Excitement surrounds Fayette golf for the 2019 season
The Penn State Fayette golf team returns four starters from last year's team and five new student-athletes will fill out the roster.
Head coach Dave Gumbert is excited to get the season going and the team will be led, experience-wise, by seniors Ryan Gesso (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands) and Louis Gonzales (Port Lavaca, TX/Calhoun HS).
At the second neutral site Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) conference match at the Blue Course Invitational on September 24, 2018, Gonzalez finished fifth with a score of 80 while Gesso was 11th after shooting an 85.
The other two returning players are junior Noah House (Mt. Pleasant/Southmoreland HS) and sophomore Pablo Gudiel (Washington, DC/Woodrow Wilson HS).
House finished sixth at the Blue Course Invitational when he shot an 82.
Providing depth will be the freshmen class consisting of Ethan Greene (Carmichaels, PA/Carmichaels HS), Jarred Provance (Uniontown, PA/Uniontown HS), Joshua Sterbutzel (McClellandtown, PA/Albert Gallatin HS), Kalianna Rager (Alverton, PA/Southmorland HS) and Lucas Long (West Newton, PA/Belle Vernon Area HS).
Gumbert spoke about his goals as the leader of the team which participates in the PSUAC with the conference falling under the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
"I want to provide a safe environment for our student-athletes and coaches as we practice and compete in tournaments throughout the tristate area," he said. "I would also like to provide a competitive atmosphere for our student-athletes.
"Lastly, I want to provide instruction and positive reinforcement to the student-athletes and supporting them in attaining their educational goals."
What keys will it take for the team to have a successful season?
"We have to have dedicated practices and strong participation in the regular tournaments listed on our fall schedule," he said.
What is Gumbert's vision for a successful season?
"We want to participate in the PSUAC/USCAA Championship Tournament held at State College at the end of the season," Gumbert said of the three-day event, which begins on Sunday, October 6.
"We also want to place in the top three or four for teams at our first home tournament on Saturday, September 14 at the Uniontown Country Club.
"But most importantly, we want to realize that our student-athletes are progressing toward their educational goals."
The golf team opens the season on Saturday, August 31 at the University of Pitt-Bradford Invitational at the Pennhills Country Club in Bradford, PA.
For more on the golf team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/golf/index.