22 golfers to watch, what to know about the Battle Creek-area girls golf teams this fall

BATTLE CREEK - High school golf fans will want to scan this preview to get used to some of the familiar faces and new names that will be swinging the clubs among the city and area girls squads.

Key dates for the season include the annual All-City Golf Tournament on Sept. 12, as well as the start of the postseason with MHSAA regional tournament play the week of Oct. 6-11. The MHSAA state finals are set for Oct. 17-18 at various sites, including Division 2 hosted by Bedford Valley in the Battle Creek area.

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Here’s a look at the city/area girls golf squads:

Coldwater

Coach: John Petzko (15th season)

Last year: 6th in the Interstate 8 Conference

Top returners: McKinley Earles (jr.); Harper Anglin (so.); Alivia Arnold (so.); Peyton Longstreet (so.)

Outlook: Coldwater only had two seniors on the team a year ago and doesn't have any on this year's squad. The Cardinals will be looking to reload the program in the coming year, starting with a group in 2025 that has two juniors and six sophomores. The most experience comes from junior McKinley Earles with sophomores Harper Anglin, Alivia Arnold and Peyton Longstreet all seeing varsity rounds a season ago.

According to Petzko, "We will be a very young team this year."

Gull Lake

Coach: T.R. Walters (8th season)

Last year: Seventh in the state

Top returners: Charlotte Boudeman (sr.); Ali VanHuysen (jr.); Emma Walters (jr.)

Outlook: Gull Lake has three golfers returning who were on the state-qualifying Blue Devil squad a year ago that finished seventh in the state in Division 2. Senior Charlotte Boudeman was ninth overall at the state finals to earn all-state honors. Junior Ali VanHuysen was 35th overall at the state tournament. The Blue Devils will look to replace two key seniors in Ella Schaberg and Aubrey Crowley.

Harper Creek

Coach: Jason Knickerbocker (2nd season)

Last year: Interstate 8 champs; City champs

Top returners: Haley Willi (so.); Braylee Stanley (jr.); Audrey Flanders (jr.); Audrey Hantz (jr.)

Outlook: Harper Creek had a banner season in 2024, literally, putting up banners for a league title and a city title. The Beavers won the Interstate 8 Conference in the first season under head coach Jason Knickerbocker. However, Harper Creek lost its top two players to graduation in Arabella Stanley and Ellie Sandel. The Beavers bring back one of the strongest young players in the area in Haley Willi, who had the lowest scoring average on the team a year ago as a freshman, while winning the Harper Creek jamboree and the Marshall jamboree. Beyond that, Harper Creek will lean on a good group of juniors in Braylee Stanley, Audrey Flanders and Audrey Hantz.

According to Knickerbocker, "I expect big things from this year’s team.  We lost two really good players from last year.  They will be hard to replace, but if our returning juniors step up and two incoming freshmen play to their potential, then the sky’s the limit."

Lakeview

Coach: Zach Rutherford (2nd season)

Top returners: Josie Pawlowicz (sr.); Maddie Gutsue (sr.)

Outlook: Lakeview was led last year by one of the top golfers in the area in Amiyah Gibson, who later played under a sponsor's exemption in the professional Symetra Tour FireKeepers Golf Championship last summer. Gibson has graduated and is now playing college golf. The Spartans will have a young team in 2025 and will lean heavily on the experience of seniors Josie Pawlowicz and Maddie Gutsue.

According to Rutherford, "We have a young team this year. We have a positive mindset going into this season. I’m excited to see the growth from the players this year."

Marshall

Coach: Bob Voigt (5th season)

Top returners: Aubrey Dysinger (sr.); Aubrey Tarkiewicz (sr.); Ariana Torrez (jr.); Anna Thompson (so.); Anna Vincent (so.); Sophie Fondren (so.); Sophia Hankey (so.)

Outlook: Marshall only lost one senior from last year's team, so the Redhawks are deep and experienced and are hoping for big things and a run towards an Interstate 8 Conference title in 2025. Marshall is led by two four-year varsity golfers in Aubrey Tarkiewicz and Aubrey Dysinger. A third-year junior also returns in Ariana Torrez with the roster also featuring sophomores Anna Thompson, Anna Vincent and Sophie Fondren.

According to Voigt: "We are expecting great things this year with such an experienced squad. The players have all worked hard over the summer and we are seeing scores from all seven returners, lower than last year. Our hope is to win our league and qualify for the state finals in October."

Pennfield

Coach: Rob Moran (3rd season)

Top returners: Layla Kelly (jr.); Marin Crandall (sr.);

Outlook: Pennfield brought back its golf team three seasons ago and the Panthers are still looking to grow the program. Rob Moran has been the head coach all three seasons and has seen some improvement. However, graduation losses are always a concern as Pennfield lost its top three players from last year. The Panthers will lean on some leadership from returners Layla Kelly and Marin Crandall. Kelly is a junior in her second season on the team. Crandall is the most experienced golfer on the team as a senior.

According to Moran: "This is our third year with a golf program, and we are still learning the game. We graduated our top golfers from last season, so there will be several new faces this year. We hope to grow in our skills as well as our love for the game.""

Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: 2025 season preview for high school girls golf in Battle Creek area