2011 Boys Golf State Champions

Polulak, Davis DeKorte, Ryan Carey, Peter Von Spreecken, Alex Jones, Brendan Ward, Coach Dave Koenigsknecht, Chris Hardy; team members not pictured are Julian Stall and Mitch Overway)

 With the DeWitt boys golf program graduating only two members from its first state championship team in 2010, the program was facing pressure to repeat. The Panthers embraced the challenge by winning a league championship and earning a No. 1 ranking entering the state tournament. DeWitt won its third consecutive district title by a commanding 33 strokes, as all golfers shot in the 70s for a team total of 297. DeWitt shot a 302 team total to capture their second consecutive regional championship by seven strokes, heading to the state finals at Forest Akers East. On day one, each of the five DeWitt golfers shot a 76 or lower and turned in a team score of 292, holding a 10-stroke lead. The Panthers added to that lead with a team score of 294, turning in a two-day total of 586 and a 17-stroke margin of victory to capture the program’s second consecutive state championship. Since the first state tournament was played in 1925, the Panthers became only the fourth mid-Michigan team to repeat as state champions. Alex Jones tied for fifth individually with an even par 144, Davis DeKorte tied for seventh with a 146, and Tyler Polulak was tenth with a 147. Ryan Carey just missed the top 10 with a 150, and Peter Von Spreecken finished with a 154. The Panthers brought home additional awards, including Jones being named the Lansing State Journal (LSJ) “Player of the Year” and DeKorte being selected to the LSJ “Dream Team.” Carey, Polulak, and Von Spreecken all received Division 2 All-Area honors. Koenigsknecht was named LSJ “Dream Team” Coach of the Year. The 2011 Boys Golf State Champions included the following members: Ryan Carey, Davis DeKorte, Chris Hardy, Alex Jones, Mitch Overway, Tyler Polulak, Julian Stall, Peter Von Spreecken, Brendan Ward and Head Coach Dave Koenigsknecht.