Mission Valley golf teams feature talent, experience
John Heglie | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 2 months AGO
POLSON
The Pirate boys graduated thrice all-state (4x a-c) Trey Kelley, who is now competing at the collegiate level for the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks.
Included among returnees with varsity experience is senior Michael Smith.
A quartet of incoming freshman who qualified for early tournament action include Hunter Emerson, Carson Hupka, Christian Lund and Torrin Ellis.
The Lady Pirate girls graduated twice all-state (4x a-c) Cali Cannon and all-conference Esme’ Yarbrough (13th). Cannon is now golfing for the Dickinson State Bluehawks.
But the current rendition of the Lady Pirates return all-state senior Ellie Thiel (t8th) along with junior Carly Garrick.
Fleshing out the remainder of the roster are a trio of freshman that include Clare Konen, Ashley Maki and Kylee Seifert.
Polson co-coaches Cameron Milton and John Kelley are optimistic about the upcoming season: “Polson Pirate golf looks to have an exciting year with young incoming talent balanced with some veteran upper class leadership.
“The athletes worked hard over the summer and have came into the season prepared and ready to compete.”
Polson began their season at West Glacier Tuesday, Aug. 18.
RONAN
Both Chiefs and Maidens return the full complement of their varsity roster last season. All-conference junior Ruben Couture (27th) spearheads the boys that include juniors Dillon PrettyOnTop along with Sage Coffman and sophomore Troy Alford.
All-conference Macao Jackson (12th) leads a roster of Maiden girl returnees that include senior Madyson RunningCrane, juniors Kylee Niemeyer along with Aaliyah Decker and sophomore Alyssa PrettyOnTop.
Ronan aims to move up a few rungs on the competition ladder. Coach Frank Ciez emphasized that Ronan is “determined to score better this year. Our goal is to be resilient and finish strong.”
Ronan’s first tournament of the 2020 season is stated to be the Whitefish Invitational on August 24.
accrued athletic
accolades
Trey Kelley (GLF 3x a-s: 10th 2019, t15th 2017, t11th 2016; 4x a-c; 8th,4th,9th,t10th); Cali Cannon
(GLF 2x a-s: 5th 2019; t11th 2018; 4x a-c: 8th 2019, t10th 2018, 7th 2017-16); Ellie Thiel (GLF a-s: t8th 2019; a-c: t10th 2018); Macao Jackson (SB a-s, a-c 1st-tm 2019; GLF a-c 2019).
2020 Polson Qualifier
Friday, August 14
Lady Pirate girls
Ellie Thiel 45
Clare Konen 54
Ashley Maki 55
Carly Garrick 63
Kylee Seifert 64
Pirate boys
Hunter Emerson 41
Carson Hupka 44
Christian Lund 44
Torrin Ellis 46
Michael Smith 47