The top golfer in the area will return to the Valley Central Vikings this year, as state qualifier Sarah Samuelson will lead five returning players for the 2024 season.

Samuelson finished last season in a tie for 78th at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships with a total score of 200.

She qualified for the state meet by finishing ninth at the Section 9 championships to grab the final spot on the state team.

She leads a group of Valley Central returners that includes Leah Vetro, Peyton Messing, Lilly Ellison and Isabella Pitonza. Newcomers will include Dannika DeMarco and Emerson Doce.

Second-year coach Glenn Taylor said he hopes the Vikings will improve each time out on the course.

“Hopefully the girls continue to have fun and realize what a wonderful life sport they play,” Taylor said.

The Pine Bush Bushmen finished 5-13 last year and look to continue building the program.
Having lost Stephanie Tranchina from last year’s team, the Bushmen return Marie Curran, Makenna Peters, Jocelyn Loennecker, Alanna Page, Kayla DeWinder and Lanna Burtchell.

Rachel Vinella, Kate Megello, Caitlyn Loennecker and Mackenna Larsen are new to the team this year.

Boys
The Valley Central Vikings will enter the 2024 season with four golfers in the starting lineup with multiple years of experience, even if they did lose one of their most experienced golfers.

Last year’s team finished as the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association runners-up with a 4-2 mark. They were 9-8 overall. The Vikings also lost Gavin Jones, a six-year varsity golfer and OCIAA qualifier. Shea Clarke has also graduated from the team.

The Vikings top returning golfer is junior Thomas Crane, a two-time OCIAA qualifier and a two-time Section 9 qualifier. Also back are Section 9 and OCIAA qualifying eighth grader Caleb Hoag and OCIAA qualifier sophomore Charles Quick.

Eighth grader Jack Quick and seventh grader Ethan Galick are new to the team.

Fifth-year coach Adam Sontag said multiple golfers will compete for and rotate in and out of the final two lineup spots. The Vikings have more depth than they’ve had before and are hoping to have multiple OCIAA and Section 9 golfers.

“We are looking to compete in all dual matches this year, along with the divisional tournament in May,” Sontag said. “We’re hoping to have multiple OCIAA and Section 9 qualifiers again this season.”

The Pine Bush Bushmen are the defending OCIAA Division 1 champions after posting an 11-3 record and a 6-2 mark in the division last year.

And with everyone returning, the Bushmen are primed for further success.

Patrick Curran, Dylan King, Kaiden Lothrop, John Maragliano IV and Ryan Wittenberg will return to the Bushmen this year with numerous newcomers.

“With all our top returning players from last year’s successful season, I am excited to see their continued improvement,” Pine Bush coach Brian Shaw said.