PHS Boys Golf Notebook: Team Sets Goal of Beating Valparaiso

PHS-boys-golf-collageA Seasoned Squad

The Portage High School boys golf team retained its top five golfers from the 2012 regional qualifying team. Head coach Dick Kretz said this is the deepest team he has had in terms of experience.

“I’ve been telling the kids that our expectations are high this year,” he said. “Not only to improve our overall record, but to improve our DAC record and to get back to where we want to go, because even though we made the regional, we didn’t play up to our potential. I’d like our kids to get back there and redeem themselves and play up to our potential.”

Senior Nick Lewis has locked down the No. 1 slot, followed by junior Jordan Henson, sophomore Noah Kunstek, junior Tep Junyanid and senior Tyler Gonzalez in the No. 2 through No. 5 varsity positions.

A Goal in Mind

When asked about their goals for the 2013 season, there is one common thread among the Portage boys golfers: beating Valpo. The Indians defeated Valparaiso in the Duneland Athletic Conference Meet a year ago, but fell in the sectional and regional. The Porter County foes meet on April 24 as part of a triangular at Robbinhurst, on May 8 at Beechwood, on May 22 in the DAC Invite and on May 31 in the La Porte Sectional.

“I’ve been here probably 12, 13 years and I don’t think we’ve ever beaten Valpo in a dual or triangular meet,” Kretz said. “We finally toppled them last year in the DAC Meet. Valpo is the measuring stick. They’re one of the class teams in the area.”

The Vikings’ roster features two Division-I players at one and two, and a solid three through five, but Kretz likes the Indians chances in those meets.

“We’ve got all players that have been through the ropes,” he said. “They know what is expected of them. They know what to do. They’re not going to be intimidated; I think they’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Mental Toughness

Since high school golf does not receive the attention or notoriety of other sports, golfers are motivated by their own will to do better and their love of the sport, rather than by popularity or media coverage.

“I think its shows that they are dedicated for one, that they love the sport, even though they know coming into it there’s not that notoriety with it,” Kretz said. “In terms of being a successful program year in and year out, we’re always in the middle or the bottom of the pack, so I think that gets back to mental toughness. Are you willing to come out and try to change that? I think this year’s group has a good chance to do some of those things.”

Kretz listed a short term memory and patience as two other attributes required to be successful on the golf course.

“You can’t play defense; you can’t steal the ball from them; you can’t stop someone from scoring, so it’s all on you,” he said. “You’re going to have a bad shot, you’re going to have a bad hole, but it’s all about how you bounce back.”

Assistant coach Tim Kunstek said he loves what the sport of golf teaches people “not only about golf, but about life.”

Henson Set to Break Out

Lewis is a known commodity at No. 1, but No. 2 golfer, junior Jordan Henson could be a household name by season’s end.

“I think we know what he can do, but I think this year for Jordan, he’s going to kind of bust onto the scene being a junior where people are going to take note of him,” Kretz said.

Henson said the biggest difference this year is the chance to take on a leadership role as a junior with varsity experience.

“I’ve just tried to help a lot of the freshmen get their swing down and make sure they can make solid contact and take our junior roles when they’re older,” Henson said.

Seeking Spectators

Portage has four home meets remaining before the end of the regular season on May 21. All home meets take place at Robbinhurst in Portage.

“This is a sport where not a lot of people come out and watch,” Kretz said. “It’s mostly parents and maybe a few friends, but it would be nice to see people stop by and watch a couple holes, plus it doesn’t cost anything to come.”

 Click here to meet the 2013 Portage boys golf team!