Williamsburg starts trek to return to state

Consider it the drive for five.

When the Williamsburg boys golf team tees up for play Friday, a postseason streak will be at stake.

The Raiders will take the first steps to a fifth straight Class 3A state tournament appearance when programs from across the state compete in Iowa High School Athletic Association sectional tournaments. Williamsburg will play at the 3A sectional at Gardner Golf Course hosted by Marion, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The Raiders are confident and thrive under the pressure to extend their success.

'We have the full potential to go to state again,” senior Zach Buch said. 'We have a great team. We are getting closer to peaking.”

The Raiders lost Drew Slings and Corbin Blythe to graduation after leading them to their first four state meets. Juniors Dillon Van Etten, Jackson Subbert and Buch have continued key roles on the team, meshing with some talented underclassmen.

'They have impressed me with the way they have improved,” Williamsburg Coach Brad Schaefer said. 'They knew they had big shoes to fill and they have stepped in.”

Schaefer said the expectations have changed and the bar remains high. He said his golfers are ready for a deep run and determined to better last season's fifth-place finish.

'Our goal is always to end the year at the state tournament now, but before it was special just to get there” Schaefer said. 'They'll really love to bring a trophy home and represent their school.”

Williamsburg's team average is better than a year ago, despite the graduation of its top-two scorers. The Raiders have five golfers with the ability to break 80 any round. A deeper and more balanced lineup helped them to a runner-up finish behind host West Delaware at the Wamac Super Meet this week. Five Raiders garnered all-Wamac conference, placing Van Etten and Buch on the first team, freshman Isaac Knock on the second team and Subbert and freshman Sam Buch earning honorable mention honors.

'We can improve everywhere,” Buch said about the team performance. 'We have more to prove.”

Golfing is a family affair for the Raiders. Half of the starting lineup is related. Zach and Sam Buch are brothers. Van Etten is their cousin. They have their own friendly competition, according to Zach Buch.

'It's a lot of fun,” he said. 'I really enjoy having them on the team.”

Camaraderie and unity has contributed to the success. The team shares a love for golf but they also spend plenty of time together off the course.

'They are great friends,” Schaefer said. 'They are a tight group. They're great kids and great families.”

Zach Buch owns a 37.8 nine-hole average, which ranks among the Raiders' all-time best for a junior. He has an 18-hole average just under 80. Van Etten is just under 81 for 18 holes, while Subbert and Knock are at 82.67 and 84, respectively.

Schaefer said Zach Buch has had a special season. The start has been strong, but work remains.

'I've been happy,” Zach Buch said. 'Golf is a game you can never perfect, and why I love it so much,”

The field includes Anamosa, Clear Creek Amana, DeWitt Central, Maquoketa, Solon and Washington, Iowa. Marion won the Wamac divisional meet. A handful of teams have a shot at two automatic berths to next week's district meet. Gardner's tough layout, especially the challenging back nine holes, can be an equalizer.

'There is a four or five team race,” Schaefer said. 'It's one day and one golf course. You will have to show up.”