Towanda golf went into the 2025 season on the bottom looking up, this year they go into the season on the top. The boys and girls won both league and district titles, with three Knights making it to the state tournament.

The Towanda golf revival will see what they can do to go further.

"I'm so excited for both groups to see what we can do this year," said coach Paul Lantz.

The boys return everybody from last year's team, which includes three state qualifiers: Boom Thompson (2025), Graham Welles (2025), and Owen Savercool (2024).

"It's awesome," Lantz said about his boys squad. "They're playing very well. We do have a young group that's pushing all those guys to get better because they want those spots."

The excitement hasn't stopped for the team, either.

"It's fun," Welles said about returning. "We made it exceptionally far last year, and I think year we can push for more."

The returnees kept the intensity up this summer.

"We didn't play as much together as we did last season, but when we did, we still played serious," said Thompson. "We kept all four of our scores every times, and just worked to get better every day."

The team isn't worried about the added pressure of being the top guys, either.

"We like it," Welles said about the bullseye. "We like being at the top. It's be another fun experience this year. We have the same six guys back from last year, so we're only going to get better."

Both players are looking to score in the mid-70's and Lantz is hoping a few others might join them.

"Those are the numbers that you want to get," he said. "It's a great feeling for me to feel like every time we go out, we have an opportunity to win."

Baylee Clark, Jason Wickwire, Hudson Stevens, Dalton Johnson, and Josh Maye are others to watch on the team.

"We just have to do the same thing as last year," Thompson said. "That's when we weren't on top. We've got to just keep playing hard with each other."

Making it as far as they did last year - playing in a regional contest against state power Scranton Prep and going to states individually - will help them reach new heights this season.

"It taught us that if we stay together we can compete with anyone," said Thompson. 

The girls have some holes to fill, including state qualifier Clara Glantz, but the numbers keep growing.

"We have 12 girls on our team, so that's a new thing," Lantz said. "Girls' golf is growing, and especially here. It's exciting to have some of those younger girls now step up into those roles, it will be interesting to see how they respond."

Olivia Heath had the lowest average on the team a year ago, and hopes to make some strides her sophomore season.

"I'm super excited," Heath said. "It gives me a chance to grow more, especially with what I learned I can really apply this year."

She's been working on her short game this summer, and hopes it'll help her come districts, as she didn't perform as well as she would have hoped.

"It really gave me an experience that I can change this year," Heath said.

Other key returnees are Isabel Respher, Roslynn Lindquist, and Payton Perry, whom is as excited as anybody at the numbers they're boasting.

"I'm a senior, so I'll be leaving, and it feels good knowing that there's more girls coming up behind me," Perry said. "That the team's not just going to die when everybody leaves."

She's hoping to leave as a league and district champion.

"It makes me nervous because we've got to protect that now," Perry said about the titles. 

Whatever happens, though, Lantz couldn't be prouder of what his program has accomplished. With nearly 40 golfers between boys and girls its come a long ways since he took over six years ago.

"That's a testament to the kids," he said. "Everybody wants to be a part of it. We've worked really hard to grow the program, and it shows."

Graham Welles

Boom Thompson

Owen Savercool

Baylee Clark

Jason Wickwire

Hudson Stevens

Dalton Johnson

Harper Welles

Matt Weinmann

Dempsey Stevens

Ashton Vischansky

Rylan Cook

Alex Johnson

Cooper Aukema

Deegan Blumenauer

Arlo Snyder

Levi Snyder

Andrew Manley

Brayden Irvine

Will Hollenback

Gabe Ferraro

Lucas Grimes

Josh Maye

Lexi Jacobellis

Roslynn Lindquist

Isabel Repsher

Olivia Heath

Laura Glantz

Payton Perry

Bailey Bennett

Addie Jankowski

Allie Bowen

Gemma Brown

Aug. 13 at Happy Valley Invitational

Aug. 17 at Wellsboro (18 holes), 1 p.m.

Aug. 18 hosts Central Mountain (18 holes), 10:30 a.m.

Aug. 19 hosts NTL (18 hole), 1 p.m.

Aug. 21 at Selinsgrove Invitational, 12:30 p.m.

Aug. 24 at Athens (18 holes), 10 a.m.

Sep. 1 at CV w/Wellsboro (9 holes), 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 8 hosts NPM, Canton (9 holes), 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 9 at Sayre (9 holes), 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 17 at Athens (9 holes), 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 21 at White Deer (18 holes), 2 p.m.

Sep. 22 vs Wyalusing (9 holes), 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 24 at NP-Mansfield (18 holes), 9 a.m.

Sep. 30 at Team Districts, (18 holes)

Oct. 8 at District IV Championships (18 holes)

Oct. 10 at District IV Championships (18 holes)