The Worthington Christian boys golf team has undergone a massive overhaul from last year.
When he looks back on the Worthington Christian boys golf team’s success last season, junior Curtis Crager remembers always following the lead of graduates Grant Carter, Jeremiah Mulpas, and Nick Pihl. As the Warriors begin this season, Crager is now the one being followed.
“Last year we had a lot of seniors who showed us what to do,” said Crager, who was an honorable mention for the All-Central Buckeye boys golf team last fall. “We had a lot of people to look up to. We have a fresh team this year, so I’ve got to set an example. Knowing my actions should show (the newcomers to the varsity) what they should do, I feel like I can’t goof around as much as I did when I was an underclassman.”
Crager is not exaggerating when he says the Warriors have “a fresh team” this year. Coach Aaron Steininger (WC ’97) anticipated having a huge void in his line-up with the losses of Mulpas, Pihl, and Carter.
Mulpas, a second team all-CBL selection, was one of the Warriors’ two district qualifiers last year. He shot a 78 to place sixth while teammate Spencer Rice fired a 75 to place third at the Division II sectional tournament at Darby Creek. Rice and Mulpas were the two top finishers not attached to qualifying teams at the sectional tournament and advanced to the district tournament at Turnberry Golf Course. Both just missed qualifying for the state tournament.
Mulpas placed third overall with a 75, and Rice tied Columbus Academy’s Ethan Baker and Northridge’s Anthony Davis for sixth with a 77. Fairbanks’ Cole Eger and Jonathan Alder’s Sam Cramer tied for first with 74, but Eger advanced to the state tournament after beating Cramer in a playoff.
Carter and Pihl, who were both first-team all-league picks, tied for seventh (79) and ninth (80), respectively, and senior Cody Thomas took 15th (84) at the sectional tournament. Worthington Christian placed third with 312 as a team, missing the district cutoff by two strokes. Only the top two teams, Fairbanks (306) and Marion Pleasant (310), and the top two individuals from a non-qualifying team advanced to the district tournament.
“Nick, Jeremiah, and Grant were three solid guys I knew I could always count on,” Steininger said. “(On the course) they were very consistent. I knew I could count on them to be in the 70s and lead the team. However, from a leadership potential standpoint, having those three strong seniors helped set the tone for the team. They welcomed the new guys and helped bring them along.”
Losing those three was a big blow. As the season started, Steininger was handed two more. He learned Rice, a second-team all-CBL selection, transferred to Big Walnut, and senior Dennis Smith, who was expected to play on the varsity, decided to focus on volleyball and not golf.
The graduations and the departures left Crager and seniors Cody Thomas and Chase Crawford as the three most experienced golfers returning this season.
“You can go one of two ways when something like this happens,” Steininger said. “The boys can go, ‘Oh we don’t have anybody good on the team and we’re going to stink.’ Or we can do the opposite. I tried to get the boys to understand that this is a fantastic opportunity for our younger guys to get some experience. This is a chance to show what you can do. We’re building a foundation.”
Steininger is hoping sophomores Murphy Burns and Nathan DeMarco can offset the departures. The fifth spot will rotate among a handful of junior varsity players, including sophomore A.J. Dotson and freshmen Peter Winfrey and Quinton Testa.
One of Steininger’s biggest boosts this season has been having a strong coaching team in place from day one. Junior varsity coach David Luckett (WC ’97) joined the staff two weeks into last season and made an immediate impact.
“At the start of last year, I didn’t have a JV coach, which was stressful—I was trying to juggle everything myself,” Steininger said. “When David came on board, he knocked it out of the park. He’s been tremendous for our program.
“David is a huge part of our success. He connects with the players, keeps things organized, and brings a level of experience and energy that’s invaluable. I couldn’t ask for a better staff.”
The Central Buckeye League will challenge the young team. Last year, Worthington Christian finished second in the league with a 13-5 record, finishing behind Buckeye Valley (17-1). The league is particularly strong in boys golf, with nearly every team making at least one team appearance in a state tournament, except Franklin Heights. Columbus Academy (a 31-time state team qualifier) has won nine titles and finished second eight times. Worthington Christian has seven team appearances, winning in 2017 and finishing second in 2000. Bexley has sent a team to the state tournament 12 times, won the 2015 state title, and was second in 1994.
“The talent level is just unreal in central Ohio,” Steininger said. “Playing against this level of competition in the league opens you up and exposes you to that elite level. I feel like when you play against better competition, you play better, and it prepares you for the postseason.”