By Nolan Bostic

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo Courtesy of Nolan Bostic

The West Central cross country team finished up the season following the state class “A” meet on October 22. Both the girls and boys ran strong all season long, and though the girls varsity qualified as a team to advance to state, only Gerrett Miles was able to advance for the guys. Advancing for the girls were seniors Emily Mammenga, Rachel Noonan, Emily Miles and freshmen Hannah Wahl and Summer Smith. The state meet took place in Huron. The temperature was slightly breezy, but relatively warm. The girls had a great finish as a team placing 6th.

All the members of the cross country team would agree that they had an excellent season. Together, the team battled windy and cold conditions, and ultimately the season results were respectable. Though three of the guys’ top members, Joe Schartz, Anthony Even and Matt Lawrence, were not able to make it, they showed great senior leadership throughout the year, which every high school coach would say is the key to success. Though next year’s team will be without many of this year’s top runners, they are very excited to see what they can accomplish next year.

By Nathan Bostic and Nolan Bostic
Trojan Tribune Staff
Photo by Stephanie Danielsen

It was a warm, windy day in Vermillion as the West Central boys’ golf team headed to The Bluffs for day one of the South Dakota High School State “A” Golf Tournament.

Every team had high expectations coming into the two-day tournament. The WC golf team set their goals high, hoping to place in the top six at state. Teeing off first for the Trojans was Dylan From, followed by Nathan Bostic, Riley Danielsen, Cole Rockafellow and Nolan Bostic. The strong, blustering winds played a major role in the different decisions the competitors had to make on how and where to strike the ball. Many of the WC golfers struggled to keep the ball in play, ultimately proving to make a long day. However, From and Danielsen managed to shoot scores in the low 80s.

Dell Rapids was in the lead after the first day, and former state champ Ryan Medhaug of Sisseton led the way with a solid 70. Anticipating another tough day, the Trojans looked to get back on top. The Trojans improved in the second day of the state tournament. Each golfer shot at least five strokes better than the day before, but at the end of the tournament, the Trojans were not able to recover all of the strokes from the day before, and placed seventh overall. Senior Nathan Bostic commented, “Even though I didn’t play as well as I would have liked, something really exciting that I did was make a long eagle putt on hole two the first day of the state tournament.”
Dell Rapids went on to win the 2011 South Dakota State “A” Golf Tournament, and Sisseton’s Ryan Medhaug held on to the lead and won the individual state tournament.

Nevertheless, two of West Central’s golfers placed individually. Danielsen, a sophomore, shot an 84-76 for a two-day score of 160. From, also a sophomore, shot an 82-76 for a total of 158. Danielsen said, “I had a great time at state golf, and I think next year we will have a good chance at making it to state as a team again.”
Although the Trojan golf team didn’t place as a team, with the strong leadership of Danielsen and From, they hope to lead the team back to the state tournament next year and bring home some hardware.