Fillmore Central > Head Coaches: Aaron Mensink (girls), Brad Holten (boys). Last year (girls): 9-1 in TRC (co-East champs), 11-1 overall; 1st at TRC Meet; Section 1A champs; state 2nd place finisher. Last year (boys): 8-2 in TRC (east champions), 11-2 overall; 5th at TRC Meet; Section 1A runner-up. Key returnees (girls): Grace Miller (Sr > 2nd at TRC Meet, 1st at 1A Meet, 8th-tie at state, All-TRC), Madison Scheevel (Jr. > 4th-tie at TRC Meet, 2nd at 1A Meet, 10th at state, All-TRC), Cailey Rindels (Sr. > 10th-tie at TRC Meet, 11th at 1A Meet, 25th-tie at state, All-TRC), Taylor Bushman (So.). Key returnees (boys): Carter Nevalainen (Sr. > 18th-tie at 1A Meet, All-TRC). Synopsis: The FC girl’s golf dynasty continues. Mensink looks for a fourth golfer as they go for one for the thumb (five-peat as Section 1A champ). Miller and Scheevel for sure have chops to make state alone. FC’s boys have to re-group. Nevalainen is the only one of the top six from last year back.
Kingsland > Head Coach: Brent Kohn. Last year (boys): 9th at TRC Meet; did not make Day 2 of 1A Meet. Last year (girls): Incomplete at TRC Meet; Did not compete at 1A Meet. Key returnees (boys): Simon Broadwater (Sr. > 11th-tie at TRC Meet, 4th at 1A Meet, 16th-tie at state, All-TRC), Wyatt Pruter (Jr. > 8th-tie at TRC Meet, 12th at 1A Meet, All-TRC), Hunter Jorgensen (Jr.), Nick Wernimont (Jr.), Gregg Hubka (Jr.). Key returnees (girls): Madeline Moore (So. > All-TRC), Kylie Welch (So.). Synopsis: Broadwater is a two-time state qualifier. Pruter is knocking on the door. Kohn returns nearly his entire boys team. The girls will be incomplete with just three out.
Lanesboro > Head Coach: Krissy Overland. Last year (girls): 1st at SEC Meet (of three full teams), Incomplete at 1A Meet. Last year (boys): Incomplete at SEC and 1A Meets. Key returnees (girls): Payton Benson (So. > 1st at SEC Meet, 12th at 1A Meet, All-SEC), Janell Boyum (Sr. > 3rd at SEC Meet, All-SEC). Key returnees (boys): Clay Schwichtenberg. Synopsis: Benson was 10 strokes off the state pace last year. The Burros have five girls for a complete squad. The boys also have the numbers, but graduated their only Section 1A meet competitor.
Rushford-Peterson > Head Coach: Luke Rye (new). Last year (boys): 2nd at TRC Meet, did not make Day 2 of 1A Meet. Last year (girls): Incomplete at TRC Meet, 4th at 1A Meet (of five complete teams). Key returnees (boys): Jordan McNamer (Sr. > 11th-tie at TRC Meet, 19th at 1A Meet), Gabe Mierau (Sr.). Key returnees (girls): Grace Luhmann (Sr.), Hannah Ledebuhr (Sr.). Synopsis: Rye, a former assistant, takes over for Mike Honken. Trojans boys graduated their two boys All-SEC picks. The girls had four out last year, just two this year.
Chatfield > Head Coach: Paul Wagner. Last year (boys): Incomplete at TRC Meet. Last year (girls): Incomplete at TRC Meet. Key returnees (boys): Riley Mulhern (So.), Tucker McCurdy (Jr.). Key returnees (girls): none (no program). Synopsis: The boys have a young five-man squad. The girls, after having just one healthy golfer last year, will not field a team this year.
Houston > Head Coaches: Kiel Koehler (boys), Ryan Gatzlaff (girls). Last year (girls): 2nd at SEC Meet (of three full teams). Last year (boys): 2nd at SEC Meet (of two complete teams); Did not make Day 2 of 1A Meet. Key returnees (girls): Brynne Schultz (Sr. > 2nd at SEC Meet, All-SEC), Lilli Carlson (Jr. > 6th at SEC Meet). Key returnees (boys): Dakota Stampka (Jr.), Owen Gaustad (So.). Synopsis: Schultz is the top returning golfer either sex, though she finished 26th at the Section meet.