The Heartland boys golf team has enjoyed some great weather for early practice at Galaway Creek this past week.
The Heartland 2025 Boys Golf Team has 10 boys out this spring. Creighton Friesen, Zach Miller, and Austin Schmidt are returning varsity players. Senior Blake Goertzen is also returning this year, and new to the team are juniors Landon Mierau, Weston Panko, and freshman Jake Mierau. Other returners are Hayden Powers, Leo McCormick, and Andrew Onnen. Aiden Bartek, an 8th grader, will be the team’s student manager.
Head Coach Chad Buzek is excited about the upcoming season and the team’s returning talent. Paige Peters will assist him again this year. “Senior Creighton Friesen is our top golfer who has medaled two times at state. He is definitely our leader, but I expect to see Senior Zach Miller and Austin Schmidt make a jump this year in their games. Senior Bake Goertzen has put in the time and hard work on his game and should be able to contribute this season as well,” said Buzek.
The team will have a warmup meet on April 1 at Galaway Creek Course with the Sutton team. “It will be nine holes, and everyone on both teams will get to play,” said Coach Buzek. Heartland will host the conference meet at Galaway Creek on May 8, with 11 teams competing. “We are really happy to host this year, and I told the guys they have a great advantage being able to play conference at their home course. They know every nook, cranny, and shortcut on this course. Our senior boys haven’t ever been able to play conference at their home course, and they are very excited.”
The team has been able to get outside with the warmer weather the past two weeks. But when the weather is bad, they can utilize the golf simulator that was purchased last year and installed on the stage in the south gym. They also have nets and mats to practice chipping and putting inside. Coach Buzek has a signup sheet, and throughout the winter, he has opened up the simulator before school for the boys to practice, which has been a great help to the program.
The regular golf schedule is pretty much the same this year, with their first official meet on April 9th at Friend. The Superior meet was rescheduled from the April 3 date on the schedule below. Districts will be played at Indian Head Golf Course in Grand Island, and the State Class C Boys will meet at Jack Rabbitt Run in Grand Island. “I’m happy to have districts at Indian Head because we are very familiar with that course,” said Buzek. Heartland will face a much tougher district this year with the addition of two-time state champions Kearney Catholic and a few other top-ten teams, said Buzek.
Good luck to the Heartland Golf Team this season!
Huskie Boys Golf Team L to R Back row: Creighton Friesen, Austin Schmidt, Leo McCormick, Landon Mierau, and Blake Goertzen; Front Row: Zach Miller, Hayden Powers, Andrew Onnen and Jake Mierau – photo courtesy Cody Farrall
