The Mount Si High School boys golf team looks to have a strong 2008 campaign, with the Wildcats bringing back a threesome that could be the best on any team in the Kingco Conference.
“I think we can have an undefeated season if our team is playing to the fullest,” predicted junior Matt Prewett.
The ‘Cats will be coached once again by Mike Johnston, now in his third season with the boys and 32nd overall. Johnston will be assisted once more by Glen Uno. The team finished 4-4 in matches last season, and returning is a group of three boys who all have solid tournament experience, both at the high school and at the youth level with the Washington Junior Golf Association and other youth golf tours. This threesome is led by junior Bradley Harrelson, who finished 16th at the boys’ state 3A tournament in Bellingham this spring.
Also back are senior Mike Rutledge and sophomore Jack Kelly, who both also made state this spring. Boys’ golf in Kingco is a fall sport, but the state tournament is held the following spring. Kelly finished tied for 30th in his first state tournament, while Rutledge missed the cut after the first day.
The Wildcat trio bring strong out-of-season experience this fall. All three participated in the WJGA tour events and competed in the regional Pacific Northwest Golf Association boys junior amateur tournament this summer.
The team has solid depth as well. Look for returning seniors Luke Dietsch and Bryce Karalus to make varsity, and returning junior Matt Prewett to lead a good group of underclassmen. Prewett himself has WJGA experience, but did not compete on the tour this season.
With so much experience, veteran players can help newer teammates learn the sport much more easily. That’s what Johnston is looking for from his veteran group.
“I’d like them to set a good example for those other athletes,” he said. “Their control of the game, their display of sportsmanship and their ability to show that they can live with the bad shots as well as the good shots — hopefully that rubs off on other kids.”
Mount Si’s boys golf team had 31 boys try out. Harrelson thinks the sport is on the rise locally among boys his age.
“It’s great that the sport has progressed in the Valley,” he said. “A lot of kids I know that used to play baseball, they’re trying golf for the first time and they’re liking it.”
Prewett thinks the Boeing Classic senior pro golf tournament held a couple of weeks ago at the TPC course on Snoqualmie Ridge helps to generate interest.
“It’s always cool to watch pros play live, and I think it can inspire kids to start golf,” he said.
“I saw a lot of kids up there (that) weekend, and they were enjoying it,” Harrelson said. “They really seemed to like it.”
The Kingco Conference looks to be solid, even with realignment, since in golf, unlike in team sports, the 3A and 4A teams are all bunched together in divisions.
Within the 3A league, look for Mercer Island to give Mount Si the main challenge for the league title, while within the division itself, the Wildcats will likely have to battle 4A Skyline for the top spot. Mount Si’s division is mixed 3A and 4A, with Eastlake, Redmond, Skyline and Liberty.
Johnston is thinking big this season.
“I feel really hopeful that by the end of the season, Mount Si’s going to put six kids right through districts, then hopefully, right through to state,” he said. “That’s certainly a goal of mine, but trying to achieve it is another issue.”
