This should shape up to be an exciting season of Golf for our LebCo teams. Look for several to contend for the top spots in their Leagues that will lead to several securing invites to the District 3 Team Championship. On top of that, some of the top golfers in Pennsylvania will be driving off of the tee on behalf of our local teams. This season will be worth watching.
For more on the progress of our teams, keep your eye out for our Golf Results Tracker.
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Annville-Cleona Dutchmen
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4
Head Coach: Todd Evans – 4th season
Key Returning Players: Wesley Heller (Sr.), Logan Francis (Jr.), Cian Soliday (Jr.)
Key Newcomers: Kipton Heller
Key Losses: Reagan Flynn (Drew University), Andrew Heller
Outlook: Last year, the Dutchmen boasted a strong line-up that was centered around senior Reagan Flynn, the District 3 AA Champion, and sophomore Logan Francis, who finished 11th at States. This combination, along with the Hellers, Wesley, and Andrew, led Annville to a 30-0 record that won the Lancaster Lebanon League Section 4 Championship.
Since then, Reagan Flynn and Andrew Heller have moved on, but Annville still has a talented line-up led by junior Francis. They will be helped by the addition of freshman Kipton Heller and the continued development of junior Cian Soliday.
Update: Annville stands at 8-2 through two matches. In each match, they trailed Pequea Valley, but Logan Francis finished as the top golfer.
Cedar Crest Falcons
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Drew Gates – 4th season
Key Returning Players: Ethan Rader (Sr.), Isaac Wolfe (Sr.), Carson DiBiaso (Jr.), Dylan Ramsey (Jr.), Davin Kolter (So.), Jackson Seidel (So.)
Key Newcomers:
Key Losses: Dayton DiBiaso (Sr.)
Outlook: In recent years, Cedar Crest has been in the hunt for the Section 1 Championship and to bring home hardware in the postseason. Last year, they finished with a 16-3 record, just behind Manheim Township.
In 2024, Crest will return its core group from last season, including junior Dylan Ramey, the 2022 PIAA State Champion, and senior Ethan Rader, a member of the 2022 League Championship Team.
A talented crew will join them, including senior Isaac Wolfe, junior Carson DiBiaso, along with sophomores Davin Kolter and Jackson Seidel.
The competition amongst the Falcons will be intense, as they will challenge each other every day at practice. Given their experience and what they’ve shown over time, this group could push the boundaries of excellence that many have come to expect from Cedar Crest Golf.
Update: Cedar Crest is 10-0 through two matches and is now in the driver’s seat for the Section 1 Championship.
Golf Results Tracker: August 20-22
ELCO Raiders
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Dave Meyer – 16th season
Key Returning Players: Brady Keath (Sr.), Brett Wenger (Jr.), Brady Habecker (So.), Landon Rhodes (So.)
Key Newcomers: Liam Savitsky (Sr.), James Dolan (So.)
Key Losses: Colin Bogart, Morgan Shanaman, Ethan Spang
Outlook: Last season, the Raiders finished the season with a 10-20 record. They were led in part by Brady Keath, who will be returning for his senior season. Joining Keath will be junior Brett Wenger, who has consistently improved as he has dedicated himself to the game of golf. After heavy losses to graduation, ELCO will have to develop its younger players to be competitive. The good news is that they have numbers on their roster and players who are willing to put in the work to improve.
Update: ELCO is currently 2-6 in Section play.
Lebanon Cedars
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4
Head Coach: Mark Naimoli – 6th season
Key Returning Players: Ben Discuillo (Sr.), Zach Leffler (Sr.)
Key Newcomers: Rolen Firestone (Sr.), Trinity Leeper (Fr.)
Key Losses: Mason Bender (LVC)
Outlook: Golf isn’t exactly the most popular sport in Lebanon City, but year after year, Coach Mark Naimoli finds enthusiastic players who are willing to put in the work to become competitive. Last year, it resulted in Ben DiScuillo, now a senior, qualifying for the Lancaster Lebanon League Championship. Mason Bender, a member of last year’s team, declared his intent to join LVC’s Golf Team this year. This combination of players resulted in the Cedars winning four matches a year ago.
This season, the Cedars will be led by DiScuillo. The only other returning golfer is senior Zach Leffler, who dramatically dropped his score last season. Rolen Firestone, another senior, is out for the first time this season, looking to improve on his work from the summer. Freshman Trinity Leeper will also be competing for Lebanon and will look to repeat what Olivia Bartal (Class of ’22), as she qualified for Districts and is now a key member of the LVC Golf team.
Update: The Cedars are 0-10 to start the season, but their improvement will not be measured in wins and losses. DiScuillo scored a 95 last match.
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Chris George – 3rd season
Key Returning Players: Vinny Battistelli (Sr.), Brian Bicksler (Sr.), Leland Kohr (Sr.), Levi Shoemaker (Sr.), Aiden Long (Jr.) Ashten Putt (So.)
Key Newcomers: Collin Padovani (Fr.)
Key Losses: Riley Clinger
Outlook: After finding success in Section 4 last season, finishing 19-11, the Vikings make their way into Section 3 as part of the Lancaster Lebanon League’s realignment. They will do so with their top four players from last year, who are now all seniors: Vinnie Battistelli, Brian Bicksler, Leland Kohr, and Levi Shoemaker. They served as the team’s #1 in at least one match last season.
They will be joined by junior Aiden Long and sophomore Ashten Putt, while freshman Collin Padovani has tremendous skills that will allow him factor into many of the team’s varsity scores throughout the season.
If they golf the way that they are able, look for several Vikings and maybe even the team to make Districts.
Update: Through two League matches, the Vikings are 6-2, finishing behind only perennial powerhouse Lampeter-Strasburg each time.
Palmyra Cougars
Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division
Head Coach: Tim Refi – 13th season
Key Returning Players: Ajay Horowitz (So.), Alex Irwin (So.)
Key Newcomers: Reece Kowalski (So.), Brady Hughes (Fr.)
Key Losses: Sean Kelly, Alexa Knapp
Outlook: In 2023, the Cougars finished 15-21, good enough for 4th in the Keystone. They were able to do that, led by two freshmen, Ajay Horowitz and Alex Irwin. This year, they are adding more youth, with sophomore Reece Kowalski and freshman Brady Hughes showing some early promise. If Horowitz, who averaged 89.7 but shot a season-best 82 in their final match. If Horowitz can continue to improve alongside Irwin, who carded a season-best 84 in 2023, these Cougars could be a force for the next couple of years.
Update: Palmyra has had two matches. In their last one, they went 2-4 with all four players scoring 90 or less.
2023 Regular Season Recap
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