The Trenton High School boys golf team comes into the 2008 season on the heels of a fifth-place finish at the state golf meet a year ago. The Bulldogs return three golfers from the state-qualifying team in seniors Tyler Brinkley and Jim Weaver and junior Ethan Bunnell.
Coach Travis Mullenix enters his first season as golf coach and feels his team is ready for another run to the state meet.
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“We hope to win districts again,” Mullenix said. “That’s our goal right now that the kids set. It should be tough; Brookfield is in there and Macon should be a contender. I really think that we will have a target on our back, but we hope to be able to continue the success that the Trenton program has had over the past couple of years.”
Leading the way will be the seniors, Brinkley and Weaver. Last season, Brinkley was strong at the state meet, finishing 12th with a total score of 161. Weaver finished with a 177, placing him 72nd overall. Both will return this season, stepping up into leadership roles for the team.
“Tyler Brinkley and Jim Weaver are our two seniors,” Mullenix said. “They bring a lot of experience from last year. Both of those guys, being seniors, bring a lot of leadership.”
Experience is not a big issue for the Bulldogs this season as the team is comprised of two seniors and eight juniors.
“We have some juniors who got a lot of experience last year playing on the varsity and junior varsity levels both,” Mullenix said. “It’s nice to have those upperclassmen on the team. Most of them have been playing most of their lives.”
After the top three, which includes Brinkley, Weaver and Bunnell, Coach Mullenix says the final varsity roster spots are yet to be determined.
“We haven’t got everything nailed down yet,” Mullenix said. “We have two or three of them that have kind of separated themselves, but as far as the full varsity squad, that four and five spot is pretty much still up for grabs. We have anywhere from two to four guys who could fill those positions. They are all working hard, but it remains to be seen who will fill those last two spots.”
Some of the golfers who Coach Mullenix feels could step up into those roles include juniors Ryan Wade, Cree Beverlin and D.J. Christenson
“Ryan Wade played number one on the JV last year,” Mullenix said. “He will be on varsity this year and I am looking for big things out of him this year. D.J was number two on the JV and Cree Beverlin was number three. Either one of those guys could step up and play. D.J. has shot some good rounds in practice this year and Cree has been fairly consistent. Kelby Wyatt is in there fighting for a varsity spot also.”
Also out for the team this season are Ryan Allnutt, Kevin Ewing and James Dannatt.
Looking at the schedule, Coach Mullenix is looking forward to the season, especially their match-ups with Brookfield.
“We open up with Brookfield here on April 1,” Mullenix said. “We have some good tournaments that we are looking forward to like the Plattsburg Invitational and the Chillicothe Tournament. We will also try to complete the sweep of Brookfield, we’ve got to keep that going this year. It’s a pretty good rivalry.”
