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SALTHAWKS, BUHLER LOOK TO CONTEND FOR STATE

In 2005, Hutchinson High had a loaded golf squad and hoisted up the team state championship hardware. To sweeten the moment, the triumph came on the Salthawks’ home track, Carey Park Golf Course. A decade later, history could repeat itself for the Salthawks. The Salthawks return a talented nucleus from last season’s sixth-place finish at state. Plus, for the first time in 10 years, Carey Park will host the Class 6A State Tournament. Yes, it looks like the stars are all aligning perfectly, and the Salthawks have as good of a shot as ever to capture another state crown. Albeit there are many good vibes surrounding the season, Hutchinson golf coach Charlie Pierce is quick to point out that local teams haven’t had the greatest success at 6A State in recent memory. Since the Salthawks won on their home soil back in 2005, only two Kansas City area teams have won state on courses surrounding the metro area, while Topeka Washburn Rural won once when the capital city hosted the tournament. Although Pierce kind of scoffs at the notion that the Salthawks will have any sort of home field edge, he said everyone is quite pumped. “It’s exciting and we’re really glad to have it,” Pierce said. “But to have it at Carey Park isn’t a really huge advantage because a lot of kids play it.” Heading into the season, Pierce is relieved because senior Turner Wintz enters the season all in one piece for the first time in a long time. Wintz, who also starred in football and basketball, got injured the past couple of seasons playing those sports. The pain would always linger into the golf season. For example, last year, a wrist injury plagued him, yet Wintz still was able to finish 11th individually at state. Pierce said having Wintz, who is set to play golf next year at Washburn, healthy from the get-go will only improve the Salthawks’ stock. “He’s squared away and playing pretty well,” Pierce said. “First time he’s come into the golf season in the last three years healthy. So, that helps. He’s as healthy as he’s ever been going into a season, that’s for sure” Besides Wintz, juniors Jack Howard and Jack Lanham return to the fold. Pierce said they should improve on solid sophomore campaigns. Now, for the Salthawks’ dream to win state at Carey Park to become a reality, a consistent fourth man will need to surface. Pierce said the Salthawks have four golfers who look to compete for the final three spots on varsity. Being able to rely on one of them to post a solid score should dictate how far the Salthawks go this season. “We’re doing all right, we’re okey-dokey in the top three for sure and if we just find that fourth or fifth guy,” Pierce said. “Really we need both of them to come in and shoot someplace around 80 and we should be pretty good.” Buhler looks to contend at state Last fall coaching the Crusader girls team, coach Brennan Torgerson admitted the experience was something he wasn’t accustomed to. By the end of the season, only two players were left on his roster. Sure, he loved working with these players individually and they continually improved throughout the season. Still, not being able to compete in the team portion of tournaments made him a bit somber. Six months later, Torgerson gets to a have the experience leading a group that is in the mix for team championships again. This isn’t just any team, too. The Crusaders finished second at 4A State last year and look poised to contend once again. “I feel like if some things fall into place, we’ve got as good of a shot as anybody to go out there and win a state championship,” Torgerson said. Returning from last season is junior Dylan Schmitt, who finished 13th individually at state. Also coming back are seniors Mac McNish and Ryan Anderson, as well as junior Connor Ridder. Torgerson said none of these four played a winter sport. Thus, when weather permitted, they hit the links and are in solid form heading into the season. “They’ve been able to get out a little bit when the weather is nice over the course of the winter. You can kind of tell that when the season started,” Torgerson said. “You could tell they’ve already been practicing some so that is huge. Buhler has various others looking to grab the two last spots on varsity. This season, Buhler gets to practice at Cottonwood Hills, which is a lot more convenient than making the daily trek to Hesston. The Crusaders look likely to make a run at state this year, and Torgerson said their near miss last season further adds fuel to their fire. “I think they walked off the golf course last spring and really felt like they could have played better,” Torgerson said. “But you know we had a great season. In the last couple of years we’ve finished a little higher every year at the state tournament. Really feel like we have enough coming back and some other players who weren’t part of those six at state.”

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