HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Anamosa golfers are backing up high expectations

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By Nico Costa and Kevin Schepanski, Anamosa H.S.

ANAMOSA - The Anamosa boy's golf team had high expectations when the 2012 season started. The early results have exceeded that initial optimism.

Returning five varsity starters from last year and a second-team all state player in senior Nico Costa, the least this team is now expecting is a state trip to Ames.

The team started the season winning the first two duals.

The first victory came at home against Western Dubuque, which  always is  a team that produces quality golfers.  A win to begin the year was a big confidence booster for the team and the Raiders took this confidence with them to the Williamsburg Invitational, where they shot a 303 - one stroke shy of tying the school record.

Junior Kevin Schepanksi fired an amazing  73 and two other scores in the 70's were  key to the win.  Williamsburg, which was a pre-season team to watch, was not happy after the Blue Raiders stole a win from them on their home course. It is always fun to win and the team had a great time that day.

Of course, every team has their bad days every once in a while, but the varsity squad has had very few so far this season. The worst the Raider golfers have placed this year is sixth out of 11 teams at the West Delaware invitational. Costa has medaled seven out of the nine meets to date this season. If everyone on the team can all shoot their best at the same time once sectionals and districts come around, the goal of winning state could become a reality.

After the rough finish at the West Delaware Invitational on April 21, the Raiders  bounced back hot.

Shooting a 149 at Lake McBride in Solon on April 24, the Raiders gave DeWitt Central its first loss of the year and beat Solon and Vinton-Shellsburg, as well. The next day the Raiders looked to stay on a roll at the last home meet of the year and showed some of the top teams in the Wamac Conference what they are capable of producing. Anamosa fired an impressive round of 153 and out distanced the next closest team by 10 strokes. Three of the Anamosa golfers tied for first and the fourth score took runner-up.

Anamosa hopes to take this confidence and hot streak to the divisional meet on Monday, aiming to  win the East division.

Anamosa has won more conference titles in golf than any other sport, although there has been a lull the last couple of years. The last time the Anamosa qualified for state golf was in 2006 and the last time the team won the state title was in 1999.

As an individual, Costa went to state in last spring, but the team missed state by one place at districts in Waverly.

As of April 18, the Raider golfers were ranked fifth in the state in Class 3A. Costa is ranked eighth and two others are in the top 50.

The fans who have seen the Anamosa varsity golfers play know that the team has talent. The townspeople of Anamosa would be ecstatic to see the boys make a trip to state and possibly bring home a title.