By Jed Buelow
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports and Nature Editor
Had the season gone on as planned, the Tomahawk Hatchet golf team would be just finishing up the regular season and gearing up for a shot to advance in the playoffs.
The WIAA D2 Sectional was scheduled to take place June 9 at Black River Falls School and those advancing would have qualified for state on June 15 at the University Ridge Golf Course in Madison. What could have been – a phrase that has become all too common these days as three Hatchet seniors will look back on their final year wearing blue and gold and wonder what could have been.
“I just want to say thank you to our seniors!” stated Hatchet head coach Garth Gerstenberger. “Zach Grigg and Cody Scholz are both four year golfers and Caleb Lund is a second year transfer athlete. All three have dedicated a lot of time and effort to our program.”
Unfortunately the final year for the three Hatchets ended abruptly when the school was closed and the spring sports season cancelled. While the abrupt end was unexpected, that doesn’t mean the future isn’t bright for each of them. Zach Grigg plans to attend UW-Stout in the fall majoring in student council studies and Cody Scholz will be attending Michigan Tech University and plans to study civil engineering. Caleb Lund was just named a Tomahawk High School Student of the Month.
“Even with the lack of face-to-face instructional time, Caleb has continued and possibly even improved his hard work in the classroom as he pushes toward completion for graduation. He maintains regular communication and goes above and beyond with his academic efforts,” noted one teacher.
Coach Gerstenberger added it was disappointing for everyone that spring sports had to be cancelled, but added he really felt bad for the seniors whom will miss out on their final year and all the memories that would have been made.
“While looking at the big picture all three of these guys will bounce back from this adversity, that is one of the great lessons that participating in athletics always provides. Best of luck guys in your future endeavors.”
1) When did you start playing golf? 2010
2) What are some of your game-day rituals? I didn’t have any
3) What are some of our favorite high school golf memories? Golfing in Wisconsin Dells for the weekend.
4) What would you do differently if given the opportunity? Look for my ball in the woods a little longer
5) Who is the most hilarious teammate you have ever played with? Hunter J
6) Who is the hardest working teammate you have ever played with? Ty G
7) What are some favorite memories of the high school coaching staff? Playing the Aux with Coach Debels
8) Who is your favorite sports personality?
9) What advice would you like to give youth players and the underclass members of the Hatchet golf program? Don’t get fired up if you’re playing rough
10) What are your plans for next year? Further into the future? Attend UW Stout for Student Counseling
11) Who are all the people you would like to express gratitude towards and why as it relates to your Hatchet golf career? My parents, grandparents, All my coaches and teammates.
1) When did you start playing golf? 8th grade
2) What are some of your game-day rituals? Before every meet the first thing we do on the driving range is have a longest drive competition.
3) What are some of our favorite high school golf memories? Getting chased around Inshalla, during a meet, after making fun of Fisher
4) What would you do differently if given the opportunity? Start golfing a lot sooner than 8th grade
5) Who is the most hilarious teammate you have ever played with? Hunter Jones
6) Who is the hardest working teammate you have ever played with? The team as a whole
7) What are some favorite memories of the high school coaching staff? Making the ride to and from golf meets better than the actual meet most of the time.
8) Who is your favorite sports personality? A person that works hard, but has fun and has a good time while doing it
9) What advice would you like to give youth players and the underclass members of the Hatchet golf program? Don’t golf against Coach Gerstenberg because he will beat you with only three clubs in his bag.
10) What are your plans for next year? Further into the future?
I plan on going to Michigan Tech to study Civil Engineering along with participating in Air Force ROTC
11) Who are all the people you would like to express gratitude towards and why as it relates to your Hatchet golf career?
Randy Scholz, Garth Gertenberger, and Shawn Debels. All three of them are the reason I started golfing, joined the golf team, and fell in love with the sport. Without their scrafic of time and effort I wouldn’t be the golfer or the person I am today. Along with constant support from my parents throughout my golfing career.