IAC GIRLS GOLF: EXPECTATIONS REMAIN HIGH FOR THREE-TIME DEFENDING SECTION IV CHAMP WAVERLY (2019-03-28)
BY TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportWAVERLY "” The Waverly girls golf team returns four state qualifiers from a team that is riding a 98-match regular-season win streak, is the three-time defending Section IV champion, and one that finished third at last year's state tournament.
The Lady Wolverines return senior Alex Tomasso, who is a four-time state qualifier, junior Gianna Picco, a three-time state qualifier, and sophomores Sidney Tomasso and Gabby Picco - both two-time state qualifiers.
"We're pretty happy with what we have coming back," said Pete Girolamo, who was named New York State "Girls Golf Coach of the Year" in 2018.
"Alex (Tomasso) is playing in college next year, so she's dedicated to the game," he said. "Gabby (Picco), Gianna (Picco) and Sid (Tomasso) have all played very well in practice.
"I really like the core four we have," Girolamo added.
Girolamo noted the Lady Wolverines aren't quite as deep as they have been with the graduation of three-time state qualifier seniors Capria Picco and Madison Kittle, who qualified for States last year.
"Not only did we lose Capria (Picco), and I don't think people realize how good she was, but we lost Maddie (Kittle), who would have been top two or three on every other team in Section IV last year," said Girolamo. "We have less margin for error, but we're still the one everyone is chasing."
Sophomore Haley Kittle is and junior Gretchen Sowle will round out the starting line-up to start the season.
"Haley has a bit of experience, and Gretchen also played in a few matches last season," said Girolamo.
Also vying for the final two starting spots will be seniors Abigail Durgin, Reagan Vaughn, Paige Pierce, Marnie Sweeney, Faith Svoboda, and Lauren Newman, as well as junior Olivia Dougherty, and sophomore Faith Hand.
"We have eight other kids who will play for those two spots," said Girolamo. "We have some newcomers, but we have some kids who have played a couple of years like Reagan Vaughn, Faith Hand, and Faith Svoboda. There's nothing to say they couldn't move into the fifth or sixth spots.
"The big thing we've been pushing with these new kids is chipping and putting," noted Girolamo. "You might hack it around a little bit in the fairway, but if you get to the green, and you don't go back-and-forth, you can save yourself a lot of strokes.
"I'm pretty happy with the new kids we have," he added. "This is a really god group of kids. A lot of them have been with me a long time, and I really enjoy coaching them."
Girolamo knows expectations are sky high for the team in 2019.
"I don't think they feel any pressure. I don't make a big point of it.
"We'd like to go to States year, but we can't put the cart before the horse," said Girolamo. "We want to win the IAC title, and we need to win the Section IV title to get back to States.
"If we continue to work at it, and continue to improve, I think we have a good shot at getting back to States," he added. "Once you're at States, it's a crap shoot - everybody there is good."
Girolamo notes his team's schedule is as tough as it gets in the area.
"We'll get challenged because the better teams pretty much go where we go, and that's what you want - I want to play Horseheads and Corning as much as we can. I think we play Corning five times this season.
"We've playing everybody in Section IV, and we're going to AAG (Albany Academy for Girls)," noted Girolamo. "We will go anywhere to play."
The Lady Wolverines open the season Thursday against Vestal, Corning and Elmira.
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IN PHOTO: Alex Tomasso (top left), Gianna Picco (top right), Gabby Picco (bottom left), and Sidney Tomasso (bottom right).
