Stretch Run, Sand Save Seal DeWitt Title
June 6, 2015
By Mark Meyer
Special for Second Half
EAST LANSING – Standing in a greenside bunker at the 18th hole and staring at perhaps one of the most important shots of his high school career, DeWitt senior Geoffry Croley calmly grabbed his sand wedge and helped seal his team’s MHSAA title in dramatic fashion.
Croley’s unlikely birdie – a one-hopper off the flagstick and into the cup – was one of several key title-savers for the Panthers, who edged Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 594-595, to win the Division 2 championship at Forest Akers East on Saturday afternoon.
Croley’s younger brother, freshman Joey, rolled in a par putt on his last hole (the 16th) and earned a big pat on the back from coach Dave Koenigsknecht.
“A lot of big shots down the stretch, because we knew it was going to be tight,” said Koenigsknecht, whose team finished seventh last year. “We didn’t get off to a great start, but the kids battled all day and hung on at the end.”
Senior Owen Beyer, who shot a medalist round of 5-under-par 67 on Friday, led the Panthers with a two-day total of 2-under-par 142. Geoffry Croley finished three shots back at 145, Joey Croley carded a 153 and junior Ian Helm finished at 155. Senior Mike Coscarelli counted a 79 Saturday and finished at 160 for the two days.
The MHSAA title was the third in six years for DeWitt, which also captured Division 2 championships in 2010 and 2011.
“Ian Helm, Mike Coscarelli and Joey Croley have really improved in the past couple of weeks,” Koenigsknecht said. “As they started to shoot some scores in the 70s, their confidence picked up and made us a much better team heading into regionals.”
Walking down the fairway at the par-3 18th hole, Geoffry Croley was hoping to get up and down in two shots from the bunker.
“I knew we were close (with Cranbrook Kingswood) and had a feeling it might come down to the last hole,” Croley said. “I picked my spot, the ball took one hop, hit the stick and the tears started falling faster than the ball could hit the hole. What a special way to end the season.”
Senior Dylan Deogun led runner-up Cranbrook Kingswood with a 3-under-par 141 while sophomore Devin Deogun shot 145. Sophomore Wyatt Fryckman (154) and senior Matt Jacobs (155) completed the scoring for the Cranes, who were the defending champions and top-ranked team in Division 2 entering the Final.
Junior Spencer Schab led third-place Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (603) with a 146 while senior Trevor Goslin carded a 144 (69-75) for fourth-place Dearborn Divine Child (605).
Hamilton senior Nick Carlson won his second individual Finals title by shooting an 8-under-par 64 to finish the tournament at 10-under-par 134.
“Yesterday (Friday) I didn’t have a whole lot right going for me, but today was the opposite,” said Carlson, who is headed to the University of Michigan. “I chipped in from 40 yards out on the 11th hole for birdie and made a 50-footer on the eighth hole, again for birdie. It was one of those days when a lot of very good things happened.
“If I didn’t hit a good drive or good approach, I was able to chip it close and save a shot here and there.”
Carlson won the Division 2 title as a freshman in 2012 and finished second the past two seasons, including last year at Forest Akers West.
“This last week of golf was the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” Carlson said. “I was loose, relaxed and really enjoying where I was at. On the last hole I just wanted to soak it all up and savor the moment.”
Hamilton coach Kevin Arnold has been watching Carlson play at Diamond Springs Golf Course in Hamilton since he was 5 years old.
“A real pleasure to coach and a fine young man,” Arnold said. “I didn’t do much for Nick other than to act as a sounding board for occasional advice. He’s worked long and hard to get to this point and I’m very happy for him. He deserves all the accolades because he’s worked hard to get to this point.”
PHOTOS: (Top) DeWitt’s Geoffry Croley watches his birdie chip on No. 18 on Saturday; it fell into the cup and helped decide the Division 2 title in the Panthers’ favor. (Middle) Hamilton’s Nick Carlson smiles after receiving his championship medal, the second of his career. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com).
Performance: Lakeview's Andrew Walker
June 27, 2016
Andrew Walker
Battle Creek Lakeview senior – Golf
Walker finished his high school career June 11 with his second straight MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals championship, shooting a two-day (68-75) 143 and then edging Plymouth’s Jack Boczar in a one-hole playoff at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University to earn the Michigan National Guard “Performance of the Week” for June 6-12.
Walker then was named Mr. Golf for the third straight season by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association, and since has qualified to return for the second straight summer to the U.S. Junior Amateur, which this year will be played July 18-23 at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. (He also played in the U.S. Amateur as a 14-year-old in 2013, becoming one of the youngest players ever to tee up at the prestigious event.) Walker this spring became the only player in the 16-year history of the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference to win the individual league championship all four seasons, and he shot par or better in 14 of his 20 rounds. Lakeview finished sixth as a team at the MHSAA Final and won the title when Walker was a freshman in 2013.
Boasting a grade-point average above 4.0 and among the top 10 in his class at Lakeview, Walker picked Michigan State University over Duke, Michigan, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma State, among others. He followed his brother Filmore Walker IV, also a former high school golf standout, at Lakeview, and the influence of his father Filmore III and godfather and uncle, Gene Hughes, in wearing the straw hat that has become something of a stylistic signature as Andrew has succeeded on the state and nationwide levels. Walker also played basketball as a freshman and sophomore.
Coach Tony Evans said: "I have known Andrew since he was little because his older brother played for me. Andrew was playing in high-level tournaments at an early age, and everyone expected him to be not only one of the best Michigan players, but one of the best in the nation. There are two things that stand out to me when it comes to Andrew Walker: One is that fact that he was able to handle all of the external and internal pressure and fulfill the expectations that were placed on him by others. The second is the respect that I have for him as a person. Andrew is not only a brilliant student, 4.12 GPA and a 31 on the ACT, he is a kind, funny, and respectful young man. It has been such a pleasure to watch him grow into an honorable young man who has represented our community with utmost integrity. Andrew Walker is not only one of the best high school golfers in Michigan, but one of the best in the nation as well. I can honestly say that Andrew Walker is a better person than he is a golfer. It has been my pleasure and honor to be his coach over the past four years."
Performance Point: (High school golf) meant a ton to me. I can’t really put into words what it meant to me, actually. It’s a great honor to say what I’ve done, and I’m thankful to the people who helped me get through that journey along the way, teammates, coaches, family, friends – whoever they are, they all helped. It definitely was a big part of my golfing career, definitely a big part of my life. I’m glad to say how big a part of me it became; I had some of the best times of my life with the five or six other guys. Looking back it’s really amazing, everything we’ve done, everything I’ve accomplished with those guys.”
Breaking the tie: “We’ve (Walker and Boczar) known each other quite a long time, played a bunch of junior tournaments together. I made it a little more stressful in the second round than I wanted, but it was a ton of fun. Playoffs always pressure-wise are a step above regular competition for me; there’s no time to make up for any mistakes you make, and it demands your best. … Jack told me (after), ‘Congratulations,’ and I was like, ‘Thanks buddy. They was great, a ton of fun.’”
Big brother knows: “I picked up quite a few things from my brother. Definitely work ethic was one of those things. Whenever he was off, he’d start to work on it, and that’s a big thing – don’t get upset or anything, just work on it … go out and fix it. Patience is another thing. Growing up playing golf, I was not a patient kid when I wasn’t playing well. My big brother was a person who helped me grasp the concept that you’ll not always have your game, but be patient, wait for it and do the best with what you have that day.”
Picking up from the pros: “I look to different people for different aspects of the game. I look at Jordan Spieth, he’s one of the better players in the world, and his putting. … I look at a player like Zach Johnson; his wedge game is phenomenal. My game is my game. I won’t and don’t play like any other player; I play like me. But that’s definitely something I look out for, tips and stuff to help improve different aspects, playing-wise and strategy-wise, and I try to make them my own."
Making a connection: “I’m planning on studying applied engineering sciences … and I’m definitely looking into supply chain management. My dad worked as vice president of the Asia Pacific supply chain for Kellogg’s for a while, and that showed me a bit about that and how it all works. I’m a math/science geek, so it goes with what I want to do.”
– Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2015-16 school year, Second Half and the Michigan National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom, or protecting lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2015-16 honorees
June 8: Sekayi Bracey, East Kentwood girls track & field - Read
June 1: Anna Jefferson, Oak Park girls track & field - Read
May 25: Connor Bandel, Oxford boys track & field - Read
May 18: Kalyn Breckenridge, Birch Run girls soccer - Read
May 11: Morgan Beadlescomb, Algonac boys track & field - Read
May 4: Abby Krzywiecki, Farmington Hills Mercy softball - Read
April 27: Mike Mokma, Holland Christian baseball - Read
April 20: Abby Divozzo, Cadillac girls soccer - Read
March 30: Cassius Winston, Detroit U-D Jesuit boys basketball - Read
March 23: Kierra Fletcher, Warren Cousino girls basketball - Read
March 16: Jacob Montague, Grosse Pointe South swimming & diving - Read
March 9: Kyle Tuttle, St. Charles boys bowling - Read
March 2: Brittney Schnicke, Caledonia girls bowling - Read
Feb. 24: Kamari Newman, Detroit East English boys basketball - Read
Feb. 17: Jason Whitens, Powers North Central boys basketball - Read
Feb. 10: Rachel Hogan, Grand Ledge gymnastics - Read
Feb. 3: Nehemiah Mork, Midland Dow swimming & diving - Read
Jan. 27: Mardrekia Cook, Muskegon girls basketball - Read
Jan. 20: Sage Castillo, Hartland wrestling - Read
Jan. 13: Rob Zofchak, Dexter swimming & diving - Read
Jan. 6: Tyler Deming, Caro wrestling – Read
Dec. 15: Jordan Weber, East Jordan boys basketball – Read
Dec. 8: Kaitlyn Geers, Kent City girls basketball – Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Andrew Walker watches one of his shots during the MHSAA LP Division 1 Final at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University. (Middle) Walker (right) and Plymouth's Jack Boczar shake hands after Walker won a one-hole playoff to clinch the individual title. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)