WAUSA – The Wausa varsity golf team is hoping to keep its string of state appearances alive when the 2024 spring season of invitationals begins on April 13.
Chris Haberer, the eighth-year head coach of the Vikings, brings back the core of last year’s team and will try to move forward without 2023 graduate Jaxon Claussen, who qualified for the Nebraska School Activities Association Boys Golf State Championships as an individual last spring. Wausa went as a team to the state meet in 2022.
“We had some very up-and-down play, but hopefully this year, we will have more confidence with the experience we have from last year,” Haberer said.
“Jaxon won our district, which was held in Pender and then tied for 22nd at state golf.
“This year, we have returning players in (junior) Vincent Vanness, (junior) Olivia Barta and (junior) Jake Munter,” he said. “I feel each and every one of these players have improved their game from last season.”
Brady Bloomquist is giving golf a go and Haberer said the Wausa junior’s addition has been a positive.
“He will bring in some great leadership skills and also is a great player,” Haberer said. “I feel this year we will continue to improve all season and hopefully be a contender at districts hosted at Hartington Golf Club.”
Hartington-Newcastle is set to host the District D-2 golf tournament on May 13. This year’s Class D state meet is scheduled for May 21-22 at Lake Maloney Golf Club in North Platte.
Munter echoed Haberer’s feelings about the potential of this year’s Vikings squad.
“We can be pretty good this year – we got a lot of good players coming up,” Munter said. “We’re all pretty good and I think we have a lot of level-headed players this year in practice. I feel like our season will be pretty successful.”
Munter noted Wausa’s golfers “all push each other pretty good during practice.”
“It’s pretty competitive,” Munter said. “We play well together and it’s fun going to golf every day, playing with your friends. We have a good chance to go to state with this team this year. We’re more complete this year with people coming up and we got (Brady) and he’ll be pretty good – he has a good swing.”
The Vikings are set to get into the swing of meet season at 8:30 a.m. April 13 at the Plainview Invitational.
Wausa’s golf roster this year is made up of: - Seniors Colton Hagemann and Matthew Rumsey.
- Juniors Olivia Barta, Brady Bloomquist, Jake Munter and Vincent Vanness.
- Sophomores Kayton Anderson, Cody Bloomquist and Drew Rumsey.
- Freshman Lincoln Thorell.
“He (Brady) will bring in some great leadership skills and also is a great player,” Haberer said. “I feel this year we will continue to improve all season and hopefully be a contender at districts hosted at Hartington Golf Club.”
