For the first time in nine years, Wessington Springs sent a qualifying boys golf team to state. The team, made up of Blake Larson, Brock Krueger, JD Thompson and Luke Larson, battled it out with 23 other teams from across the state and were able to secure 8th place with a score of 514.
On the final day of the Class B State Boys’ Golf Tournament, Blake Larson used an 80 to match his firstround score. Even though he didn’t improve his score from the first round of play, Blake was still able to secure fourth place, out of 129 golfers, with a total of 160.
Thompson, one of two freshmen on the team, was able to share 33rd with a score of 174.
Krueger was able to finish in a 6-way tie for spot number 52 with a score of 180.
Luke Larson, the second freshman on the team, was able to finish in a 5-way tie for spot number 58 with a score of 181.
'The boys missed placing as a team by four strokes with goals already of coming back even stronger next year,” said Spartans Golf Head Coach Regina Teveldal, noting that at the state tournament, the top six spots are recognized. “After winning runner up at regions our entire golf team made it to state, which is huge and a rarity in itself.”
With all four boys shooting in the 80s during the first round — and two of the boys being freshmen and firsttimers at a state tournament, Teveldal said the future of Spartans golf is bright.
“JD performed very well, stayed really calm and stuck with it. Luke puts in the time and effort and also will bring good things down the line,” said Teveldal. “It’s almost like two different people within a year when it comes to Luke and JD and their golf games. They are always out there and trying to get better.”
“Brock has been a steady eddy for us. He’s been on the team since 6th grade and is an all around great teammate with a good attitude and works really hard,” she said. “Blake is a true leader, he works really hard and has put in a lot of time and effort.”
With all team members landing within the top half with their final score, Teveldal touts the huge success enjoyed by the team while being eagerly optimistic for the season to come.
“I see good things from all the kids on the team as a whole — not only the kids that went to state. I am excited for what is to come with Spartan golf,” she explained.
Teveldal congratulated the 2023 Spartan Boys Varsity Team, commending them not as just golfers but mostly as human beings of great character.
“This team far exceeded the expectation of the season,” she stated. 'They are awesome. But the biggest thing is that they are genuinely good people. Their good golfing is a bonus.”