. Jake McKenna is our No. 4 in his first year playing and has been getting used to playing in matches. Owen Gallagher is our No. 5. He just started playing golf, and I can see the improvement each week. Braeden Nunes is our No. 6. He just started playing and is improving and has played in some varsity matches.”
In terms of trying to gain some end-of-season traction upwards in the Shoreline Conference, the Warriors had key matchups against Old Lyme for a road match on May 16 at Black Hall Golf Club before facing Haddam-Killingworth two days later at the Cougars’ home course of Black Birch Golf Course. Harger noted prior to each contest, “If we can win both, it could move us up past a few teams in the Shoreline.”
Lastly, as Harger pined for the campaign to take place during a different time of the year, he nonetheless noted that his squad is not using Mother Nature as an excuse due in large part to the fact that the Warriors are steadily sharpening their mechanics and making major headway as a collective and cohesive group.
“The team has been improving during the year and is helping since the weather and courses are improving,” said Harger. “It is just a shame the golf season isn't in the fall with better conditions and weather. The team is working great together in practice helping each other out.”
The 2023 Valley Regional boys’ golf team roster is comprised of seniors Kelly, King, McKenna, Mackie O'Lynnger; juniors of Hank Grabowski, Maxwell Nickel, Ruel; sophomores in Rex Grabowski, Birch Whitbeck; and freshmen with Gallagher and Nunes.
Prior to his tenure at Valley, Harger spent 19 previous coaching campaigns between St. Bernard’s and Old Lyme. He has also been on the CIAC Golf Committee for seven years. Harger is assisted this season by former Valley Regional Athletic Director Jeff Swan.
2023 Valley Regional Golf Team Remaining Season Schedule
Monday, May 22: vs. Wheeler at 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23: at Shoreline Conference Championship at Stanley Golf Course at 9 a.m.
Tuesday, June 6: at Division III State Tournament at Stanley Golf Course at 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 10: at State Open Championship at Black Hall Club at 1 p.m.