Meet the Top 9 golfers to watch in Butler County ahead of 2024 PIAA season
By winning the PIAA Class 3A Boys Individual Golf Championship last fall, Butler’s Hunter Swidzinski proved what Butler County area high school golfers are capable of.
Seneca Valley’s Lihini Ranaweera competed in the girls Class 3A state tournament and Freeport’s Lillie Snow and Karns City’s Chloe Fritch in the classification below that.
As high school teams return to the links late this summer, here are some golfers to keep an eye on during the upcoming golf season.
An illness prevented Campbell from accomplishing what he set out for last season. Planets coach Rich Schoeffel has lofty expectations for his No. 1 golfer this time around.
“We’ve had one guy ever make states since I’ve been in charge,” Schoeffel said, referring to Blake Bertolo. “He’s good enough to make states this year for sure. If he doesn’t make states, I’ll be surprised.”
Schoeffel said Campbell, a senior, has been consistent. He only had three nine-hole rounds in the 40s last fall.
Fritch, a multi-sport athlete for the Gremlins, is hoping to get back at it as she recovers from ACL surgery. She was tops in District 9 Class 2A on the girls’ side in 2023.
“We’ll see if she’s allowed to play and when she’s actually allowed to be cleared here,” her father and Gremlins coach Eric Fritch said.
Fritch has qualified for districts and states three times already.
“Her focus is still the same,” the elder Fritch said. “She wants to do the same.”
Garvin, a senior, and Cardosi, a junior, had nearly identical numbers for the Raiders at the end of last season. They both advanced through the sectional qualifier, as well.
Raiders coach Dean Leventopoulos is eager to see the friendly competition between the two, who tied for the most team medals (four) and Seneca Valley’s lowest nine-hole scoring average (38.5).
“Having guys come back as your 1A, 1B ... is a sense of stability,” Leventopoulos said. “It gives them that challenge ... of trying to see who’s going to step up and maybe try (to) separate themselves.”
As part of last year’s District 9 champion team, Hilliard followed the advice of the Warriors’ upperclassmen and turned it into a trip to districts.
Moniteau coach Sue Scialabba expects her to be at the forefront of a sophomore-heavy team.
“I think that year of experience is going to help her to calm her nerves a little bit,” Scialabba said. “Even though she’s a sophomore, I’m expecting her to be a leader.”
Now a junior, Lenyk was one over par during the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Golf Team Championships at Cedarbrook Golf Course in October 2023. The Golden Tornado finished as the district runners-up.
Lenyk had also scored a 74 at the WPIAL Individual Qualifier at Cranberry Highlands. His ball striking stands out to Butler coach Travis Shingleton, who expects him to step up after now-graduated Hunter Swidzinski won the state crown a season ago.
Two seasons ago, Ponteous was a section medalist as a sophomore. Last year, a tough course at the Pittsburgh Field Club prevented her from advancing through the section qualifier.
She figures to spearhead the Golden Tornado this fall and will aim to collect more accolades.
“Her average continues to drop from freshman to senior year,” Butler coach Brent Piccola said. “She played the other night and shot a 36 out here at Hiland (Golf Course). I expect her to be at par or a little bit above par for nine holes.
“She’s the type of girl (who) if she could live here from sunrise to sunset and play golf, she would.”
Zigo and Evans both reached the WPIAL Class 2A Individual Golf Championship last fall.
“It’s not that they’re the same exact person, but they are very similar,” Yellowjackets coach Joe Sprumont said of the seniors. “The description of one is pretty similar to the description of the other.”
Evans’ round of 78 tied for the lowest at the section qualifier. Both averaged 40.6 over nine holes a year ago.
