Varsity golf coach Terry Kelley and the Wildcats may have stepped into a new league with new opponents, but the goal is still the same: a league championship and advancing to the state finals.
‘We want to win,? Kelley said. ‘I expect our boys to play real well and we would like to win that division, we would like to get out of districts and regionals and we would like to go to states. I think the potential is there.?
Even with the goal of winning a league title, he doesn’t quite know what to expect when Oxford squares off against Oakland Activities Association white division opponents Bloomfield Hills Lahser, Bloomfield Hills Andover, West Bloomfield, Troy Athens and Avondale.
‘I am cautiously optimistic,? he said. ‘It’s difficult to say because we are going into the league new this year and I haven’t seen those teams play…so I don’t know exactly how it is going to shape up.?
However, he feels they have enough talent on the roster to make a real competitive run at a league championship in their first year.
Kelley said the team returns six varsity lettermen from last season’s squad, and over 40 kids in the entire program, allowing him to have the option of having multiple junior varsity programs.
‘Right now I have four or five viable candidates for the last two spots, which means we are going to have an excellent JV program,? Kelley said.
Coach Joe Fedorinchik joins Gretchen Gabler as the team’s JV coaches this season.
Kelley is going to count on senior captain Doug Piesko and junior captain Nick Hocker to lead the Wildcats to victory.
Piesko, the team’s leading scorer last season, was ranked as the number one golfer in Michigan Top 50 summer program and has already signed a letter of intent to play golf for Lake Superior State University in the fall.
Kelley calls Hocker one of the team’s hardest workers.
‘He is a real hard worker, a real dependable boy, a leader and looks to be striking the ball even better than he did last year,? Kelley said.
Kelley will also look to senior Josh Hosking, senior Cody Collier and junior Justen Crouse to help provide some scoring in his everyday line-ups.
‘There are a lot of solid swings, some real good attitudes, and boys who want to work hard and improve and not take any shortcuts,? Kelley said.
The Wildcats will open up against rival Lake Orion at Boulder Pointe on Tuesday, April 12 beginning at 3 p.m.