BY KEN MORSE
CITIZEN’S NEWS
Coming into the season with just one senior, Woodland head golf coach Bill Carangelo and assistant Chris Misuraca knew there would be growing pains for this young group of Hawks.
Five matches into the season Woodland is at 1-4 on the season, but a handful of strokes away from maybe another win or two. The Hawks opened up the season with a tough 197-199 loss to Seymour. Senior Aden Ianniruberto was the medalist with a 43.
Woodland lost its next match, 206-213, to Naugatuck to fell to 0-2 on the season. Junior Dean Norton shot a team-best 47.
“We have a very young team,” said Woodland athletic director Chris Dailey. “We have only one senior, one junior, eight sophomores and four freshmen.”
The Hawks went up against the toughest team in the league taking on St. Paul at Chippanee Country Club in Bristol on April 13. The Falcons shot a blistered score of 185 with the Hawks posting a season-high of 232 on the very challenging course.
Woodland entered its April 18 match looking to get into the win column. Their efforts paid off with a 218-219 knuckle-scrapper against Torrington. The youth of Woodland rose to the occasion with sophomore Elias Carmack tying for medalist honors with a round of 48.
There is no rest for the weary in the ever-tough NVL as Woodland had to face perennial contender Watertown on April 19 and suffered a tough 182-200 setback at Oxford Greens.
When opponents are posting scores of 182 and 185, it’s kind of tough to match up to those figures, but the Hawks showed their tenacity against the Warriors by posting their second-lowest score of the season.
Carmack led the way, putting up a competitive round of 43 against Watertown. Norton checked in with a 49 with Ianniruberto hitting a 52 and freshman Matthew Scarlato finishing with a 56.
“Aden has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills as a senior captain helping some of the underclassmen develop,” added Dailey.
The Hawks were slated to stay busy with matches against Holy Cross, Wolcott and the Waterbury Co-op. The Waterbury match is scheduled for today at the Western Hills Golf Course.
