THE WAKEFIELD High golf team will count on new senior captains Ryan Marsh and Donovan Foley to lead the team this season. Pictured are Foley and Marsh with last year’s captains at the banquet. From left to right is Jack Ryan, Oliver Miller, Foley, Marsh and Cal Tryder. The Warriors are 1-1 so far with a win over Wilmington and a loss against Lexington. (Wakefield Golf Photo)
NORTH READING — The Wakefield High golf team started a new season this week with a 38.5-33.5 victory over Wilmington on Tuesday at Thomson Country Club in North Reading. The Warriors were victorious in seven of their 10 head-to-head matchups.
Junior Joe Colliton won 5.5-3.5 at the number one spot. Senior captain Ryan Marsh, junior John Porter, junior Ryan Tracy and newcomer Owen Michaud all won their matchups by 5.5-3.5 scores. Junior Drew Barrett beat his opponent 7-2.
“The first match of the season was a great experience for our team,” said head coach Chris Keane. “We lost nine seniors who played the 1-9 spots last year so all but one of our players hadn’t played in the varsity lineup. Wilmington played us tough but we were able to come away with the win.
“Joe Colliton played the No. 1 for us and was able to pick up a win during his first time in the varsity lineup which is really impressive.”
The Warriors have big shoes to fill as they look to replace a talented and deep group of seniors who led the team to an undefeated season that was shortened due to the pandemic. The Warriors were co-champions of the Freedom Division with Melrose.
Leading the way in 2021 will be senior captains Donovan Foley and Ryan Marsh.
“I can’t say enough about my captains Ryan Marsh and Donovan Foley,” said Keane. “They’ve done such a great job getting the team to buy in and keeping us together. The whole team has been a pleasure so far.”
Wakefield had a back-to-back as they traveled to Lexington Golf Club on Wednesday to take on an always talented Minutemen team. Lexington won the match 44-28, but Wakefield had multiple strong performances including two victories and three ties.
“Lexington is always a tough team and no one on our team had played their course before,” said Keane. “We hung tough and Ryan Tracy won his match 7.5-1.5 from the 6 spot which is the highest he’s ever played in the varsity lineup.”
Sara Nemec was the other winner for the Warriors, beating her opponent 5-4 at No. 7.
Colliton earned a 4.5-4.5 tie at the number 1 spot. Marsh and Michaud also came up with ties.
The 1-1 Warriors will host Melrose on Thursday, 3 p.m. back at Thomson.
