Tigers make state for 1st time in 40 years

ZANESVILLE, Ohio -- For the first time in 40 years, the Marietta High boys golf team is going to state.

The Tigers accumulated a team score of 311 during Wednesday's Division I East District Tournament at EagleSticks, besting runner-up New Philadelphia by six strokes.

Sophomore Anthony Discini won individual medalist honors, carding a 31 on the front nine and 36 on the back to finish with a score of 67. That was six strokes better than runner-up Austin Levengood of Dover, who clinched the district's individual state berth.

For Marietta, Blake Lauer finished tied for sixth at 77, Keaton Mace tied for 12th at 79 and Colsen Lang carded an 86 to finish tied for 38th, rounding out the team score.

"We've been working on a lot of stuff in practice," said fifth-year MHS head coach Jason Discini. "We've worked on staying in the moment, being focused on the shot ahead. We told them that they've all played great rounds before, but they've never done it altogether at once, and that today was going to be the day."

Anthony Discini, who placed third at the sectional tournament, was five under par at one point Wednesday, but made a couple bogeys on the way in.

"He was actually mad at first, and I told him 'You just shot a 67,'" coach Discini laughed. "That's just how he is. He has high standards for himself. He works very hard and expects good results for the work he puts in. But the best part is that all five get to go to the state tournament."

Lauer had the shot of the day when he drained a 100-plus-foot putt on the 17th hole for birdie.

"That kind of got him into the clubhouse," Discini said. "Blake had an unbelievable putting round. Him and Keaton played extremely well. With this group, the team culture is fantastic. They're a cohesive team, they're there for each other and they're extremely coachable."

The Tigers will head to NRC Country Club on Monday, Oct. 12. It'll be Marietta's first time at state as a team since 1986.

"It was just a sweet moment for the school and the program," Discini said. "It's been a long time coming. We've had some really great teams and individuals at Marietta and so many close calls over 40 years. To be the group to get back there, I'm very happy with this group of kids."

The Warren boys finished eighth as a team with a score of 338. Jackson Perdue finished tied for 23rd at 82 to lead the Warriors. Aiden Lipscomb and Cody Eding for 26th at 83 while Aiden Harlow was 43rd at 90.

In the Division III Southeast District Tournament at Elks Country Club, Waterford finished two strikes behind St. Joseph Central for the team title.

However, the Wildcats still will be represented at state as sophomore Brock Hurley carded a 70 to earn individual medalist honors. Senior Reese Lang finished two strokes behind at 72 to tie for runner-up honors. Luke Hvizdzak tied for 13th at 84 while Came Clark tied for 27th at 90. Eastern's Dawson King claimed a top-10 finish, carding a 79 to place sixth overall.

St. Joseph Central had three golfers finish in the top 10, led by Choen Dressel's 72, to deny Waterford a second straight trip to state as a team.

Washington County had another district runner-up as the Fort Frye girls finished second in the D2 East District Tournament at Cambridge Country Club.

The Cadets finished at 362, 25 strokes behind champion Ridgewood.

Raeleigh Warden was Fort Frye's top finisher, carding a 77 to finish fourth. She was two strikes behind Garaway's Kylie Miller, who earned the district's individual state tourney bid.

Khoen Courson (7th; 87) and Kallie Boley (10th; 91) also cracked the top 10 for the kids while Kenna McCurdy (107) finished 25th.