Many Happy Returns: Dragons lead veteran county teams into 2019 season

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Greenfield-Central’s Caroline Gibson watches her shot during Tuesday’s girls county golf tournament at Hawks Tail of Greenfield on Aug. 28, 2018. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)

HANCOCK COUNTY — “Everyone is back,” New Palestine girls golf coach Sarah O’Brien said.

That’s good news for the Dragons. Not so much for everyone else.

Winners of five straight sectional crowns, five straight Hancock County titles and three of the last four Hoosier Heritage Conference meets, expectations and hopes are high at New Palestine.

“We let the conference get away from us last year; we’d like that one and to repeat as sectional champions,” O’Brien said. “It’s the team’s best chance in a while to advance out of the regional. Time will tell.”

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A lot of the post-season advancement rides on how the other competition does, too, O’Brien admitted, but her Dragons should be formidable, led by senior Annaliese Fox.

She has qualified for the state tournament the last two years and finished 13th in 2018.

As a junior, she won individual titles at county, conference and sectional, and was named the Hancock County Girls Golfer of the Year.

“She’s proven herself over and over again,” O’Brien said.

Team-wise, the Dragons also return senior Izzy Gray, an all-county performer and four-year varsity player. Juniors Megan Diller, last year’s most improved player, and Abby Belgin and return from last year’s varsity roster, as do sisters Rachel Purnell (senior) and Michaela Purnell (sophomore).

More depth comes from senior Traci Olsen, juniors Grace Dodd and Haley Holcombe and a quintet of freshmen led by Zoe Nelson.

Greenfield-Central

Russ Wiley begins his 11th season leading the Cougars girls. His club returns top players, too.

Greenfield-Central has its top three performers from 2018, including a pair of all-county performers in Caroline Gibson and Haley Hoagland, back in action.

Gibson was runner-up to Fox in the sectional and the Cougars advanced as a team to the regional.

All three, including No. 3 player Tandess O’Neal, are juniors.

The Cougars graduated No. 4 and No. 5 players, Rose Gerard and Phoenix Breese, respectively, but sophomore Katie Curry brings some varsity experience from a year ago and is expected to fill one of those spots.

The final position is up for grabs from a group that includes senior Grace Silcox, sophomores Abby Mulligan and Brynn Elliott, and freshman Sydnie Wherry.

The veteran coach added that, with four solid returnees from last year’s team, they would like to get back to the regional and finish better than in 2018. Greenfield-Central was 13th out of 18 in last year’s Lapel Regional.

“We can only control what we can control and try to get better,” he said.

Mt. Vernon

Mike Miner hasn’t been at his post for two full weeks, but the first-year Marauders coach does have of knowledge of the group he’ll lead into the 2019 season.

A former No. 1 player with state tournament experience at Mississinewa High School, Miner later became a certified golf coach. He is also the youth sports director at Outlook Christian Church in McCordsville.

“This is a great opportunity to help the girls get better,” Miner said. “I’ve always had a passion for youth sports, golf and this team.”

He inherits a group that has three varsity players returning, sophomores Alaina Nugent, Meredith Johnson and, his daughter, Mackenzie Miner.

Nugent lost in a playoff to New Palestine’s Fox in the county championship. She also advanced to the regional as an individual.

Miner said Nugent and Johnson will vie for the top spot on this year’s team. “It’ll come down to their short game,” Miner said.

Mackenzie Miner is expected to have the No. 3 spot. Battles for the remaining varsity positions will be between Emily Rollo, Kira Preston, Haidyn Caudwell and Kailee Monroe.

“We want to be playing our best in September,” coach Miner added.

The first-year coach is being assisted by Todd Manion, an ex-PGA professional.

Eastern Hancock

Like the other county teams, the Royals return a lot from their 2018 squad.

Seniors Daly Pelger and Jocelyn Duncan are back, along with sophomore Shelby Jackson.

Second-year coach Cole Allen said all three have played extensively during the summer and he is hopeful that shows during the upcoming campaign.

Newcomers hoping to find their way into the lineup include junior Haliegh Caveletto, senior Hunter Orr and sophomore Inez Friddle.

“We’re hopeful this year that competing against some of the stronger schools (during the regular season) will get us ready for the Mid-Eastern Conference (meet) and then give ourselves a chance to get out of the sectional,” Allen said.

The Royals open the season Thursday against Wapahani at Royal Hylands. The MEC meet is slated for Aug. 30.

The county meet is schedule for Sept. 3 at Hawk’s Tail in Greenfield.

New Palestine, Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon will compete in the HHC meet on Sept. 14 with sectional play, with all four schools participating, scheduled to get underway the following week.