MCHS boys' golf team headed to state

Recruiting to field an entire team began early this summer for the Mitchell Christian boys’ golf team.

Coach Mike Rieck said Adam Bleeker and Jackson Feiner wanted the chance to go to the state tournament with a team and they fought to get that chance.

Their wish was granted when Wes Vander Pol and Adam Rasmussen went out for golf this fall, giving the team four players, eventually qualifying for a state tournament berth at regions.

“Bleeker and Feiner were the ones who talked to these guys,” Rieck said. “It’s a small school and they know each other well, and they sort of recruited them.”

After much practice and improvement, the Eagles qualified to the Class A state tournament for the first time since 2009.

“Wes is starting to play a lot better later in the year from repetition and the team’s encouragement,” Rieck said. “Adam (Rasmussen) took a little longer but he’s a good natural athlete. In the last couple weeks, he’s starting to play a lot better and I think getting out on the course and working hard has helped that.”

Rieck said he’s impressed with how his team has practiced and prepared for the tournament, which begins at 10 a.m. today at the Spearfish Canyon Country Club in Spearfish.

“The last two days we’ve been out on the course getting ready for state,” Rieck said Friday. “Last night, we played some match-play, and it fired up their competitive jukes. We’re hitting the ball well and I’m excited about that.”

The team’s goal was to make the state tournament, so now that it has surpassed that goal, new ones are set.

“I want the guys to go out there and keep improving,” Rieck said. “I think we have the potential for one or two of our guys to make the all-state team."

Rieck said Bleeker, a senior, has medaled in every tournament he’s played in this season, while Feiner has placed several times as well.

Bleeker will play in the third group and is set to tee off from Hole 1 at 10:20 a.m. Central time.

“(Bleeker) prefers to golf in the earlier tee times,” Rieck said. “I don’t think it will be a pressure situation for him because he seems to be more motivated when shooting with the golfers who can possibly win the tournament. He likes playing in that atmosphere.”

Bleeker said he has high expectations for himself in his last state high school tournament.

“I expect to do pretty well and I’m peaking at the right time,” he said. “As far as placement, I’d like to make the all-state team for sure and my overall goal is to make top 10.”

Feiner tees off at 10:40 a.m. Central time on the 10th hole. Vander Pol begins at 11:20 a.m. Central time on Hole 10 and Rasmussen tees off at noon Central time on the back nine as well.

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