2017 BOYS GOLF PREVIEW...

This is the 12th season at the helm for coach Bill Wise and after finishing near the bottom of the CCC he is looking for improved results.

"After a year of experience we should be a little better," he said. "We only lost one senior, but we only have one again this season (Andrew Slusher)."

Slusher will be a force in the league this season and should vie for player of the year honors. He was Covington's top performer a year ago and has worked all summer on his game.

This years juniors, Jack Shell, Hunter Alexander, and Thomas Kuether, have also improved from last season and Sophomore Dylan Lucas has been hitting the ball well and will be one of the top golfers on the team.

"We hope to challenge teams in the league this year," Wise said. "There's some tough teams in the CCC this year."

Wise has a group of freshmen who he hopes will contribute to the success.

"Our incoming freshmen, David McCool, Randy Anthony, Job Morgan, and Grant Humphrey are looking pretty good and should all find some playing time this season," he said of his younger kids.

Newton and National Trail should be strong long with Miami East and Franklin Monroe.

But Wise isn't looking at the strength of the opponents. He's more focused on his own team.

"Our goal is to improve over last season and gain more valuable experience," he said. "If we can improve from day to day, we should be pretty solid by the end of the year."

2017 GIRLS GOLF PREVIEW...

The Covington girls golf team is in a rebuilding mode after finishing fourth out of six teams in the CCC a year ago.

"Yes, our program is in rebuilding mode, but there is optimism in their efforts," said Covington coach Adam Sweigart. "Gambill (Mackenzie) only played occasionally last year and our two newcomers Morgan (Lowe) and Katie (Hembree) are working towards a quality product on the course."

Yet, Covington has experience in juniors Emily Thompson and Emily Hedrick.

"Emily Thompson and Emily Hedrick are coming back this year and are expected to be primary performers," Sweigart said of his two returning letter winners. "Losing three seniors from last year's squad (Addison Metz, Kelsey McReynolds, Megan Alexander) is a big loss that cannot be replaced. Those seniors were the primary scorers from last year. The Emily's (Thompson & Hedrick) have had great progress from last year and will be heavily relied upon for leadership and stability this year."

The CCC slate of matches will be a tough road due to the quality of the teams in the conference.

"Bethel is a new comer this year, but the leaders in conference will be Miami East, Arcanum, and National Trail," Sweigart explained. "Makenna Jones of National Trail will probably be the CCC Golfer of the Year. She is really good and was medalist at our Lady Bucc 18 Hole."

Sweigart likes the early progress of his team as it hosted the Lady Bucc Invitational to begin the season.

"I am proud of our team from our efforts from our Lady Bucc Invitational," he said. "That was some of our teammates first opportunity to golf more than a few holes, so their progress from practice number one can and will improve. We will have a fun time on the course and hopefully be able to contend in a few matches."