Despite their 12 losses, the varsity golf team enjoyed a fantastic season with nine competitive wins.
On April 30, KO traveled up to the beautiful Berkshires to face Berkshire School, Williston, and Wilbraham Munson. Williston, unfortunately, got the edge on the KO golf team by two strokes, with a score of 422 to 424; however, KO beat both Berkshire and Wilbraham Munson, 424 to 433 for Berkshire and 507 for Wilbraham Munson. Eighth-grader Austin Perkins shot medalist with a score of 78, followed by an 80 from junior Captain Cody Brew, and 84 for freshman Alex Braunstein.
Head Coach Michael Wolf believes that the golf team had their best match of the year to date against Pomfret Academy on May 4, where KO beat Pomfret at KO’s home course, Gillette Ridge, with a score of 197 to 234. The team was led by Perkins, with a score of 36 which is even par and medalist for the match, Brew with a score of 1 over 37, and Braunstein with a 4 over 40. Other contributors to this match include sophomore Cloud Que with a 42, as well as junior Max Sams and sophomore Ty Russo with 49 apiece.
KO played in a two-day tournament at Farmington Woods, the Coppola Cup, hosted by Avon Old Farms, and faced Loomis Chaffee and Suffield Academy. Avon won the tournament with a combined two-day total of 397. KO finished second with a score of 431, Loomis Chaffee came in third with a score of 459, and Suffield Academy came in last with a score of 474. First day medalist went to Ben Masterson on AOF with a score of 1 under par 35 and Brew medaled second round with a score of 38. The two-day total went to Ben Masterson, with a combined total of 75.
On May 7, the golf team traveled to the Ledges Golf Club up in the mountains of South Hadley, Mass., where KO was hosted by Williston. Also in attendance were Loomis Chaffee and Northampton. Northampton came away victorious over everyone. KO was in a tiebreaker with Williston and beat Loomis. Scores were as follows: Northampton 208, Williston 215, KO 215 and Loomis 231. Brew medaled with a score of 37.
On May 11, KO traveled to Lakeville, Conn., to Hotchkiss School where they had a very competitive match. “We didn’t come out on top, but there was some good golf played,” Coach Wolf said. KO’s score was 203 which was the second lowest combined score of the year to Hotchkiss 197. The KO team was led by Brew with a score of 38, Sams with a 40, Perkins with a 41, Que with a 41, Braunstein with a 43 and freshman Ryan Sadowsky with a 49.
On May 14, KO traveled to the beautiful Crumpin Fox course in Bernardston, Mass., to face Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) and Wilbraham Munson. NMH led the battle with an incredible score of 316. This was a four-score total. The teams played 18 holes at this tough golf course, playing at 6500 yards. NMH came out with three players scoring in the 70’s, their number 1, Lars, who is attending Holy Cross to play next year, shot even par 72, and their number 2, Annie, fired a 77. KO was led by Perkins, firing an 88 and senior Aidan Aube got to make his first varsity appearance which made the coaches and all of his peers proud. While KO lost to NMH, they did, however, beat Wilbraham Munson. KO ended with a score of 366 to Wilbraham Munson’s score of 437.
Brew truly believes that the team improved, and he enjoyed the season with his team. “We started off kind of low, and now we’re starting to beat a lot of teams that we didn’t think we could beat, which is super exciting,” Brew said.
Coach Wolf is very proud of the goals the team has achieved this season. “My biggest goal of the season was to be better than we started,” he said. “We have done that. We are getting better in small steps, and that is what it takes to be successful. I’m very encouraged by their progress and because we have a young team, I know it’s great things ahead.”
Sams hoped to stay consistent and then slowly improve on things that he believed that he was not as good at. “Punting is one of the things I’ve worked on, and I think I have become more consistent with it,” Sams said.
Brew’s favorite part of the season has been the practices. “Going out and playing with other people is the best part, and we just go have fun,” Brew said. “I don’t really have any worries or pressure or anything. We just go play.” Sams agreed and also added that his favorite part of the season was playing all the different courses as well as meeting new people.
Coach Wolf has really enjoyed being a part of the team’s journey. “There have been ups and downs, but it has been an absolute pleasure to see how well they are progressing,” he said. “I have most enjoyed the bus rides to and from the matches and how much passion these kids have to compete. I’m just really proud of all of our kids. We have had so many kids improve over the season and that is very encouraging.”
For Coach Wolf, it has been an honor and a pleasure to coach the team and represent the school, and he looks forward to finishing strong and making the KO Wyvern community proud.
“Failure breeds success, and as I always say to my team: when you win you win, and when you lose you learn,” he said. “We have had our failures and through that we build for our future successes. Go Wyvern Nation.”
