The long wait from last year’s heartbreaking end of the season is over and Elder Golf is fueled to compete for a State Championship.

From top to bottom, our starting five is solid and possess lots of talent. The lineup consists of Lucas Palicki, Evan DiSanto, Jack Baker, Victor Caliguri, and myself.

I got to catch up with each of my teammates and asked them a few questions about their expectations for the rest of the season. I asked each player about their goal for the rest of the season.

Lucas Palicki said, “Finish off GCL, win Sectionals, Districts, and State.” Evan DiSanto responded, “One step at a time, but win Sectionals, get to State. However, it may be one thru three, and give ourselves an opportunity going into the last round at State.” Jack Baker said, “Win the GCL and strive for a State title.”

As Victor is the lone freshman on the team, he said his goals for the rest of the season are, “Win the GCL, make it to State, and hopefully have a chance on the back nine at Scarlet come the final round.”

I also asked Victor about his freshman year experience been on varsity. He responded, “I have been treated very well. Everyone is very nice to me and are very helpful. My experience so far has been fantastic.” As a teammate of his, I wish him all the best the next three years after this season is over.

However, the big question I had for my fellow seniors was, “What would it mean to win a State Championship?”

Lucas Palicki said, “It would mean everything because of the disappointment of last year and how much I’ve worked for it over all four years at Elder. It would be a great feeling to get Elder it’s first ever golf State Championship and the first fall sports State Championship in a while. Also, it would be an amazing feeling to take down Saint Xavier and Dublin Jerome who have shown us little respect and to show everyone in the State that we are legit.”

As to winning a State Championship, Evan DiSanto responded, “(it would be) Unbelievable. All the hard work would pay off and would be the cherry on top of a great year.”

Jack Baker added, “It would sum up all the hard work every single member of our squad has put in. We’ve been playing and striving for this for four years now and to have it pay off senior year would be unbelievable.”

In order for that to happen, we must perform to the best of our ability. The team certainly has the raw talent to win as we have already beaten the top State contenders by winning the St. Xavier Invitational in August.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Coach Rogers

Senior Jack Wertz approaches #9 at Western Hills.

Winning the Sectional tournament on October 3rd was an important first step since that gave us the number one seed in the District tournament on October 11th.

Making it to State my sophomore year as an individual qualifier was an incredible experience. The Ohio State Scarlet course is one of the premier courses in the Midwest and to have dozens of people from the Elder community cheering me on was a very memorable time. However, I really want my teammates and I to experience the incredible energy at the State Championship and hopefully bring home the first ever State title for the Elder Golf team.

Go Panthers!