Kimball returns entire state qualifying golf team

With everyone back on the Kimball High Boy's golf team that finished sixth at last year's Nebraska State Tournament, Coach Chad Wise is optimistic for an even higher finish this season. Last season Coach Wise, who also serves as the Four Winds Golf Course Professional, established a motto for the team of "We are here to win." That same motto is in place again this year.

The only player who graduated from last year's team is Tyler Magninie, a good athlete who switched from track and field to golf for his senior year, last year. Coach Wise will be working with a squad of 11, at least at the time of this writing, but there is always a chance he could pick up another player or two. There are two seniors on this year's squad in Jordan Greenwood and Spencer Shields, both of whom will give good leadership and direction to the younger golfers. There are six returning letter winners off the team that captured seven team titles, plus two runner-up team finishes, and the sixth place finish at state. Among those wins were winning both conference tournaments along with winning District. They also won at Bayard, Grant, Scottsbluff and their own Kimball Invite.

Among the six returning lettermen, Greenwood stands out, as he was the individual winner and medalist at eight tournaments, including both conference tournaments and district, and finished runner-up at the state tournament. His only non-winning meet other than state was a third place finish at Mitchell. The young man who has been, already, a three-time state qualifier, and medalist, and who has already accepted a college scholarship to continue his passion, Coach Wise said, "Jordan will play in our number one spot, just like he did last year."

The balance of the team is made up of young players, but players who already have a season of experience, including playing at the state tournament. Wise said he also knows his number two and three golfers will be sophomores Zane Anthony and Dillon Wise, and they could switch positions, or alternate, depending on how they are playing. As a freshman, Anthony medaled in all but the state tournament and one other tournament. Wise medaled in all of the tournaments with the exception of state and he finished 18th at state and only three spots out of a medal.

The other three remaining letter winners are sophomore Izaac Reuter, a four-time medal winner in his freshman season, along with juniors Andrew McCloud and Kole Bush. McCloud was a two-time medal winner a year ago. Jacob Walker and Jaren Winstrom are sophomores back from last year's squad with lots of promise, and two incoming freshmen showing lots of promise, and with a lot of junior golf experience under their belts, are Brendan Walker and Ethan Greenwood. Give a lot of credit to the Kimball Junior Golf Program as everyone mentioned in this story has gone through the program and has played a lot of off-season, summer golf. Remember the old saying, practice makes perfect?

No wonder coach Wise and the players are excited to get the season underway and see if they can exceed the great season of a year ago. Coach Wise said, "I have very high expectations for this group of young men, and for this season. We come back with a lot of experience and a lot of maturity. Early on we are going to work hard on the mental part of the game, and with attitude. We want to do things right. And yes, we are going to stick with the motto of, 'We are here to win.'"

By the way, Greenwood was All State last year, along with, of course, All Conference Champion in both conferences, was first team All Region. All five Kimball golfers were mentioned as All Region with Zane Anthony and Dillon Wise both listed on the third team, and Andrew McCloud and Izaac Reuter given Honorable Mention. The season opens for the Kimball team April 4 at the Bayard Tournament. They will play a total of nine tournaments plus district and state.