Another stacked Sequim High boys golf team looks to make another deep run at the state tourney this spring.
After losing just one senior with significant varsity time in 2021 (Garret Hoesel), the defending league champs have a solid core returning in 2022.
They’re led by senior Ben Sweet, who tied for second at last year’s league tourney as a junior and tied for 21st at the state 2A tournament as a freshman in 2019.
Also back are seniors Dominic Riccobene and Pryce Glasser; Riccobene tied for eighth and Glassier for 15th at the league final in 2021, as the Wolves won by 11 shots over 3A Central Kitsap.
SHS boys haven’t lost a league or non-league match since April 2015, a streak of 50 consecutive matches.
The Wolves’ girls team loses three of its top four players to graduation but still sees a half-dozen returning players.
They are led by senior Hannah Wagner, who as a junior in her first full season of golf placed ninth at the league final.
“Hannah has started out strong so far and I anticipate her making it to state this year,” SHS girls coach Tim Lusk said this week.
Sequim’s Hannah Wagner tees off to begin her round at The Cedars at Dungeness in April 2021.
Returner Jelissa Julmist, recovering from an injury from basketball season, is “slowly getting her confidence that she actually can compete” and working on her short game, Lusk said.
Juliana Tamblyn has a chance to earn postseason berths, he said, while senior Sydnee Price has show improvement in early practices.
“We have a few sophomores and freshman that are ambitious to learn the game,” Lusk said. “[It] should be a good season for us overall.”
Last year’s SHS girls team went 5-2 and took fourth in the league tournament, only behind 3A schools Bainbridge and Central Kitsap and 1A powerhouse Klahowya.
SHS boys open with win at Bainbridge
Getting a jump-start on the spring season, Sequim’s boys golf squad opened the 2022 campaign with a 186-206 win over 3A Bainbridge at Wing Point Golf Club on Bainbridge Island on March 3.
Sequim High senior Ben Sweet led all golfers with a top score of 39, as the Wolves’ top three outplayed Bainbridge by a wide margin. Dominic Riccobene shot 44 and Pryce Glasser carded a 47.
“With both teams playing their first match of the season, the scores were higher than all would have liked,” Sequim coach Sean O’Mera said. “However, the Wolves held strong and came out with the win.”
O’Mera gave a special “shout-out” to Zackary Thompson and Lars Wiker for completing their first varsity matches, albeit in near darkness.
Sequim’s girls fell to Bainbridge, the defending Olympic League champs, 205-241, on March 3. SHS senior Hannah Wagner led the team with a 55, while Bainbridge captain Elise Walters paced the Spartans with a 44.
On March 10, Sequim’s boys improved to 2-0, topping Bremerton 163-209. Riccobene led the Wolves with a 37. Glasser started with a 5-over-par 10 on the first hole, but then went 1-under the rest of the way to finish with a solid 40. Sweet carded a 412 and Cole Smithson shot a 45. Thompson shot a 53, shaving seven shots off his first varsity score from a week prior, while Sage Younger added a 66 for the Wolves.
Spring sports preview: Boys, girls golf
Head coaches: Boys — Sean O’Mera (second season); Girls — Tim Lusk (second season)
2021 record: Boys — 8-0, first at Olympic League tournament; Girls — 5-2, fourth at Olympic League tournament
Returners: Boys — Ben Sweet (sr.), Dominic Riccobene (sr.), Pryce Glasser (sr.), Cole Smithson (jr.), Lars Wiker (so.), Sage Younger (so.). Girls — Hannah Wagner (sr.), Sydnee Price (sr.), Juliana Tamblyn (sr.), Jelissa Julmist (jr.), Emily Post (so.), Isabella Williams (jr.)
Newcomers: Boys — Zackary Thompson (jr.). Girls — Sara German (fr.), Ava Johnson (so.), Isabel Turrey (N/A), Chloe Tweter (fr.)
Sequim High School boys, girls golf 2022 schedule
Date Opponent Time
March 3 at Bainbridge 3 p.m.
March 10 Bremerton 3 p.m.
March 17 at North Kitsap 3 p.m.
March 24 North Mason 3 p.m.
March 31 Kingston 3 p.m.
April 15 at Port Angeles 3 p.m.
April 21 Bainbridge 3 p.m.
April 28 at North Kitsap 3 p.m.
May 2 Olympic 3 p.m.
May 12 at North Mason 3 p.m.
