West Delaware’s state title trek starts anew

The trophy is in the office and their names are already in the books.

The West Delaware boys golf team is starting from scratch again.

A new year presents a new quest for the Hawks, who return a strong nucleus their Class 3A state title team that swept all of their events in 2014.

'It's a new season,” West Delaware Coach Tom Fetter said. 'Put the past in the past and let's go help the team this year.”

Last season was a memorable season for West Delaware. The Hawks were 74-0, reigning the postseason and a competitive Wamac Conference. It was the first state golf crown in school history, but they aren't hanging their golf caps on previous feats.

'We're trying to put that behind us,” Junior Clayton Larsen said. 'It was such a fun year, but if you start playing and thinking of the past you will get caught up in that and you won't play as good as you can in the present,”

Fetter has a penchant for motivational and inspirational quotes. He said the Hawks aren't positive because they are good, but good because they are positive. Attitude and work ethic will be key to continued success.

'They are good on that part,” Fetter said. 'They are approaching it very maturely. If you can get them to approach those things with some maturity, you'll have a game.”

Harrison Guetzko, Larsen and Bryce Frick have provided leadership. Fetter said Guetzko has an 'all for one, one for all” approach, willing to help others, and is quite humble. Fetter added that Larsen appreciates the challenge from teammates and wants the best from his teammates. Their attitudes are contagious.

'They are fine young men, who are committed to the game and to the team,” Fetter said. 'They know what it takes.”

The players have developed a strong camaraderie. It isn't uncommon during the summer or the off-season for the Hawks to call each other up to play a round. Occasionally, they will compete with each other, playing in groups of two or three.

'A lot of times we'll play each other,” Larsen said. 'We hang out, but we give each other a hard time, too. We all want the best for each other.”

Larsen was the 3A Player of the Year last year, becoming West Delaware's second state runner-up and first since Nate Dunn in 1994. Larsen was just one stroke behind Centerville champ Alex Moorman. Guetzko was a first-team all-state as well, placing eighth. The senior was a co-medalist of the Wamac East meet with Frick, who won the Wamac Super Meet last year. Sophomore Trent Shaw returns with state experience, and senior Zach Weber is back after earning honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore.

'Practice is very competitive,” Larsen said. 'I think that's one of our keys, too. Our practices are very tough, and that says a lot about Coach Fetter, keeping us on our toes all the time.

'We're always ready to play golf. We're always ready for the challenge he has put up for us each day.”

Fetter shared it takes talent to win and character to repeat. The Hawks have diminished any pressure to match past achievements.

'I'm not really seeing that elephant in the room,” Fetter said. 'We don't get wrapped up in our scores. Let's just go out there and do the right things the right way and see what happens.”

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