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Men’s Golf Looking to Break Out in 2010
HOBOKEN, N.J. (August 25, 2010) – The 2010 season marks the start of the fifth varsity campaign for the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s golf team. The mix of returning experienced players and a talented incoming freshmen class has the team in good position to improve on last year’s performance. The group will also look to keep up the team’s traditional stellar academic performance, which included a team GPA of 3.47 in the spring 2010 semester and five student-athletes boasting GPAs between 3.66 and 3.94.
The team will be led by its co-captains, senior Aaron Dennis (Bangor, Maine) and junior John Ziegler (Glen Burnie, Md.). Both have been mainstays in the team’s lineup since their arrival and provide leadership on and off the course. Senior John Kutcher (Wayne, N.J.) is an experienced and talented player with the potential for a breakout season. Kutcher and Dennis have been part of three of the top five team single-day scores in Stevens history.
Sophomore Scott Reardon (Northfield, NJ) played from the no. 1 position for most of the 2009-10 season, and was last year’s most valuable player. After a full season of collegiate golf, Reardon has the potential to be one of the better players in the Empire 8. Sophomore Tom Tritt (Wyckoff, NJ) showed improvement throughout 2009-10 and worked his way into the lineup by end of the season. Sophomores Paul Pavlich (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and Cody Kylor (McVeytown, Pa.) also return and add depth to the roster.
Three freshmen, Richie Szeliga (South Plainfield, NJ), Charlie Johnston (Robbinsville, NJ) and Tom Lauria (Manalapan, NJ) join the team for the 2010-11 season. Each had a successful high school career and competed this summer on the junior golf tournament circuit. All three are expected to challenge for the top five positions on the team.
Head coach Joe Stahley (Hoboken, NJ) continues to lead the program, as he has since its inception. Golf professional Sean Pollack (Woodcliff Lake, NJ) joined the program as an assistant coach during the spring 2010 season and will continue with the team during the fall season. Pollack had an outstanding amateur career and turned professional in 2007. His duties include swing instruction and the mental and strategic aspects of playing golf in competition. “The team has responded very enthusiastically to Sean’s instruction” said Coach Stahley. "He has been a great addition to the program."
“This is the most overall talent and depth the team has had in its five year history”, commented Stahley. He added, “the experience last year’s freshmen and sophomores gained plus the addition of the talented freshmen sets us up for a successful season.
In the fall season, the Ducks will compete in eight tournaments, beginning with the Utica College Invitational on September 4. The team is looking to peak for the Empire 8 Championships and the ECAC Upstate/Metro tournaments, to be held September 18-19 and October 2-3 respectively. Stevens will also be tested by strong regional teams at the Lebanon Valley, Franklin and Marshall, Elmira, and NYU/Manhattanville, Centenary College Invitationals.
A new addition to the team’s practice options this year is an indoor, on-campus practice facility in the basement of Jacobus Hall. The Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic Valley, N.J. will continue to serve as the home course and practice site for Stevens, while the team also practices twice a week at the Edgewater Driving Range in Edgewater, N.J.
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