YAIAA golf preview: Parrini has new surroundings at Central York
Mike Ruby called it a surprise that Joe Parrini "sprung" on him earlier this month at Out Door Country Club.
That was when Parrini, who won a District 3 Class AA golf title as a freshman at York Catholic, disclosed to Ruby that he would play this fall for Central York. Ruby, the second-year coach for the Panthers, was taken by surprise.
He already had seniors and top-two players Gus Minkin and Connor Bacha back. Sophomore Matt Bricker just became the youngest club champ at Out Door, and sophomore Julianne Lee has more accolades than any girls' golfer in the YAIAA.
"This team is quite deep," Ruby said. "I have probably nine kids who can break 90 and four who can break par. It's an unusual situation, but it's a nice situation."
Golfers to watch
KENDEL ABRAMS, SUSQUEHANNOCK, SO. >> Like Central York's Julianne Lee, she scored a 79 at last year's league championships at Briarwood — good for third overall but as good as anyone coming back.
CONNOR BACHA, CENTRAL YORK, SR. >> The Panthers' No. 2 player last season averaged a 75.6 for the season.
KEVIN CRUMBLING, EASTERN YORK, SR. >> Averaged a 74.8 and advanced to the second day of the district tournament in 2014.
ANDREW DAVIS, EASTERN YORK, SR. >> This year's George Barton Match Play champion on the summer York County Junior Golf Association Tour has built some momentum. Davis also qualified for the 2014 PIAA meet.
JULIANNE LEE, CENTRAL YORK, SO. >> Already a three-time match-play champion on the YCJGA Tour.
GUS MINKIN, CENTRAL YORK, SR. >> The Panthers' march to a 2014 YAIAA Division I title had much to do with Minkin's 74.3 season average. A state tournament qualifier, Minkin finished tied for eighth at the PIAA Class AAA championships, only six strokes behind the winner. He spent this summer playing regionally at American Junior Golf Association events.
JOE PARRINI, CENTRAL YORK, SO. >> Last year's District 3 Class AA champ is now playing on the AAA level with the Panthers. He averaged a 73.0 last season, which would place him ahead of Central's top two returning golfers.
BLAKE SEBRING, DALLASTOWN, JR. >> A regional qualifier, Sebring averaged 76.29 last year for coach Brooke Shoffner's squad.
Important dates
YAIAA TOURNAMENTS >> Team tournament play is Sept. 30, while the individual tournament is Oct. 1. Both are at Briarwood.
DISTRICT 3 TOURNAMENTS >> Team tournament is Oct. 6, followed by the individual championships Oct. 9-10. All events also are at Briarwood.
PIAA TOURNAMENT >> Three-day event is Oct. 26-28 at Heritage Hills.
Division I breakdown
DEFENDING CHAMP >> Central York
The rich get richer? In addition to Minkin, Bacha and Parrini, the Panthers have a second potential standout sophomore in Matt Bricker, who won the Out Door Club championship this summer. It's the third straight year Out Door's champion became the youngest winner. Minkin won last year entering his junior year of high school. York Catholic's Nick Geiman won it the prior year entering his junior year.
ASCENDING >> Dallastown, Spring Grove
The Wildcats finished second last year in the division to Central and bring back two postseason qualifiers in Sebring and sophomore Evan Greenplate. A district qualifier in 2014, Greenplate averaged 77.67. Junior Brady Williams averaged an 84.86 and should also contribute in the Wildcats' bid to challenge Central.
After a third-place finish last year in Division I, the Rockets bring back three juniors — Eli Brooks, Luke Hoffnagle and Mason Staub — who are on pace to be considerable four-year players. All three qualified for the YAIAA tournament as freshmen and continued that play as sophomores. Staub qualified for district play, while Hoffnagle progressed this summer on the YCJGA Tour. Brooks, of course, picked up Division I college basketball interest during the summer AAU season. Add in senior Garrett Leib, whose 82 average was seven strokes better than his previous season, and coach Dave Childress has a captain for his crew.
SHOES TO FILL >> New Oxford, Spring Grove
Michael Gruver graduated, which means the Colonials must replace a multiple district tournament qualifier. They will start with his freshman brother, Justin, who has represented the YCJGA for two years on its War of the Roses squad. District qualifier Michael Robinson, a sophomore, also is back.
While Spring Grove returns a bevy of boys' talent, the Rockets lost three-time YAIAA girls' champion Victoria Ross to graduation. To put Ross' contribution into perspective, she won a boys' division tournament this summer in the YCJGA.
Division II breakdown
DEFENDING CHAMP >> Eastern York
As a team, the Golden Knights didn't lose a regular-season match. They bring back Crumbling and another senior; Andrew Davis added momentum with a YCJGA George Barton Match Play title in July. The Knights also bring back junior Zach Dixon. Kevin Crumbling held their top average for the season, but Davis and Dixon reached the state championship.
On the girls' side, Eastern brings back another YCJGA champion in sophomore Alexandra Lowder. She took the stroke-play crown in early August at Pleasant Valley — an Eastern sweep with Crumbling on the boys' side.
ASCENDING >> Dover
After finishing tied for third in the division, Dover will field a young squad with three returning starters. The chief player back is sophomore Logan Snyder, who won a YCJGA event this summer on his home course at Honey Run and averaged a 77 during the 2014 high school season. Juniors Dylan Spahr (89 average) and Cody Bowers (89 average) also are back.
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SHOES TO FILL >> West York, Susquehannock
With a 75.0 average as a senior and a strong summer on the YCJGA Tour, Axel Hartman has graduated from West York. Also gone is Trevor Sweitzer.
Susquehannock lost top player Caleb Bryant to graduation. Bryant became the youngest club champ this summer at South Hills.
Division III breakdown
DEFENDING CHAMP >> York Catholic
If the Fighting Irish defend their division title, it will be with a slew of new top scorers. York Catholic loses not one but two Parrinis. Siblings Lauren, who has since graduated, and Joe, now at Central York, both won District 3 crowns last season. Add on top of that, YAIAA champion Nick Geiman has graduated.
Those three contributed to York Catholic's top four scores that secured a YAIAA team title last year. The returning player from that foursome is junior Andrew Forjan.
ASCENDING >> Delone Catholic
After a second-place league finish, coach Mark Golanoski's club will be senior-laden this fall. Jake Mueller averaged an 85, while Jarrett Mueller shot an 84 — seven strokes better than his average — in the YAIAA championships.
SHOES TO FILL >> York Catholic
Contact Matt Goul at 771-2045.
More YAIAA season previews
Girls' tennis: Dallastown appears ready for title defense
Boys' cross country: Dan Filler and Gettysburg hope to chase down York Suburban