Fall Sports Preview: Boys and Girls Golf
Moving On Up: Boys’ golf team is hoping to take advantage of competing in Division II this season.
When first-year coach Aaron Steininger, a 1997 WC graduate, found out the Worthington Christian varsity boys golf team was moving up to Division II, he immediately called the Firestone Country Club, the site of the division’s state tournament.
“I asked them to send me scorecards and ball markers to give to my players,” Steininger said. “I want them to write down what they will shoot when we make it to states this year.
Steininger replaces long-time Warrior coach Tom Burns. Burns resigned after guiding Worthington Christian to a second-place finish at the Division III Central District tournament. Worthington Christian shot a 324 at the district last year, finishing eight strokes behind Newark Catholic (316), which won its fourth consecutive district title and was the district’s representative at the state tournament. The Warriors also finished second at a Division III sectional, shooting a 316 to finish behind the Green Wave (301).
Steininger said it would be challenging to replace Burns, who “did many of the behind-the-scenes things,” to strengthen the program.
“I am so excited to take over the golf program. My goal is not just to be a golf coach. I truly want to build a program,” Steininger said. “I want to make sure we get our younger Warriors excited about golf and get them wanting to play golf for both the middle and high school teams.”
Worthington Christian graduated two of its top five players last year in Everett Burns, who had the team’s second-best score, an 80, at the district, and Caleb Chmielewski, who fired an 88 at the district. Everett Burns, who averaged an 81.3 in Central Buckeye League (CBL) play, was a third-team all-league selection and a second-team all-district pick. Chmielewski was an honorable mention all-district.
Steininger will rely on senior captains Grant Carter, Jeremiah Mulpas, and Nick Pihl to help the team improve. Pihl led the team with a 79 at the district, while Carter finished with an 82, and Mulpas shot an 83.
Mulpas had a 79.3 season average in CBL play, and Carter, who finished the year shooting an 80 in CBL competition, was a second-team all-CBL pick. Carter and Mulpas were first-team all-district selections, and Pihl was a second-team pick.
“Grant, Nick, and Jeremiah have taken the team under their wings,” Steininger said. “When I officially got the job in February, I met with them the following week and told them, ‘This is your team. We go where you go. It’s your job to reach out to the other JV and varsity players and ensure they know our goals.’ They have taken the torch and run with it.”
Juniors Chase Crawford, Dennis Smith, Michael Vargas, and sophomore Curtis Crager return to the team. Steininger said several newcomers can factor their way in for the Warriors. Cody Thomas, a goalkeeper for the boys’ soccer team, and freshman Spencer Rice shot some impressive scores during tryouts.
Steininger said one of the team’s goals is to return to the state tournament. Worthington Christian has not made it to the state tournament since 2017.
“We are well overdue,” Steininger said. “The key to reaching those goals is to improve individually and as a team each week. We must dedicate ourselves to practicing as a team and on our own.
“If we can peak at the right time on the same day, then we have prepared properly. Unfortunately, we played lights out in the sectional and then stumbled at the district. We want to change that this season.”
Steininger established the team’s motto as GTM, which stands for God, Team, Me.
“Golf is very much an individual sport, but if we can keep things in that order, our team will be unstoppable,” he said. “My main goal for all of my players is to play for God and play for each other.”
Girls Golf
Girl golf coach Louis So believes life is much more like a round of golf than the Forrest Gump adage of it being “like a box of chocolates.”
“Golf teaches us that life is not always smooth,” So said. “Sometimes, we play well and have pars and birdies, but we might suddenly face a bogey. No matter what challenges come our way, we must keep our eyes on the next shot.”
The Warriors learned that last season. After battling a season of injuries, Worthington Christian set a school record, qualified for the Division III district tournament, and placed sixth in the tournament.
The team peaked at the right moment, shooting a school-record 354 at a Division III sectional tournament to place behind Columbus Academy (307) and Columbus School for Girls (326). That score topped the team’s previous best of 368 at the 2022 Bloom-Carroll Invitational.
Senior Trina So, who shot a 77 to tie for fifth overall, and senior Sophie Burns (84), junior Milli Devenne (93), and graduate Rachel Hooley (100) rounded out the team’s top four. Gracie Burchwell (119) was the team’s fifth golfer.
The Warriors went on to place fifth in the district (387) behind Academy (325), CSG (329), Newark Catholic (358) and Lakewood (358). The Vikings went on to win their second consecutive state title.
Trina So, who tied for 11th with an 84, and Sophie Burns, who placed 23rd with a 91, both earned second-team all-district honors. Devenne (27th, 103), Rachel Hooley (28th, 109), and Burchwell (32nd, 118) rounded out the top five for the Warriors.
“Dealing with injuries in a small team is always a challenge,” Coach So said. “The turning point was when the team realized that even if one member struggled, the others could step up. This led to each girl breaking their own personal best.”
Worthington Christian will have a little more depth this year – Sophie Burns, Trina So, and Devenne. Newcomers expected to contribute to the team are sophomore Jillian Zollars, and freshmen exchange students Hoyeon Kang and Hyangjin Song.
“Our goals are to have fun, build character, patience, and resilience when trouble comes, and represent the values of Worthington Christian,” Coach So said. “We also aim to inspire and encourage younger girls to play golf.
“The key for this year’s is to let our two seniors lead the team and pass down their spirit to the new generation of young girl golfers. That will be crucial to achieving our goals.”