GICC Boys Set For State Golf
(Grand Island, NE) - (Class C Preview/NSAA/Tony Chapman) - Archbishop Bergan golf coach Chris Rainforth makes no bones about who the favorite will be when the Class C golf tournament moves to Jackrabbit Run Golf Course in Grand Island.
“I don’t think anyone would argue that Kearney Catholic is a heavy favorite,” Rainforth said. “When you return most of your team from two state championship teams you probably should be (the favorite).”
Despite that, the Knights will be one of the top teams chasing as they defeated KC earlier this season by four shots at the Centennial Conference meet at Quail Run in Columbus. Star standout Nash Malone, however, did not play in the meet which has been a sort of state meet preview for quite awhile.
The Class C champion has come from the conference each year since 2014.
“Our conference, obviously, has a history of being very competitive,” Rainforth said. “It seems like golf is no different. But we don’t see teams like Kearney Catholic and GICC too much. When we do, we know it will be a good measuring stick for us.”
At districts, Bergan had four in the top-10 at the C-2 district at Beemer’s Indian Trails and posted a team score of 323. Junior Dalton Kumm led the way with a second place 76, with freshman Jackson Luebbe and sophomores Trey Mooney and Boston Bojanski also medaling.
Norfolk Catholic, led by freshman medalist William Brockhaus as district medalist, had the lowest team score in district play with a 309 at Fair Play Golf Course.
The defending champions tallied a 321 at Indianhead in Grand Island in cold, blustery conditions. They beat St. Paul – a team with no seniors – by 10 shots. Tate Redinger was third with a 76, but the Stars depth shined, with no golfer above 85.
In all, nine medalists return from last year’s weather-shortened meet at Columbus’ Elks Country Club. Only one of those, however, Peyton Penrose of West Point-Beemer won a district title last week.
Kearney Catholic’s Nash Malone was second last year to then-St. Paul senior Sam Wells and Doniphan-Trumbull’s Jett Hollister third. The Stars also have returning medalist’s Redinger and Jackson Dunham, who was the 2023 state champion.
District Team Champions: Amherst, Archbishop Bergan, Exeter-Milligan/Friend, Kearney Catholic, Norfolk Catholic.
Other Team Qualifiers: Battle Creek, Bishop Neumann, Grand Island Central Catholic, Lincoln Lutheran, Logan View, Oakland-Craig, Ogallala, Perkins County, Pender, St. Paul.
District Individual Champions: Carter Milton (Exeter-Milligan/Friend), Peyton Penrose (West Point-Beemer), William Brockhaus (Norfolk Catholic), Jadyn Friesen (Sutton), Rylan Gilmore (Ogallala).
Returning 2024 Medalists: Penrose, Jett Hollister (Doniphan-Trumbull), Jack Alberts (Grand Island Central Catholic), Creighton Friesen (Heartland), Jackson Dunham (Kearney Catholic, 2023 champion), Nash Malone (Kearney Catholic), Tate Redinger (Kearney Catholic), Zaybreon Hansen (Perkins County), Friesen (11th in Class D), Brody Rogers (Tekameh-Herman).
Golf Course: Jackrabbit Run Golf Course | 2800 North Shady Bend Road, Grand Island, NE 68801 | Club Manager: Sadonna Manfull | Yardage: 6,620 yards | Par: 72 | Live Scoring
GICC Golf Craig Rupp Pre State 2025