Font ResizeThe Squires will return their top five golfers from this season, in which Delone finished second in YAIAA Division III. For his team's efforts, Delone head coach Travis Kopp has been named the All-Area Golf Coach of the Year.
For Kopp, this is his third consecutive coach of the year award. Kopp said he owes his success to his golfers.
"We showed some good improvement in those positions four, five and six and we were able to turn in some really solid golf scores this year," he said, "which is evident by the fact that we were able to put seven guys in the (YAIAA Championships) on a six-man team."
Three of Kopp's players -- Vince Statuto, James Sturgill and Dalton Deardorff -- qualified for the District 3 Championships this season. Statuto led Delone with a stroke average of 78 this season and turned in his best effort in the YAIAA tournament. Statuto won the event despite the poor weather conditions that beleaguered the field on Oct. 7 at Briarwood Golf Club in West York.
Statuto's YAIAA tournament victory was one of Kopp's proudest moments this season.
"Those were some tough weather conditions out there, and I know the guys weren't real excited about golfing in that kind of weather," Kopp said. "It was real windy and cold, but he stepped up and tuned out the elements as much as he could and was able to win that
Kopp also cited senior Michael Topper's qualification for the YAIAA tournament as another bright spot.
"I was pretty happy for Michael," Kopp said. "He's put in a lot of work over the past four years, so I was proud of him to be able to pull that out."
Delone athletic director Jim Gingerich said Kopp has excelled in leading the golf program.
"So far, he's done an outstanding job," Gingerich said. "He's very easy to work with. He's concerned about his team members both on the golf course and naturally in the classroom. And he wants to do everything he can to support them."
During the offseason, Kopp said Statuto, Sturgill and Deardorff will play in junior tournaments in the late spring and summer. Although the PIAA sets a limit on when high schools can begin practicing, Kopp said he may play a few rounds against his golfers for fun.
The Squires will lose just two seniors to graduation this year in Topper and Matt Shultis. Because of the number of returnees the Squires will have next season, Kopp expects his team to succeed on a higher level.
"They'll be continuing to compete in (junior tournaments) which is great practice for developing that match-type mentality that you need throughout the golf season and especially as you get into districts," Kopp said. "Our top five golfers from this year are all returning, so that practice and experience they get in those junior tours hopefully will catapult us into a real solid season next year."
