Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Fitting a theme of passing the torch, MacEwan's golf team will head into the 2018 ACAC season with an even split of veterans and rookies.
With two key men's players moving into their final seasons, head coach Jodi Campbell announced a promising crop of newcomers that will look to continue the proud tradition of a program heading into its 10th year.
After tryouts on Aug. 25-26, Campbell filled out a men's team that's headlined by fifth-years Josh Gorieu and Christian Solkowski, while also including returners Noah Lubberding and Justin Berget. Rookies Connor Ackroyd, Reid Woodman, Jarrett Bossert and Jack Nessel will compete for playing time this season before taking on greater roles in 2019.
"You think about it: 50 per cent of our team are brand new, so it's going to be a great experience for our new guys to play alongside these veterans and learn from that," Campbell said. "It also speaks to the philosophy we had going into the selection tryouts, which is building for the future. We're going to have two guys gone next year. When they leave, that only leaves Justin and Noah (amongst the vets).
"That was a big part of the philosophy, not only creating a competition this year, but also looking at ensuring that two and three years from now we're going to be equally as strong."
Second-year Hailey Turcotte – an ACAC bronze medalist from 2017 – will be joined on the Griffins women's team by local Jordan Hoyda, who is transferring in from Post University in Waterbury, CT. While the team is lacking depth, as no third player has yet come to the fore among the MacEwan student body, Campbell is nevertheless confident in their potential.
"Hailey and Jordan are going to be a strong 1-2 punch for us this year," said Campbell. "Obviously on the women's side, (each team is) three, count two, but for us it's going to be two count two. It just means they don't have the opportunity to take a day off. There isn't someone else to bail you out. It's going to require a lot of focus on their part."
Campbell plans to do some more promotions throughout September in an attempt to find a third player for the team, which would strengthen their bid to return to nationals.
"I'm not closed to that option because I think there needs to be an opportunity if there's a young lady at MacEwan who has a solid foundation in golf, there's nothing wrong with bringing her in two or three weeks into the season," he explained. "In many ways, that would help better prepare us if we qualify for nationals. It would be better to go to nationals with three than two."
The Griffins women's team has enjoyed a run of dominance over the ACAC ranks in 10 years of existence, winning seven championship banners, including last season. The men's squad has been on top of the podium four times. Adding in his 2018 recruiting class and Campbell has now had 63 total players come through the program.
"We've enjoyed a lot of success over that period of time," he said. "In many ways, going after a banner is the exact same goal we had in Year 1 as in Year 10. Nothing's really changed over the years."
Before the ACAC season kicks off, to help commemorate their 10th year, the Griffins will hold an intra-squad tournament on Sept. 9 with current team members going against alumni at Cardiff Golf Club.
"Having some fun with some old alumni is a way we can commemorate our 10th season and celebrate some of the successes we've had in the past," said Campbell.
"It's gone by really fast. We've had a ton of super talented players that have come through."
The Griffins will officially kick off the ACAC season on Sept. 15-16 with the North Regional at Lac La Biche Golf Club. The South Regional is set for Sept. 22-23 at Millwoods Golf Course in Edmonton. Following that, the ACAC Championship is set for Sept. 29-30 in Red Deer.
Should they qualify for the PING Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championship, they won't have to travel across the country this season. For the first time, it will be held in Alberta, on Oct. 15-19 at Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat.
