LEROY — LeRoy boys’ golf coach Mark Edmundson recently told me his preseason message to his players, and it was something out of one of my favorite movies.
I’m a big sports movie guy, and I’m a sucker for motivational speeches. The 2004 film “Friday Night Lights” is full of them, and Billy Bob Thornton’s character, Permian football coach Gary Gaines, gets the film started with a doozy, confidently telling his players: “We will win state.”
That’s essentially what Edmundson told his players.
“I said, ‘We will not play a match this year that, if you play well, we should ever lose. Regular season or postseason. If you play well, there’s not a Class 1A team that’s better than you,’” Edmundson recalled. “Now, there might be a better team out there if they bring their ‘A’ game, but I just wanted them to realize that they have the opportunity to do something that’s never been done here and could really be special in their lives.”
That’s a lot of pressure to put on the Panthers, but there might not be an area team, regardless of sport, better equipped to meet those expectations than LeRoy boys’ golf.
“Our top-four guys are going to be trying to shoot right at par or under, and it’s all very doable for all of us,” senior Tate Harden said. “We’re all capable, and we all have fun playing together every day. We just have to keep having fun, and we’ll see the results.”
It all stems from what the Panthers have returning this season, which is everybody. Harden, Jordan Cox and Sam Edmundson make up one of the most talented senior trios in the state, averaging 9-hole scores in the low 40s a year ago and consistently shooting in the 30s so far this season.
But leading the way is junior Brycen Umstattd, who averaged a 37.8, won the Heart of Illinois Conference tournament, placed 30th in the 1A state field and was in the All-Area Golfer of the Year conversation as a sophomore.
Umstattd is a different animal, often leaving his teammates in awe. Harden said it’s “pretty impressive” watching him play, adding that he’ll get upset with some shots that Harden himself would be pretty happy with. Cox said it’s “crazy” what Umstattd can do, and it gets even more so when you remember he still has another year of high school golf to play.
“He’s going to be the best golfer we’ve ever had, just from watching him play and statistically,” Mark Edmundson said of Umstattd. “He’s extremely talented, he’s very long off the tee and he has great touch. He’s played since he was able to carry a club out here in LeRoy with his grandpa and dad. He absolutely understands and loves the game. The sky’s the limit for him at the state tournament. As far as the future and beyond, his ceiling is very high, and it’ll depend on how much time and effort he puts into it.”
But the other three are right behind him and have already proven to be capable of beating him. Harden won last year’s regional meet, and Cox and Sam Edmundson mixed in a couple medalist performances, as well. The Panthers expect to win every meet, but they also expect to have the individual winner of each meet, and they’re good enough that it could be any of the four.
“It takes a lot of the pressure off,” Harden said. “You’re not really competing with the other people out there. You’re competing with your own teammates. To see your own teammates succeed like that, it’s just as rewarding as seeing yourself succeed.”
LeRoy now has the rare luxury of four golfers who are regularly shooting in the 30s. Mark Edmundson said he can’t even remember a time when the Panthers had two, which is why he’s trying to push his players to reach their potential.
And the players, especially the seniors, are cherishing every moment. They’ve been close friends since fifth grade, and they’re just trying to have fun during their last high school golf season. As long as they do that, they’re confident that the results will follow.
“It’s really special,” Cox said. “We’ve been playing together since high school started, and we’ve grown a lot. We’ve played together so much that us competing against each other has made us so much better.”
Shoutouts
Cliff Hastings, Parkland College volleyball
Won his 800th career match with a sweep against Lansing Community College this past Sunday at the Owens Invitational.
Adella Bird, Mahomet-Seymour girls’ tennis
Won her 70th career match on Monday against Centennial to become the Bulldogs’ all-time wins leader.
Armstrong-Potomac boys’ golf team
Once again set a program record with a 9-hole score of 173 on Thursday. Luke Townsend led the way with a 41, Rayn Edwards shot a 42, Carson Whitlow shot a 44 and Kolton Morgan shot a 46.
Simonas Ankstutis, Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Westville boys’ soccer
Scored seven goals, all in the first half, of the Buffaloes’ 8-1 win against Schlarman on Thursday.
Yariah Shaw, Danville girls’ flag football
Scored the game-winning 85-yard touchdown as time expired to give the Vikings a 20-16 win against Champaign Central on Thursday.
Rantoul Hall of Fame inductees
T.J. Schlittler and Steve Cotman will officially be inducted into the Rantoul High School Athletic Hall of Fame during halftime of the Eagles’ football game on Sept. 12 against Monticello at Bill Walsh Field. Schlittler, a 1996 graduate, was a standout in football, basketball and baseball. Cotman, a 1998 graduate, did the same in basketball and track.