Golf drives their way to championship

The varsity golf team had a very successful season, placing 4th in a highly competitive SEC American Conference. The Knights finished the regular season 12-6 after facing some of the best teams in Essex County.

Squaring off against Seton Hall Prep, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Newark Academy, Millburn and Montclair proved to be a brutal schedule, but the players were still up for the challenge. Varsity Coach Regan was very pleased by the outcome of the season, considering all of the circumstances.
“Since moving to the American Division, our record in the division was sub .500,” Coach Regan said. “This season we had two very big wins over Livingston, Newark Academy, MKA (twice), and a very big win over the county, conference and Group 3 Section 2 winner, Millburn.”

The team was able to go a perfect 6-0 facing off with the conference teams by posting some very low scores. However, when asked about the highlights of the season, Regan mentioned other impressive achievements.

“The highlights of the season were qualifying for the state golf tournament on May 5,” Regan said. “With an 8-4 record at the time, we met the .600 winning percentage requirement to play in the Group II Sections I and II tournament at Bowling Green Golf Club in Oak Ridge,” he said.

On May 15. the team traveled to the State Sectional tournament and played on a cold and windy day. It was not a greatest day to play golf, but they fought through the weather hazards to post the lowest score in Group II Section II.

“We waited for the scores to come in, it was becoming more apparent that we had a chance to win, Regan said. “When they announced us as the winner, it was the best feeling for the players who worked so hard to achieve their goal.”

Regan gave all the credit to the players for their efforts. Some of the team’s top golfers include Seniors Will Reif and Adam Scheckman. Reif is a four year letterwinner in golf and has played in every single match scheduled since his freshman year.

He won the MVP for the 2016 team, state qualifier as an individual in 2016 and the 2016 SEC American individual champion. Will had the lowest average of any golfer over the last two years. He made it to the First Team All SEC American Conference for the past two years.

Scheckman was another player on the team that had an honorable mention for the 2016 SEC conference, and may have a chance at another one. He obtained three year varisty letters for the golf team. Scheckman has been the solid #2 player on the team for the past two years. Adam was selected to 2nd team All SEC conference this year.

Due to the loss of all of the upperclassmen to graduation, the 2018 West Essex golf team will experience some growing pains. But with the solid foundation of players on the newly formed JV team, headed by new JV coach Semaya and the golf team plans on developing players on the course and competing successfully again next year.