By BUTCH HARMON
DIVISION 1
Top teams statewide: Lakeview, Saline, Grandville, Plymouth

Top local teams: Detroit Catholic Central, Swartz Creek, Rockford, Lakeland, Clarkston
Swartz Creek edged Detroit Catholic Central by a stroke to win last year’s Division 1 state title. This year, there may be no stopping Catholic Central. The Shamrocks return a ton of talent, led by senior Glenn Piot, sophomore James Piot, and sophomore Ben Smith.

Rockford finished three strokes out of first at the finals and returns plenty of talent. Senior Joel Pietila tied for medalist honors at state and returns, along with seniors Michael Cooper and Josh Stephan.

Lakeland lost a strong corps of seniors but returns junior Justin LaFrance, who placed fifth at the regional.

Clarkston is primed to make a move this spring. The Wolves return seniors Brendon Graham and Alex Dice, along with talented sophomore Brady Dice.

More area teams to watch:
Midland Dow is paced by senior Ben Roeder, who was the Division 1 medalist last spring.

Fenton suffered heavy graduation losses but does return skilled senior John Lloyd. Lloyd placed second at the regional last year.

Grand Ledge is primed for a big season. Senior Josh Arbour placed third at the regional and returns, along with fellow seniors Patrick Powers and Cameron Conley and promising junior Dallas Chester.

Hartland placed fourth at the regional last year and may be even stronger this season. Senior Bryce Messner placed second individually at the regional and returns, along with seniors Beau Breault and Baker Stevenson.

Brighton is paced by senior Andrew Goble this season.

Holt, led by senior Zach Dowling and talented sophomore Tony Fuentes, is primed to make a move in the CAAC Blue.

 
Okemos is set for a big year with the return of senior Ross Lazur, who placed fifth at the regional, and juniors Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci and Owen Ruster.
 
DIVISION 2
Top teams statewide: Forest Hills Eastern, Divine Child Catholic, Forest Hills Northern

Top local teams: Cranbrook-Kingswood, DeWitt, East Lansing, Notre Dame Preparatory
Defending state champion Cranbrook-Kingswood returns a ton of talent, led by senior Dylan Deogun, who placed third individually at state last year. Sophomore standout Devin Deogun also returns, along with seniors Todd Fridline and Mason Schultz.

DeWitt is paced by a solid group of seniors. Geoffry Croley placed ninth at the state finals, while Owen Beyer took third at the regional. Senior Mike Coscarelli is another talented veteran in the lineup.

East Lansing took second at the regional and eighth at state last year and returns all five starters. Senior Joe Croom was seventh individually at state and leads a lineup that includes senior Logan Wilcox and junior Ian Carroll.

Notre Dame Prep finished in the top ten at state but lost four senior starters. Talented senior Jack Dimefsk does return.

More area teams to watch:
Mason won a regional title last season and returns all but one starter. Senior Tristan Brunst was regional medalist and returns, along with senior Jason Brandt and junior Kaleb Peterson, who tied for third at regional.

Mt. Pleasant placed second at its regional last year. The Oilers return junior Jack Pilkington, who was second individually at the regional, and senior Jordan Pearsall.

Big Rapids has some talented veterans, including senior Brad Walling and junior Carter Bechaz.

Owosso is primed for a big season, led by senior Jalen Weekley, who finished in the top ten at the regional. Senior Jordan Waters and junior Todd Mieske also return for the Trojans.

Corunna had a young but talented squad last season. This season, sophomores Brandon Crouse, Cooper Clapp, and Jerod Fattal will lead what could be one of the most improved teams in the area.

St. Johns has a young and talented group of golfers. Sophomore Zach Rosendale placed fifth at regional and ninth at state and returns, along with sophomore Eric Nunn and senior Mason Pieters.

Haslett will be a factor in the CAAC Red, led by senior Jack Claucherty, junior Tony Beeler, and sophomore Pat Narduzzi.

Charlotte returns standout senior Augustus Shewchuck, along with senior Cal Moultine and junior Connor Hosey.

Eaton Rapids has a promising squad of golfers, led by senior Jarret Bird and juniors Sam Crarndall and Nate Marcus.

Lakewood is paced by junior Wyatt Moll.

DIVISION 3
Top teams statewide: Lumen Christi Catholic, Almont, Hanover Horton

Top area teams: Lansing Catholic, Powers Catholic
Lansing Catholic brought home a second-straight state title last spring. The Cougars are in good position to make it a three-peat, as senior Patrick Gillespie, who finished fourth at state as an individual, returns. Two more starters return in senior Niko Vautsaras and junior Owen Rush.

Powers Catholic placed second at the regional and eighth in the state last season. The Chargers are led by sophomore Blaise Vanitvelt, who was the regional medalist last season, along with seniors Danny DeLong and Jeffrey Polakowski.

More area teams to watch:
St. Charles graduated four senior starters from a team that placed second at the regional. Sophomore Jeffery Wachowicz is the lone returner. He finished in the top 20 at the regional.

Williamston also graduated four starters from a team that placed second at its regional. Junior Seth Costello is the lone starter back for the Hornets.

Portland is led by junior Rhett Schrauben, who placed third individually at last year’s state meet.

Lake Fenton placed second at its regional last season. The Blue Devils are led by seniors Wesley Potts and Joshua Mundy, who both placed in the top 10 at the regional.

Ithaca is in a rebuilding mode this season, as it graduated all of its starters. Look for junior Mike Meier to make an impact for the Yellowjackets.

Alma was also hit hard by graduation. Senior Chance Allen and junior Cody Yates lead the way this season.

Durand placed in the top 10 at the regional last year and returns a number of key golfers, led by seniors Chris Neuman and Cody Graham and junior Chase Winiarski.

Laingsburg looks to be improved, with the return of a trio of talented seniors in Jagger Richards, Chandler Wright, and Claude Copeland.

Frankenmuth finished in the top five at the regional last year and is poised for a big year behind junior Sam Struble and sophomores Daniel Wagner and Chase Singer.

DIVISION 4
Top teams statewide: White Pigeon, North Muskegon, Traverse City St. Francis

Top area teams: Nouvel Catholic Central, Sacred Heart Academy, Oakland Christian, Fowler
Nouvel drops down to Division 4 this season and is a threat to make a deep tournament run. It is led by senior standout Nick Ludka.

Sacred Heart placed 10th at the state finals last season and has a strong group of veterans returning. Juniors Jake Starry and Sam Kindermann both placed in the top 10 individually at the regional and return, along with junior Ayush Mohan.

Oakland Christian is paced by senior Jimmy Kern, who took fourth at regional.

Fowler placed third at regional last year and is led by senior standout Derek Bengal.

More area teams to watch:
Valley Lutheran is poised for a big season, with the return of veterans Nick Howard, Jordan Rajewski, and Bo Hobson.

New Lothrop suffered heavy graduation losses and will build around senior Cody Lennox, who placed in the top 10 at the regional as an individual.

Montabella is paced by junior Joshua Balhorn, who placed second at the regional last year.

Fulton has a solid group of returnees in seniors Gregg Jones, Jarrett Coblentz, and Ross Baltimore.