Cedar Rapids Prairie in position to claim first MVC divisional title

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cedar Rapids Prairie boys’ golf team has put itself in position for a program first.

The Hawks are one more strong round away from accomplishing it.

Prairie leads Dubuque Wahlert by eight strokes and Cedar Falls by 18, entering the final Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division meet Monday at Gardner Golf Course. The Hawks are looking for their first MVC divisional title.

“That was one of our goals,” Prairie’s Henry Sobaski said. “We have many more to come. We still have goals to crush.”

Prairie opened the season with a team-record 292 in the MVC Super Meet, which serves as the first of three rounds for divisional team and individual honors. The Hawks followed that with a 272 at the divisional at Twin Pines. They hold their fate in their own hands.

“No doubt the guys would love to be a part of winning an MVC Divisional title for the first time,” Prairie Coach Erik Columbus said, “but we are doing our best to just focus on staying in the present & not counting our chickens before they are hatched.”

The Super Meet served as a springboard and provided some focus. Any blurred aspirations came into crystal clear focus for four returning starters and a full roster dedicated to offseason work.

“We had a good idea we had the potential to play some good golf,” Columbus said. “The second-place school record at the Super Meet really confirmed that we had the talent to compete at a high level this season.”

Prairie ranks fourth in Class 4A with a 292.43 18-hole average, climbing to No. 13 in team combined adjusted average. Sobaski leads the Hawks with a 37.72 combined adjusted average but all six regular starters come in under 41. Tony Boelter (38.9), Emmet Stockdale (39.14) and Jeter Lewis (39.84) make up a strong quartet. Connor Columbus (40.48) and C.J. Keenan (40.53) round out the more experienced golfers.

“We don’t really have a team leader,” Sobaski said. “We all work together. I think that says a lot about us. It’s not one person doing everything. It’s all of us. We’re a real team.”

Columbus said Prairie’s junior varsity would rank 21st in scoring average. Sobaski said teammates push each other to be their best in competition.

“We have so much depth,” said Sobaski, who is second in the Player of the Year race and Stockdale is tied for third. “Anyone can play any week. Our guys have to qualify for that No. 5 and No. 6 spot, usually. When they do, they perform well. We put a lot of work in and it all comes back to confidence.”

MVC MISSISSIPPI CONCLUDES AT ELLIS

MVC Mississippi will also hold its final round Monday. The third and final round of all-conference competition will be held at Ells Golf Course.

Cedar Rapids Xavier holds an 18-stroke lead over Linn-Mar. The Saints also boast three of the top four in the overall individual race. Freshman Harrison Hartke leads with 140 two-round total. Logan Otting is three shots back for second. Jack Pauly sits in fourth.

Xavier was the divisional runner-up last season.

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