NTL GOLF: TOWANDA BOYS, GIRLS EXCITED TO BE ON TOP OF THE DISTRICT (2025-10-03)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It was a pins-and-needles day for Towanda golf at the District IV Team Championships, and for different reasons. 

On the boys’ side they went back and forth with Montoursville and Mifflinburg for the team title, and on the girls’ side it was about shooting 300 or better to qualify for the sub-regional.

In the AA Coed Team Championship it looked it was going to beat a battle between Towanda and Mifflinburg, as the Wildcats got the Knights at a tournament earlier this season, and were the defending district champs.

“I hate the feeling of losing,” said Boom Thompson. “Last year did not end in the way we wanted to after losing to Mifflinburg in team districts. We set the goal that we were going to win it next year. It feels great to accomplish that after a long off-season.”

It wasn’t the best of starts for the Knights. They opened up on the back nine down at White Deer’s Vintage Course, and it proved to be as difficult as advertised.

“It was hard conditions out there, very windy,” Graham Welles said. “But we had to find ways to grind it out and win. I knew the first five holes were going to be tough, so I was just trying to get through those with a decent score. Then the front nine came and that’s when I started feeling comfortable.”

The Knights ended up plus-37 as a team but were plus-14 after the first six holes.

“It was a rough start, but prepared me for the front better,” Baylee Clark remarked.

Thompson played in the top group with Welles right behind him.

“In the top group there is added pressure compared to the other groups,” said Thompson. “You go out there and have the feeling you have to play really good since you’re in the top group, but you just have to play your style of golf.”

With the advent of technology players have a better idea of how their team is going as most of the results were posted live, and they could be tracked on their phones.

Welles took advantage of this throughout the day.

“I was keeping an eye on it the whole time,” he said. “I knew pars were a necessity, and if I had a bad shot, I knew I had to grind and just make part out of it to help our team.”

The other three did their best to keep from looking at the bigger picture.

“I was focused on playing,” said Owen Savercool. “I did not check my phone the entire round, not at all once. I was just out there to have fun, and basically try to shoot as good as I could.”

They did some match playing with Mifflinburg as each of them had a Wildcat golfer in their group.

“That’s what I was told before the round, just to try my best to beat that player,” remarked Clark. “I think it’s a little more stressful than it would have been if I was just playing alone, but worked out in the end.”

As with any large tournament there were back-ups on tougher holes, and at one point Welles talked with Thompson about where they were.

“I don’t really like knowing where everything is at while I’m playing, however, we were backed up a little on hole 11, and the group behind us caught up, and Graham updated me to finish strong, we are right where we need to be,” explained Thompson.

“We would talk before every hole,” said Welles. “I just told him we need pars, just keep grinding it out until the end because Mifflinburg was kind of dropping as the day went on.”

It was actually Montoursville leading for much of the day before falling off late, when it came down to Mifflinburg and Towanda.

As the Knights hit the front nine they started moving up to the top.

“After a not so great start it’s easy to lose your head and be mentally not in it,” said Thompson. “I knew how hard my teammates and I worked over the offseason. I couldn’t let a bad start determine the remainder of the round. We are all very tight outside of golf, we do so much together. I could not let them down. I fought back in the round to end up with a final score of 79 after a bad first couple of holes.”

On the front-9 the Knights were just 15-over as a team thanks to birdies from Thompson and Clark.

“I do think the front is quite a bit easier than the back,” said Clark. “I think that was the main thing, and I had already played it, so that was good.”

For Thompson the birdie was a kind of a shot in the arm with just four holes left after that.

“Watching the birdie putt fall on the ninth hole was huge for me,” he said. “I was struggling all day, and was worried I was going to cost us the day. When it went in a sense of relief and confidence arose in me. I felt like that was what got things back on track for me.”

On the other end, while Mifflinburg’s top golfer Abram Wilson finished at 3-under, the rest struggled on the front nine, as their three other scorers shot 24-over.

“I thought we had a comfortable lead because the kid I was playing with, he wasn’t doing the greatest so I thought we were sitting pretty,” Savercool said.

“I knew we had it on number, which was our second to last hole, as the Milffinburg (player) had four putted, and snapped his wedge,” added Welles. “I knew it was over.”

Its the first time since the 90’s that Towanda has claimed a District IV title, and is one they’re going to savor going forward.

“We hadn’t felt that before so it was cool,” remarked Clark.

“It definitely makes me happy for this year, and this next coming year, too,” added Savercool.

Now they’ll play in the sub-regional on October 14 at Williamsport Country Club.

“I’ve always struggled on that course, but I’m glad we get to play regional there,” Welles said. “It’s going to be good competition for us, a good experience.”

All four plan to hit the links hard as they have the individual tournament this coming week, both at White Deer and Williamsport Country Club.

“These next couple of weeks will consist of plenty of practice for both golf and cross-country,” Thompson said. “With districts for both sports coming up I have to be ready for them. I really appreciate Coach Lantz and Coach Maurer for allowing me to do both. All year they have both been very understanding when it comes to me making decisions. After a couple of successful regular seasons in both sports, the next couple of weeks will be preparation for the postseason.”

In the Class AA girls’ team race Towanda pulled away from Loyalsock early, eventually beating the Lancers by 65 strokes to repeat as district champions.

However, in order to qualify for the sub-regional on October 14 they needed to shoot 300 or better as a team, something they didn’t do last year.

Only three score for girls instead of four with Rosie Glantz, Clara Glantz, and Izzy Repsher being the ones to bring it home.

“It feels really great,” Rosie said about being district champions. “It was nice working with our team and everything.”

“It feels amazing to win districts for the second year in a row,” added Clara. “It’s such a rewarding moment, not just for me, but for the entire team, knowing that my score was the one that counted made it even more special. I felt like all the hard work really paid off. Qualifying for sub-regionals just proves to myself what I’m capable of.”

Of course they couldn’t make it easy as they hit 300 on the dot with Rosie shooting 99, Clara getting 100, and Izzy finishing with 101.

“I was most focusing on iron shots and putts to kind of lessen the stroke count,” remarked Repsher.

The two Glantz’s were in the same group along with teammate Payton Perry, while Repsher and Olivia Heath were following them.

“Playing with my sister and Payton can be tough at times,” Clara said. “We buttheads more than we should but at the end of the day we’re so close, and when we’re out on the course, it feels like we’re one team, one family. We support each other no matter what, and that connection makes everything even more meaningful.”

“It was really fun,” Rosie said about playing with her big sister. “I like playing with the girls, they are very nice to play with. It’s a good environment, especially when you’re with your own team, and you know how everyone is.”

Repsher was playing blind, though, as she just focused on keeping her score under 100.

Starting one two Rosie was able give herself some wiggle room thanks to a strong 10-through-17 run where she was just 8-over.

However, a triple bogey on 18 put her on the edge going to one, where she needed a double-bogey or better to qualify individually with a round of 100 or better.

“I just really locked in,” Rosie said about the back nine. “It was a lot of pressure, but it really felt good. It was nice to know that I’m able to go to individuals.”

Clara needed to par the final hole to hit 100 on the dot, and it was one of her two pars of the day.

“Heading into the final holes I started to lose it, but I got back with it and I was locked in and focused,” explained Clara. “I knew I needed to do my absolute best after three bad holes. Even when my mind started to drift or doubt crept in I pushed through and gave it everything I had. The goal was clear, break 100 or myself and help the team break 300 - I didn’t want to let anyone down.”

That’s when it came down to Repsher, who needed a five or better on the final hole to qualify as an individual, and a six for her team to hit 300.

“Being that close, and knowing I could get there was nerve wracking,” said Repsher.

She wasn’t able to get the five, but did finish with the six to get her team to sub-regionals.

“Watching Izzy on that last hole was one of the most memorable moments of the entire season,” said Clara. “I wanted the best for her so there were so many emotions - excitement, nerves, proud. We were all holding our breathe, and seeing her finish strong brought everyone together. It was a perfect team moment.”

It was a bitter-sweet moment for Repsher.

“I wanted to go as an individual myself, but at the same time, I’m happy that we all get to go to regionals,” she said.

Individually, Towanda will have Olivia Heath, Rosie Glantz, and Clara Glantz at the District IV Championships this week after nobody qualified last year.

“Qualifying as an individual felt like a huge personal accomplishment, with only starting junior year,” Clara said. “I’ve set that goal for myself, and to finally reach it is surreal. It’s a reminder of how much I’ve grown as a player, and how far I’ve come.”

Like the boys, the girls play with on October 14 at Williamsport Country Club a week after the individual tournament.

“It feels good to still be out there, because I really do love playing golf,” Rosie said. “It’s nice to be with your team still.”

It’s going to be a busy week for them, especially Clara who also plays soccer.

“I’m going to try and stay focused on consistency, and staying mentally strong through all 18 holes,” she said. “I want to keep the momentum going, keep improving, and do everything I can to help our team succeed at sub-regionals.”

It’s been quite the 2-year run for Towanda as they have two district titles, one NTL title, and now a sub-regional birth.

And with four of their five golfers from this past Wednesday returning, things only look up.

“Hopefully we can do it all again next year,” Repsher said.




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