Lake City: New kids on the tee box
Courtesy photo The Lake City High boys golf team won the 5A Region 1 tournament on Monday. From left are coach Troy Anderson, Alex Barrett, Ryan Chapman, Cameron Johnson, Greyden Lee and Davon Sandford
Courtesy photo The Lake City High girls golf team won the 5A Region 1 championship on Monday. From left are coach Corey Owen, Tarryn Cherry, Kyla Currie, Echo Anderson, JoJo Dodge and Marissa Hagerty
Troy Anderson eyeballed the trophy awarded to his Lake City High boys golf team on Monday, after the Timberwolves won the 5A Region 1 tournament on their home course, the Coeur d’Alene Golf Club.
He looked at the names of the past boys champions on the trophy.
He saw Coeur d’Alene.
Post Falls.
Lewiston.
One school’s name was missing.
That’s because it had been a while since that team won a regional title.
How long?
“I’m looking at a trophy that does not have ‘Lake City’ on it, so it’s a ways back there,” said Anderson, in his fifth season as coach.
AS IT turns out, Lake City last won a regional title in boys golf in 2001. That was a year after Anderson graduated from Lake City, where he played golf under coach Jim Winger, who was also boys basketball coach (and still is), and is also currently athletic director at the school.
This year’s Timberwolf golf team features four seniors — three of which have been the top three players all four seasons — Cameron Johnson, Ryan Chapman and Davon Sandford.
Johnson, who has signed to play at Community Colleges of Spokane next year, was medalist on Monday with a 2-under-par 70.
Regionals was his fourth victory of the season, and he is headed to state for the first time. The last three years, he narrowly missed out on qualifying for state as an individual.
“It’s unbelievable to see him play the way that he is,” Anderson said. “He was my No. 1 as a freshman, and he’s gotten unlucky at the worst times. I’m just real proud of the way he pulled through, because he’s been determined to do this. His is absolutely sheer determination that this is going to be this year. He’s had some successes in the past, but he’s worked twice as hard this year.”
Greyden Lee, who played No. 5 at regionals, is the fourth senior. Junior Alex Barrett is the other member of the state-qualifying team.
“I feel like they kind of put us on the map the last couple years,” Anderson said. “They’re a great group of kids, and you can’t help but root for them.”
UNTIL RECENTLY, Lake City’s girls golf team had gone through a similar drought.
The Timberwolves won the regional title on Monday for the third straight year. But prior to that, Lake City hadn’t won a regional girls golf title since, ironically, 2001.
This year’s squad is led by junior Kyla Currie, who was medalist on Monday. She finished seventh at state last year, as the Timberwolf girls finished sixth.
State this year for 5A boys and girls is Monday and Tuesday at Highland Golf Course in Pocatello.
Currie is joined on this year’s squad by senior Marisa Hagerty, juniors Echo Anderson and Tarryn Cherry, and sophomore JoJo Dodge.
“I think a lot of our success recently has had to do with a some very good leadership,” said Corey Owen, in his fourth year as girls coach. “Emily Dodge started that tradition in 2017, leading us to our first district title since 2001 and individually placing fourth at the state tournament. Last year Sam Dement played that role as our No. 1 golfer and led us to a second district title. This year Kyla Currie has been incredibly consistent and has filled the role as our teams leader. She is playing great golf. These young women have not only excelled in golf but they have helped those around them achieve their goals as well. They have helped develop a culture for the girls golf team that being dedicated and working hard will lead to team success.”
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.