The KO boys varsity golf team has had a strong season up to this point, and a lot of it has been due to the leadership created and cherished by senior Co-captain Jordan Cipriano. This year on the links has been a big step up for him, competing in every varsity match. While in prior years he was a staple player on JV, he has demonstrated an ability to step up in the big moments and compete well both as a captain and in the No. 2 spot.
On Monday, April 8, the Wyverns faced off against a powerhouse Hotchkiss team, and despite losing the match by only nine shots with a score of 197-206, Cipriano played well. In the cold and windy conditions on a bare April day, he shot a 40, besting everybody that day except for his fellow teammate, senior Co-captain Austin Perkins.
“Shooting 40 versus Hotchkiss was definitely the highlight of my season,” Cipriano said. “Holding my own in a group with three division commits means a lot and gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.”
Playing in the No. 2 spot allows Cipriano to play a majority of his matches with Perkins in the No. 1 spot. “Playing with Austin in matches has really helped me because he causes me to think about what I do, leading me to make smarter decisions and lower scores on the course,” Cipriano shared.
A lot of success for the team has been due to the framework laid by interim Head Coach Jimmy Oxsalida.
“Coach Oxsalida has been great this season. He allows us to practice or play when we feel like that is what we have to improve on the most, and it has been really great this season,” Cipriano said. “When I am practicing, I just try to work on my consistency with my irons and not overthink the game too much.”
With a team that graduated practically the entire lineup last season except for one, this season has been one about experience, practice, and growth. As the Wyverns competed in the coveted Suffield Invitational on April 22, Cipriano was primed for a good performance. On a windy day with some of the most challenging pin locations the team had seen all year, Cipriano hit his stride. With smart lag putting and great tee sheets, he shot another 40 in his first time competing in the tournament.
“The strength of my game on the course has to be my short game,” Cipriano said. “My chipping and putting allow me to never fully be out of the hole.”
The Wyverns have just two tournaments left on the slate for this season. The Founders League Championships are taking place on Saturday, May 16, with Taft playing host at Watertown Golf Club. The season will culminate with the annual KIT invitational, which will see over 20 prep schools from across New England coming together at Farmington Country Club on Wednesday, May 20.
