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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW: Sandpoint golf boasts skilled boys team, eager girls squad

MAX OSWALD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 months AGO
by MAX OSWALD
I grew up in the small town of Orwigsburg, Pa., where I resided all of my life before moving to Sandpoint. I attended Blue Mountain High School, where I participated in cross country and track and field, a sport that I ended up falling in love with. I went on to attend and run for DeSales University (with other brief stints at Susquehanna University and Elizabethtown College) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport communication with a minor in sport management. I remember just how great it made me feel when I was mentioned in my hometown newspaper. I want to be able to give that feeling to every athlete in Bonner County, no matter how big or small their accomplishments are. As an athlete myself, I know how many hours of work are put in on a daily basis, and that hard work deserves to be recognized. It is my goal to cover as much of the Bulldogs, Spartans and Wampus Cats as I can. I want to work with every athlete, parent, coach, administrator and the community to ensure the best stories are published. | August 22, 2025 1:00 AM

Last season: BOYS — 5A Inland Empire League District Champions; 11th at IHSAA State Championships. GIRLS — 5A Inland Empire League District Champions; 3rd at IHSAA State Championships.

Coaches: Mike Deprez, head coach; Patty Aunan, assistant coach; Erin Roos, assistant coach; Annaby Kanning ('21), assistant coach.

Key returners: BOYS — Bode Eacret, jr.; Logan Roos, sr.; Micah Young, sr.; Everett Gilman, sr; Cooper Zimmerman, sr.; Tyler Weisz, sr. GIRLS — None.

Key newcomers: BOYS — None. GIRLS — Hannah Majors; Grace Loutzenhiser.

Key losses: BOYS — Jacob Aexel. GIRLS — Taylor Mire, Alexa Tuinstra, Raegan Samuels, Claire Loutzenhiser, Demi Driggs.

Outlook: Ahead of schedule with a 5A Inland Empire League district championship a year ago, the Sandpoint High boys golf team returns every golfer from last year's varsity squad, and the expectations are high.

Senior Logan Roos, who posted a team-best tied-for-40th-place finish at the 5A State Championship in 2024, is already off to a hot start. He shot a personal best 2-over-par-72 to start the season in Liberty Lake. Junior Bode Eacret, third at last year's district championship, returns, as does senior Micah Young, an essential component of the team for several years and a bronze medalist at the district championship in 2023. Seniors Everett Gillman, Cooper Zimmerman, Logan McGrann and Linkin Haddock and juniors Landon Day and Rajah Brown will anchor down the team's remaining spots. One thing is for certain — there won't be a shortage of stellar Bulldog golfers this season.

As for the Lady Bulldogs, things will be a bit different when compared to the last four years as head coach Mike Deprez is busy training a new "pod" of athletes. All five of Sandpoint's golfers, four of whom were a part of three third-place finishes at the state championship over the last three years, have graduated. Taylor Mire (Lewis-Clark State College), Claire Loutzenhiser (Spokane Colleges) and Alexa Tuinstra (South Mountain Community College) have moved on to the collegiate ranks. The team this year will be built around Hannah Majors and Grace Loutzenhiser, the only golfers with prior competitive experience. Ella Mahlum, Alison Petro, Aspen Little-Torrez, Cadence Skibitsky, Hailey Gove and Evey Walker will all compete in their first varsity outings this season. Deprez is confident he can build this young group into winners.

Coach's comments: "I truly have a lot of optimism for this season, but we're taking nothing for granted." - Coach Mike Deprez

About the boys team: "Our hopes are high for sure; it's been a six-year odyssey. The original eight or nine guys that we've had since back then have stuck with it. They're all getting comfortable shooting lower scores and that's part of the equation. Our top players have all shot in the 70s before. We look for that 76-threshold specifically, and three of the guys have done that in competition." - Coach Mike Deprez 

About the boys league competition: "I think all the kids are aware that we're incredibly close. Golf has caught fire in all of the programs and every team is a bit deeper than in years past. I think it's a good thing and keeps the team motivated, focused and engaged." - Coach Mike Deprez 

About the summer season: "My goal is to make the 4-5-6-7 players competitive. Sandpoint, like every golf program, has always had one or two good players, but this year we're looking at between five and seven really competitive boys players." - Coach Mike Deprez

About the girls team: "I'm optimistic about what the arc could be over the next six weeks. The girls are playing five days week, and I'm seeing them every day, as opposed to playing twice a week without me looking after their swings. I think we're going to have five girls that break 120, with Hannah shooting in the low 90s — that's the goal." - Coach Mike Deprez 

Fun fact: Incoming senior Cadence Skibitsky is left-handed. The last left-handed golfer coach Deprez instructed? His daughter, CeCe Deprez, a part of the first-ever girls state championship team in 2021.

Sandpoint Golf Schedule 

8/14 — @ Liberty Lake

8/20 — @ Post Falls (Highland GC) 

8/28 — @ Lake City (CDA Public) 

9/8 — @ Moscow (University of Idaho) 

9/11 — @ Lewiston (Bryden Canyon) 

9/12 — @ Coeur d’Alene (Circling Raven) 

9/16 — @ Lewiston (Lewiston CC) 

9/22 — Bulldog Invitational (The Idaho Club) 

9/25 — @ Lakeland (The Links) 

9/29 — Girls @ Coeur d'Alene (Hayden Lake)

9/29 — Boys @ Coeur d'Alene (Avondale)

10/3-4 — District Championships, TBD 

10/9-10 — IHSAA State Championships, TBD 

* Schedule as of 8/20, dates and times subject to change 

2024 RESULTS

8/14 — @ Liberty Lake: BOYS — 4th out of 5 teams. GIRLS — 1st out of 3 teams.

8/20 — @ Post Falls Invite: BOYS — 5th out of 6 teams. GIRLS — 2nd out of 7 teams.

8/29 — @ Lake City Invite: BOYS — 4th out of 6 teams. GIRLS — 2nd out of 6 teams.

9/5 — @ Moscow Invite: BOYS — 6th out of 7 teams. GIRLS — 2nd out of 7 teams.

9/12 — @ Lewiston Invite: BOYS — 6th out of 7 teams. GIRLS — 1st out of 7 teams.

9/17 — @ Coeur d'Alene Invite: BOYS — 4th out of 4 teams. GIRLS — 3rd out of 4 teams.

9/19 — @ Lewiston Invite II: BOYS — 6th out of 7 teams. GIRLS — 2nd out of 7 teams.

9/23 — @ Bulldog Invitational: BOYS — 6th out of 7 teams. GIRLS — 1st out of 7 teams.

9/26 — @ Lakeland Invite: BOYS — 4th out of 7 teams. GIRLS — 1st out of 7 teams.

9/30 — @ Coeur d'Alene Invite II: GIRLS — 2nd out of 7 teams.

10/3 — @ District Championship: BOYS — 1st out of 4 teams. GIRLS — 1st out of 4 teams.

10/10 — @ IHSAA State Championship: BOYS — 11th out of 11 teams. GIRLS — 3rd out of 9 teams.

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