Boys golf preview: Area teams hit hard by graduation losses

This fall should be fascinating for Medina County's boys golf teams, with a lot of new faces figuring to make their mark. None of last season's top five scorers return, with Medina's Cam Stafford the lone All-Gazette choice. Teammate Declan West, Buckeye's Luca Violi and Wadsworth's Michael Fahey were honorable mention. There are a number of promising freshmen, including Michael Valus and Brayden Steinhagen of Buckeye, Highland's Michael Caza and Noah Krietenmeyer, Medina's Trent Riedel and Wadsworth's Bennett Nichols and John Brantley. Black River and Cloverleaf are strong in numbers, Highland and Medina are defending conference championships and the Bees will see if they can return to the Division I state tournament. Brunswick, Buckeye and Wadsworth are young but show a lot of promise. The Blue Devils' Jacob Fudale is the county's only new coach. Here's a closer look at the seven teams: Black River Coach: Dave Mate II (3rd season) Last season: 6th Lorain County League tournament (6th overall), 13th of 15 at Bunker Hill Division III Sectional. Home course: Rolling Acres Golf Course Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Hunter Mate (sr.). Newcomers: Landyn Herrick (jr.), Wade Mangan (so.), Kohl Henry (so.), Adalee Hollan (so.), Caroline Maat (so.). Noteworthy: Always working to create interest in the sport, Black River will field a full team for the first time in a few years. l Hunter Mate (56.7 average) is the Pirates' most experienced golfer. Brunswick Coach: Jacob Fudale (1st season) Last season: 0-2 non-league, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th Greater Cleveland Conference tournaments (4th overall), 9th of 14 at J.E. Good Park Division I Sectional. Home course: Pine Hills Golf Club Key letterwinner lost: Dayten Bobula (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Luke Stella (sr.), Ethan Kovacs (sr.), Braedon Sopko (sr.). Newcomers: Connor Wokoun (sr.), Colton Sulima (jr.), Liam Cooney (fr.) Noteworthy: Kovacs (44.4) and Stella (45.1) give Brunswick the most experience. Kovacs is entering his third varsity season. l Fudale is an intervention specialist and teaches a college and career readiness lab at the middle school. While this is his first head varsity job for Brunswick, he also has experience coaching baseball and basketball. Buckeye Coach: Bob Miller (2nd season) Last season: 2-5 Cleveland West Conference, 4th CWC preseason and postseason tournaments (4th overall), 12th of 14 at J.E. Good Park Division I Sectional. Home course: Weymouth Country Club Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Luca Violi (HM All-Gazette, sr.), Blaise Bir (sr.), Andy Kost (jr.), Ben Lange (so.) Newcomers: Wyatt Clark (so.), Michael Valus (fr.), Brayden Steinhagen (fr.). Noteworthy: Led by 2023 individual district qualifier Violi (41.6), Buckeye is aiming for its first district qualifying team in program history. l Backing Violi are Bir (46.7), who made significant improvements in the offseason, and Kost (45.0). Improved length by Lange (46.6), overall growth by Clark, who was on junior varsity last season, and impactful freshmen give the Bucks depth. Cloverleaf Coach: Mike McGee (4th season, 29-22) Last season: 10-8 overall, 9-5 Metro Athletic Conference, 3rd MAC Tournament (3rd overall), 12th of 16 at Pine Hills Division II Sectional. Home course: Bunker Hill Golf Course Key letterwinners lost: None Letterwinners: Gavin Jenkins (jr.), Zane Schreck (jr.), Jason Matheny (so.), Reilly Maloney (so.), Logan Jenkins (so.). Newcomers: Austin Sustersic (jr.), Reed Kilgore (jr.), Landon Huth (fr.). Noteworthy: The Colts had their largest turnout in six years and will field a full junior varsity. l Cloverleaf's eyes are set on improving in hopes of winning the MAC and peaking for postseason play. Highland Coach: Andrew Dutt (13th season, 72-24-1) Last season: 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd Suburban League American Conference tournaments (1st overall), 3rd of 14 at J.E. Good Park Division I Sectional, 12th of 20 at Pine Hills District. Home course: Pine Hills Golf Club Key letterwinners lost: Zach Butcher (All-Gazette), Luke Butcher (All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Austin Valore (sr.), Jun Kim (sr.), Hayden Hoit (jr.). Newcomers: Tyler Bell (sr.), Micah Crone (sr.), Michael Caza (fr.), Noah Krietemeyer (fr.). Noteworthy: Highland is counting on improvement from its three returning golfers, who have worked hard in the offseason, and an influx of new talent to replace the Butcher twins atop the lineup. l The SL American figures to be tough again as the Hornets look to defend their title. Medina Coach: Mike Mozingo (8th season, 28-9-1) Last season: 2-1 non-league, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st Greater Cleveland Conference (1st overall), 2nd of 14 at J.E. Good Park Division I Sectional, 4th of 20 at Pine Hills District, 10th of 12 at state tournament. Home Course: Fox Meadow Country Club Key letterwinners lost: Eli Zimmerman (Gazette MVP), Coen Miller (All-Gazette), Wren Spires (All-Gazette), Austin Funk (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Cam Stafford (All-Gazette, sr.), Declan West (HM All-Gazette, so.). Newcomers: Colin King (sr.), Elliot Morgan (jr.), Conrad Basson (jr.), Trent Riedel (fr.). Noteworthy: Riedel and West (40.6) finished first and third, respectively, in their age division in the Northern Ohio PGA and pair with Stafford (40.9) to form a strong nucleus. l Spires (39.7) and Funk (40.9) opted not to come out for their junior seasons. Wadsworth Coach: Steve Ferris (4th season, 17-12, 2-5 as girls coach last season) Last season: 4-6 non-league, 6th, 5th, 6th, 5th Suburban League National Conference tournaments (6th overall), 10th of 14 at J.E. Good Park Division I Sectional, Landon Blizzard 102nd Pine Hills District. Home course: Pine Valley Golf Course Key letterwinner lost: Landon Blizzard (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Michael Fahey (HM All-Gazette, sr.), Chase Otradovec (jr.). Newcomers: Ethan Steckel (jr.), Colton Patrick (so.), Ajay Hill (so.), Zach Stuchal (so.), Bennett Nichols (fr.), John Brantley (fr.) Noteworthy: Fahey (41.1) won two-day summer event at Quail Hollow, with 69-82-151 and will likely be Wadsworth's leading scorer. l Behind Fahey, the rest of the team is young and Ferris expects to see solid growth. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.