With only one senior among its top six players, the Jackson boys golf team definitely is among the league’s youngest.
But as far as Wolfpack coach Jim Anderson is concerned, none of that matters.
“We’re only young grade-wise,” he said. “Experience-wise, these guys are playing in junior tournaments. How young they are doesn’t bother me because of all the golf they play.”
At Monday’s Everett District meet, Jackson freshman David Won earned medalist honors, his first of the season, to help lead the Timberwolves past Everett and Cascade.
Anderson wasn’t surprised by Won’s victory.
“He’s been very consistent,” Anderson said.
In Jackson’s first meet, Won was just a stroke out of first place.
“He’s had a good start,” Anderson said.
Sophomore Connor Miele, a state returner, and Barret McGinnis are co-captains and currently are the No. 1 and 2 players for the Wolfpack.
Miele and McGinnis, along with sophomore Taylor Pirnke, joined the team as freshmen and are the heart and soul of the team.
“There is something special about those three,” Anderson said. “They understand the game.”
Miele played at No. 1 or No. 2 consistently throughout his first season with the team.
“He just really has a great golf make-up,” Anderson said.
There is a great rapport between the players, especially with Miele and McGinnis, he added.
“The last three or four years they’ve played together,” Anderson said. “When somebody’s swing goes bad, they just ask the other person, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ They’re good friends and good golfers. I’m just happy they’ll push each other.”
Rounding out Jackson’s top six are sophomore Trent Livingstone and senior Josh Charleson.
A common characteristic of the team is that the players just flat out love golf.
“They have that passion,” Anderson said. “When they have a chance the place they want to hang out is the golf course.”
Won recently got a junior membership at the Mill Creek Country Club. Anderson was talking to one of the assistants at the club, who told him that Won is over there all the time, hitting balls and practicing his swing.
As talented as the Timberwolves are, they still have a ways go before they catch up with defending state champion Kamiak. The Knights bested Jackson by nine earlier this season.
“Kamiak is the team to beat,” Anderson said.
Anderson stresses to his players that they need to weigh the risk vs. reward on important shots.
“It doesn’t have to be a great shot,” Anderson tells them. “It just has to be a solid shot.
“Right now we’ve got great kids, good students and good golfers. It’s been a real neat start to the season.”
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