By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
East Hardy, Moorefield and Petersburg golf seniors bid farewell with a final match at Valley View Golf Club as Lucas Riggleman took a final bow in school record setting fashion during the Vikings’ team victory and the Yellow Jackets’ Veronica Carr’s family legacy lasted 17 straight seasons.
Petersburg won the senior night match with a team score of 149 led by overall low medalist Lucas Riggleman with a school record setting card of 32, followed by Moorefield with 177 guided by low medalist Drake Kimble with a card of 39 and East Hardy was in third place at 187 and paced by Eli Combs and Shane Sisler with 44 strokes apiece. The Union Tigers didn’t have a complete team score.
The East Hardy Cougars Golf senior members honored were Eli Combs, Albert Lermineaux, Patrick Mills and Shayne Sisler.
“I had fun coaching these seniors in my first year. My hope was for them to grow and have fun this year. Golf is a sport they can play their entire lives. As the seniors mentioned, we nearly crashed the team van on the way to a match. That was the craziest moment,” East Hardy Golf coach Renee Reed commented.
Combs and Sisler shot a 44, followed by Mills with a 46 and Lermineaux rounded out the Cougars senior scoring tally with a 56.
East Hardy freshman Marshall Walker finished with a card of 55.
Mills sank a long distance putt from the fringe on the eighth hole as the gallery cheered.
The fourth hole was frustrating for the Cougars as the sand trap caught Mills and Sisler, but easily got on the green in a stroke.
Lerminaux was excited to show his new glove during the match with the words ‘Nice Shot’.
Combs noted his plans for after high school includes joining Bryson DeChambeau’s YouTube channel and breaking 50 with him and the favorite golf memory was nearly crashing in the van going to a match.
Lermineaux plans to become an emergency room physician, if that doesn’t work out then he’ll be a bouncer at Paradise City and the favorite golf memory was almost crashing in the golf van.
Mills plans to be a farmer and/or get another job and the favorite golf memory was Coach Reed wrecking the team van.
Sisler plans to go play on the PGA Tour after high school and the favorite golf memory was almost crashing on the way to Fisher Mountain in the team van.
“It has been a great time. I joined the golf team last year. We always had a great time and Jordan Teets helped teach us a lot and won the state title. He is off to college now and it is up to us to put the time in. We just always have fun. Top-3 funniest moment was almost crashing in the van and another time Patrick caught a baby deer on hole four during practice. We chased it down on the golf course. It is always an adventure,” East Hardy senior Shayne Sisler remarked.
The Moorefield Yellow Jackets Golf senior players recognized were Veronica Carr, Marcus Cremann and Drake Kimble, while Trevor Baldwin wasn’t at the match due to a family obligation.
Kimble’s top score for the Moorefield seniors was a card of 39, followed by Cremann with 49 and Carr garnered 51 strokes.
Kimble had a tough time holding his club as it would fly away during the tee shots, but maintained composure finishing strong.
“Mooreifeld sports in general have a winning culture, so it means a lot to be able to represent that. At the end of the day I wear the ‘M’ on my shirt, but in my heart I represent the Lord and try to show that in everything I do. I wouldn’t be here without Him. It is hard at times, but what I found has helped me handle the pressure being in a winning culture is just trusting in the Lord everyday,” Moorefield senior Drake Kimble commented.
Carr and Cremann will be attending West Virginia University.
The Carr family of siblings (Ean, Noah, Tanner, J.J. and Veronica) have competed for the Yellow Jackets during 17 straight years with state tournament representation for each sibling and Veronica Carr capped off that string of success competing in the girls state invitational tournament throughout her career.
“It’s great. It is kind of a legacy. All of my brothers played through and I might not be the best one, but it has been fun and I enjoy it. It has been 17 years for Moorefield having a Carr play here. One of my favorite memories was cheering for J.J. at the state tournament. It was a blast every time supporting him. I went out with a bang, doing my best my senior year at the girls state tournament,” Moorefield senior Veronica Carr stated.
Moorefield’s Kail Greenwalt garnered a card of 42, Kody Biser made 47 strokes and Tommy Parisi recorded a 55 as the future of the Yellow Jackets is buzzing for success.
The Petersburg Vikings Golf senior duo was Carter Hardy and Lucas Riggleman.
Riggleman launched his fifth hole tee shot off the cart barn and next to the picnic pavilion and mentioned possibly starting to eat early as laughter was heard by the gallery.
Riggleman vowed to use a hockey stick to putt on the last green, but being so close to the school record he had to use the normal putter.
“It’s an honor and it has been fun. If it wasn’t for my teammates, I wouldn’t be here. I love playing with my boys. I have had the record tied three times, but to do it on senior night for myself is pretty cool. I couldn’t use the hockey stick, because I actually had to try in the end. I promise it will come out before the end of the year,” Petersburg senior Lucas Riggleman explained.
East Hardy’s Shayne Sisler suggested a ‘Happy Gilmore’ style game for senior night when hearing about the hockey stick.
Petersburg’s winning team score was comprised by Lucas Riggleman’s low medalist finish of 32, followed Austin Kuh and Grayson Kimble with a 38, Matt Riggleman tied Maverick Wratchford added 41 strokes apiece.
There was a special dinner provided for senior night including golf inspired cupcakes.
“We played decent. Hopefully it carries over to regional on Monday,” Moorefield coach Kevin Reed said.
East Hardy Golf competed in the Class A Region II Tournament at Canaan Valley Resort in Davis on Monday.
Moorefield Golf competed in the Class AA Region II Tournament at Cacapon Resort State Park in Berkeley Springs on Monday.
Our Hardy County golfers were seeking a trip to the state tournament in Wheeling.
