High school golf: Osakis tries for repeat

• Hartmann

The only senior on the Osakis boys’ golf team, Paul Hartmann hopes to lead his Silverstreaks to a second straight Central Minnesota Conference championship this season.

Talk about it

Both the Osakis boys’ and girls’ golf teams are looking to repeat as Central Minnesota Conference champions in 2013 and both have the talent to accomplish that.

In an unusual situation, the boys’ team plays in Section 5A and the girls play in Section 6AA, something that’s determined by enrollment and the number of teams in each sport.

Boys’ team

Led by state tournament qualifier Paul Hartmann, the Osakis boys’ golf team has plenty of experience on the team despite losing four seniors to graduation.

Hartmann, the lone senior on the team, helped lead the Silverstreaks to the Central Minnesota Conference title last year by earning conference medalist honors. He also qualified for the Section 5A tournament and advanced to the Class A state tournament where he finished 49th overall.

In all, the Streaks have 16 players out for the team, including four junior letter winners in Joey Kotek, Mitch Tersteeg, Mike Dean and Anthony Strelow.

Freshman Joey Garcia is back as well after playing a major role on the team as an eighth grader. He is one of seven freshmen on the squad that includes Ryan Strelow, Austin Young, Matt Backowski, Carl Hirte, Carl Haider and Coleman Cody.

A pair of sophomores – Darrin Griesert and Bobby Hull – and a pair of eighth graders – R.J. Dykema and Ethan Chalmers – round out the team.

Girls’ team

Dominant is the only word for the Silverstreak girls’ golf team that has never lost a Central Minnesota Conference title since joining the league three seasons ago.

Much of that success has come through the play of four juniors who have lettered since their seventh grade seasons - Annalise Savageau, Peyton Garcia, Katelyn Foster and Emily Backes.

Savageau is a three-year All-conference golfer and Garcia a two-time selection. Both qualified for the Section 6AA tournament last season and both will serve as captains this season.

Along with Savageau and Garcia, Backes, who earned All-conference honors last year, and Foster were all members of the Osakis team that competed in the State Class A tournament.

Sophomore Ariel Chalmers has two years of experience as well, and was also a part of a state tournament team.

Head coach Steve Tax has eighth graders and letter winners Jena Backes and Hannah Lien to round out the team.

New to the team, but not to the golf course is seventh grader Alayna Eldred, who has been successful playing golf for several years in the Minnesota Junior Golf summer program.

2013 OSAKIS GOLF

BOYS’ ROSTER

SENIOR – Paul Hartmann.

JUNIORS – Mike Dean, Joey Kotek, Anthony Strelow, Mitchell Tersteeg.

SOPHOMORES – Darrin Griesert, Bobby Hull.

FRESHMEN - Joey Garcia, Matthew Backowski, Coleman Cody, Carl Haider, Carl Hirte, Ryan Strelow, Austin Young.

8TH GRADER – R.J. Dykema, Ethan Chalmers.

GIRLS’ ROSTER

JUNIORS – Emily Backes, Katelyn Foster, Peyton Garcia, Annalise Savageau.

SOPHOMORE – Ariel Chalmers.

8TH GRADERS – Jena Backes, Hannah Lien.

7TH GRADER – Alayna Eldred.

COACHES – Steve Tax, head coach; Chris Grove, assistant coach; Wendy Jennings, assistant coach.

Tags: osakis sports, sports, boys, golf, silverstreaks, girls