“He’s pushed me to be the best I can be,” said Kyle, a sophomore. “If he wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“Kyle is awesome,” said Will, a senior. “I remember when I was a sophomore — I had no shot to do something like he’s done. He works harder than anybody I’ve ever seen. You guys watch the next couple years. He’ll be ready.”
Weather wiped out Friday’s round, turning the event into an 18-hole shootout. Will and Kyle both fired 6-over-par 78s at Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course to finish in a tie for 22nd, helping the Thunderhawks to a seventh-place showing with a score of 321 in their first state appearance since 2008 and second overall.
Junior Alex Dunaway shot 82, junior Drew Mahon an 83 and senior Ben Irvin 86.
“Kyle is as good as any sophomore in the state. He’s big time. And Will is just as good,” East coach Jeff Combs said. “They’re different types of players. Will pounds the ball, just kills it. Kyle kind of picks apart a course.”
Combs has 18 players in his program and had to make cuts to get to that number. Almost all were at the state tourney to support their teammates and soak in the atmosphere.
“Hopefully, we’re starting a new tradition,” Combs said.
St. Xavier won the boys team title with a four-player score of 303. St. X senior Cameron Frazier and Columbus St. Charles senior Evan Yakubov tied for medalist honors with 71s.
Olentangy Orange won the girls crown with a 311 on the par-70 Gray Course. Dublin Jerome’s Abby Kiefer and Medina Highland’s Madison Butler carded 71s to win co-medalist honors.
Lakota West sophomore Natalia Sompolvorachai shot 76 to finish in a tie for 10th and earn second-team all-state honors.
“I’m pretty happy how it went today, but I’m hoping next year will be better,” she said.
Firebirds coach Linda Coffey believes it will.
“If she keeps working on her game, I think she’ll be unstoppable,” Coffey said.
About the Author