District 10’s new and returning golfers should be on notice throughout the PIAA’s 2024 season.
It’s likely the only one over a 15-year span that won’t involve North East’s Swan siblings.
Isaiah Swan, a 2021 graduate, Lydia Swan (2022) and Anna Swan (2024) were each state individual and team golf champions upon their last rounds as Grapepickers. Isaiah formerly competed for Indiana University of Pennsylvania, while Anna is about to join Lydia as members of the Oral Roberts University women’s golf program in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This time next year, Josiah Swan is expected to strike his initial drive for North East. Last month, the eighth-grader-to-be defeated Shippenville’s Devon Lauer, who’s about to start his Clarion University golf career, in the boys final of the Erie District Golf Association’s Junior Match Play Tournament.
Finally, there’s Keziah Swan, the youngest of Mike and Stacy Swan’s five children. She qualified for the girls 10-11 division of April’s Drive, Chip & Putt Championships at Augusta (Georgia) National Golf Club, which hosted The Masters later that week.
Thus, the reason why the district’s current players should take advantage of the state’s new varsity season, which officially begins Thursday. Some are scheduled to participate in the Lakeview Invitational, held at Mt. Hope Golf Course in Guys Mills, or the State College Invitational at Penn State University’s Blue and White courses.
Those same golfers seek to return to the Nittany Lions’ 36-hole layout for the Oct. 21-23 PIAA individual and team tournaments.
The following are notable returnees from the district’s 2023 golf season. They’re listed in alphabetical order per class.
Class 2A girls
Cora Hirz, jr., Fairview
Goes into her third varsity season as the girls age 19-under victor for the Great Lakes Junior Golf Tour’s 2024 season. She helped the 2023 Tigers finish first in Region 2’s team standings.
Lindsey Hoover, so., Wilmington
As a second-teamer, she was the lone freshman on the 2023 all-district list.
Luciana Masters, jr., Hickory
Contributed rounds for the last two of the Hornets’ three straight PIAA 2A team championships, a feat never accomplished before last fall.
Kate Sowers, jr., West Middlesex
Last season’s Region 1 player of the year was the bronze medalist for the district’s 2A tournament and qualified for states.
Zoe Stern, jr., Reynolds
Will tee up for the 2024 Raiders as an all-district, second-teamer.
More: 3-peat: Hickory makes history with another girls golf state championship
Class 3A girls
Ella Bickel and Genelia Kang, jrs., McDowell
The third-year Trojans seek to help the program defend as Region 3’s top team.
Class 2A boys
Isaac Allan, so., Grove City
Was last season’s Region 2 player of the year and the winner of the district’s small-school tournament at The Country Club of Meadville. He was the lone freshman voted an all-district, first-teamer.
Ryder Bailey and Everett Gardner, jrs., Saegertown
The all-Region 3 second-teamers were reasons the Panthers also were victors in its team standings.
Maddox Bell and Adam Snyder, srs., Lakeview
The 2023 Sailors were Region 1’s best team in part from the duo, who were all-region, first-team selections.
Leyton Hassenplug, jr., North East
The son of Grapepickers coach Troy Hassenplug was voted last season’s best player out of Region 5.
Anthony LaBoda, jr., Fairview
Last year’s all-district, first-teamer also led the Tigers to first place in Region 5.
Connor Laird, jr., Cathedral Prep
Was an all-district, first-teamer for the 2023 Ramblers.
Colin Liederbach, sr., Oil City
Will help the Oilers’ bid to defend as Region 4’s best program.
Ty Prince, sr., Franklin
Returns to the Knights as an all-district, second-teamer.
Brandon Steubert, sr., Greenville
His results for the 2023 Trojans warranted the most votes for Region 1’s player of the year award.
Santino Toscano, so., Wilmington
Was voted to the all-district second team as a first-year Greyhound.
Cooper Wierzchowski, sr., Cathedral Prep
The returning all-district, first-teamer finished second in the district’s Class 3A tournament and qualified for states. Will play at the small-school level for his last varsity season.
Class 3A boys
Reid Olson, sr., Warren
The fourth-year Dragon is the top returning golfer for a program that was Region 6’s champ a year ago.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 golf preview: PIAA’s 2024 season starts Thursday
