Coach Hinker aims for continued growth and success
As the Lennox High School boys’ golf team gears up for the upcoming season, head coach Jacob Hinker is optimistic about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. With the season set to begin on August 19, Coach Hinker reflects on the successes of last year and the potential of this year’s squad.
“We had a great group of senior leaders on the team last year that set the foundation for years to come,” Hinker said. “The boys played their best golf at the end of the year and showed improvements throughout the season.”
Now in his second season coaching the Lennox boys’ golf team, Hinker brings a focused approach to leadership.
“My approach to leading the team is preparing the kids so that they are ready to compete with the best golfers in our conference and region, and to get them ready to make a run to the state meet,” he explained.
Assisting Hinker this year is Trey Manitz, who is stepping into his role as assistant coach for the first time.
The team will face the challenge of filling the void left by the graduation of 11 seniors, including four key players who competed at the region meet: Eli Homan, Ryan Benning, Alex Heibult, and Talan Diercks. However, returning talent Griffen Boomgarden, the lone underclassman who competed at Regions last year, is expected to lead the team.
“The primary strength of this year’s team is that we have a lot of kids that truly love the game of golf,” Hinker noted. “We have kids that spend countless hours out at the course throughout the summer, and that sets them up for success.”
One of the key challenges this season will be identifying consistent performers among the younger players.
“We had a great group of seniors that graduated, so the big question mark will be figuring out who is going to step up and be a consistent player for us during the season,” Hinker said.
When it comes to competition, Vermillion, West Central, and Dakota Valley are the teams to watch.
“Vermillion is the defending champs as a team, and West Central and Dakota Valley will be pushing them throughout the season. We will look at those three teams as the ones we need to compete with to be at our best,” Hinker added.
The Lennox team is particularly looking forward to their conference meet at Central Valley in Hartford, the same course where both the region and state meets will be held.
“Our conference meet will be something we will be looking forward to all season. That will be a great meet to get us ready for the biggest two events (Regions and State) on our calendar,” Hinker said.
As the season unfolds, Hinker’s goals remain clear: to compete at a high level and to ensure the team is playing its best golf when it matters most.
“With our conference having some great golfers and teams, there will be some great competition on a meet-by-meet basis. Our goals for the season will be to compete at a high level against those teams and be playing our best golf at the end of the season,” Hinker said. “If we can find some consistency within our golfers, we will achieve that at the end of the year.”
Team members include:
Griffen Boomgarden, Emmitt Odland, Aiden Hanssen, Eli Plank, Jackson Anacker, Eli Highum, Carter Beringer, Aiden Kollis, Tiegen Black, Tyler Strasser, Lucas Hartman, Elijah Johnson, Noah Buhta, Jake Carlson, Wyatt Holland, Jaxson Bittner, Cole Spieler, Dane Winteboer, Gabe Veurink, Grayden Veruink, Tripton Poppens, Matthew Dummer, Willy Storm, Lukias Johnson, Tate Hoverson, Palmer Brue, Chase Lundquist, Kolby Seeman, Gavin Schoeberl, Bode Sweeter, Kelton Smith, Jacob Carlson, Jake Westra, Koen VanderKooy, Levi Kingsbury, Colter Williamson, Micha Townsend, Ryan Passaniti, Adam Passaniti, Kodi Scott, Darek Krohn, Kruise Grajczyk, and Elliot Hoogestraat.
The Orioles open the season on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Central Valley in Hartford. The teams will be at Dell Rapids at Dells Rocky Run Golf Course on Aug. 26, and Central Valley on Aug. 27.
In September, the golfers will be at Parkston on Sept. 6 and home on Sept. 10 when they host Madison and West Central.
On Sept. 12 the Orioles will be at The Bluffs in Vermillion. On Sept. 19 they will be at The Pointe in Elk Point Jefferson and on Sept. 23 the team will compete in the Conference Meet at Central Valley.
The team will be at the Pointe again on Sept. 24 with Regions slated for Monday, Sept. 30 at Central Valley. State will be held Oct. 7-8 at Central Valley in Hartford.
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