The Skaneateles athletic programs have had their fair share of success, especially in the spring.
From lacrosse to track and field, dozens of championship patches hang from the Section III banners that flutter from the gymnasium walls.
On Monday in the Section III Class Tournament, the Lakers will try to add another title to the blue and gold standards.
The Skaneateles boys golf team is riding a phenomenal wave of success that stretches back three years.
The Lakers have a current 37-meet win streak.
They just won the West Side Classic and broke a 20-year-old school record for lowest round for an individual and team earlier this season.
For the most part, Skaneateles does it with underclassmen.
“My team is backwards,” said third-year coach John Quijano.
“It's loaded with ninth and tenth graders that are doing well. It's usually juniors and seniors.”
This is Quijano's third year with the Lakers.
After taking over for Dick Campbell, Skaneateles lost its first three matches with its young team - but rebounded to win the next three dozen.
“I'd be on the bus on the way home and find myself discussing golf strategy with 14-year-olds,” said Quijano, noting that the team is full of seasoned veterans now.
“They're pretty knowledgeable about the game. They know how to behave and they know what's expected of them.”
Earlier this season at Pine Grove, Skaneateles broke the team record of 180, and shot a 177 at the Solvay-affiliated course.
Freshman Eric Edmunds broke Tom Scherrer's low round record of 33, shooting a 32.
“They're on the golf course every chance they can get,” Quijano said. “They're golfers - that's the best way to put it. They play it all the time, they watch it all the time. It's a passion.”
While the team has had years of success at Pine Grove, junior Jay Stith and freshman Jeff Baldetti credit the difficulty of their home course at the Skaneateles Country Club as a primer for sectionals and state qualifiers.
“Skaneateles has a really hard course, so it makes us more prepared,” Stith said.
“That does help,” said Baldetti, who shot a low round of 37 at the West Side Classic.
“The country club is one hardest the courses we play except for sectionals and state qualifiers.”
Baldetti already has nearly three years of varsity golf experience under his belt as a frosh.
“That was the first year I could do it,” Baldetti said of joining the team as a seventh-grader.
“I had been wanting to do it for a long time but that was the first year I was eligible.”
For Stith, who is considering playing at the Division I level after he graduates, the goals are simple.
“Definitely to remain undefeated until I graduate,” Stith said, “And make sure that I keep up with the younger kids because they golf really well.”
On Monday in the Section III Class Tournament, the Lakers will try to add another title to the blue and gold standards.
The Skaneateles boys golf team is riding a phenomenal wave of success that stretches back three years.
The Lakers have a current 37-meet win streak.
They just won the West Side Classic and broke a 20-year-old school record for lowest round for an individual and team earlier this season.
For the most part, Skaneateles does it with underclassmen.
“My team is backwards,” said third-year coach John Quijano.
“It's loaded with ninth and tenth graders that are doing well. It's usually juniors and seniors.”
This is Quijano's third year with the Lakers.
After taking over for Dick Campbell, Skaneateles lost its first three matches with its young team - but rebounded to win the next three dozen.
“I'd be on the bus on the way home and find myself discussing golf strategy with 14-year-olds,” said Quijano, noting that the team is full of seasoned veterans now.
“They're pretty knowledgeable about the game. They know how to behave and they know what's expected of them.”
Earlier this season at Pine Grove, Skaneateles broke the team record of 180, and shot a 177 at the Solvay-affiliated course.
Freshman Eric Edmunds broke Tom Scherrer's low round record of 33, shooting a 32.
“They're on the golf course every chance they can get,” Quijano said. “They're golfers - that's the best way to put it. They play it all the time, they watch it all the time. It's a passion.”
While the team has had years of success at Pine Grove, junior Jay Stith and freshman Jeff Baldetti credit the difficulty of their home course at the Skaneateles Country Club as a primer for sectionals and state qualifiers.
“Skaneateles has a really hard course, so it makes us more prepared,” Stith said.
“That does help,” said Baldetti, who shot a low round of 37 at the West Side Classic.
“The country club is one hardest the courses we play except for sectionals and state qualifiers.”
Baldetti already has nearly three years of varsity golf experience under his belt as a frosh.
“That was the first year I could do it,” Baldetti said of joining the team as a seventh-grader.
“I had been wanting to do it for a long time but that was the first year I was eligible.”
For Stith, who is considering playing at the Division I level after he graduates, the goals are simple.
“Definitely to remain undefeated until I graduate,” Stith said, “And make sure that I keep up with the younger kids because they golf really well.”
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.