Seton-La Salle boys enjoying success on the links
Chuck Rutter cannot remember a season like the Seton-La Salle boys’ golf team is experiencing this fall and the 76-year-old Dormont resident have been affiliated with the high school for 23 years as an athletic director as well as serving his second term as head coach.
“It’s been an enjoyable season,” said Rutter. “It’s certainly invigorated me as a coach.”
The Rebels ran the table during the regular season, compiling a 14-0 record and capturing their seventh section title with a 12-0 slate. They are currently competing in the WPIAL Class AA tournament and hope to qualify for the team championships set for Oct. 13 at Cedarbrook Golf Course.
“Our goal is to compete for the championship,” said Rutter. “We have to play our very, very best because there are a lot of strong teams out there.”
While Sewickley Academy and South Park are among the top AA clubs, the Rebels held their own enough to advance to yesterday’s semifinals held at the Del Mar Golf Course. The top three teams from each of the two semifinals advanced to the championship match. Eighteen teams finished as either section champions or runners-up in the AA division.
“We had a very good year,” said Rutter of the regular season.
SLS’s secret to success was its camaraderie. The Rebels competed as one.
“They did not play for themselves,” Rutter said. “They picked each other up. They did not worry about individual scores. The team was what mattered and that made for an enjoyable season.”
Enthusiasm and numbers also factored into SLS’s favor. Despite a drop in enrollment at private and parochial schools, the Rebels’ golf numbers swelled to 13 members this season. The starting line-up features two freshmen, two sophomores and two seniors.
“It’s a team. Strong top to bottom,” Rutter added. “We have depth that we can put anybody anywhere, one to six, and if someone had a bad day, some one picked the other up. We backed each other up. It’s always about the team with this group.
“They get excited to be with each other and can’t wait to practice. They ask me, ‘Mr. Rutter, can we go to Cool Springs, today.’ That’s how much they want to play and get better.”
Though a freshman, Jacob Verner has gotten to be the best in the league. He won the Section 7 title with a 77 score on the South Park Golf Course. The Peters Township resident needed two pars on the last two holes to qualify for the WPIAL championships but missed the cut by two strokes. He averages 39 for the Rebels.
“He’s Mr. Consistent,” said Rutter. “He’s a very good golfer with a great future.”
Gunner Connor is on a similar tract. Under Mike Swanson’s tutelage, the freshman has blossomed into one of the Rebels’ top six golfers. He averages 45.
“You can’t keep him off the course. He is practicing all the time. He’s got raw talent and is learning the techniques of competitive golf. For a freshman, he has really jumped out.”
Swanson and Noah LaFerriere have leaped out as leaders. Both are seniors. LaFerriere is a four-year letter winner that is averaging 44. Swanson has lettered for three seasons. He typically plays five or six for the Rebels, averages 43, and is content at that spot. “He’s happy to play there,” Rutter said. “He’s always watching out for the freshmen. Making sure they are on their toes and teaching them how to pick and choose when to take risks. He’s the ultimate team player.”
Of LaFerriere and Swanson, Rutter added, “they have guided the younger players and kept this team together.”
Sophomores Nick Waskiewicz and Ben Osterhaus cemented the SLS line-up. Waskiewicz finished fourth in the Section 7 championships, carding an 81. The two-year letter winner averages 43 for the Rebels.
“Nick had good days and bad days last year but he practiced and practiced and came ready to play this year and had a wonderful season,” Rutter said. “He was under total control when he played and had a very consistent season.”
Osterhaus played equally even. He averaged 40. Osterhaus competed in last year’s WPIAL individual championships but missed this year’s finals because of two bad holes.
“Ben was consistently consistent,” Rutter said. “He played everybody’s best all year and never allowed them to get too big a lead. He’s very good and only going to get stronger.”
With two juniors and five additional freshmen on the roster, the Rebels, as a team, are also likely to get stronger. Luke Mathias and Julius Riske are the juniors while Ethan Manion, Luke Manion, Chase Moses, Jacob Kubic and Chris Tanza complete the freshmen class of golfers.
“It’s a great group with a great future,” Rutter said.