After an impressive season last year, where Caravan golf made it all the way to the State Final tournament, the team has reflected on their past successes and shared their hopes for the current season.

The team traveled to Champaign, Illinois, for the state championship, but inconsistency on the course held them back from claiming the top spot.

“We lost first place by just six strokes. Very close,” head coach Mike Minogue said, crediting the leadership of last year’s seniors like Michael O’Keefe, Ryan Walsh, and Tim Christie for much of the team’s success.

Though they fell short of the title, current junior Santino Pilotto sees it as a motivator. “We’re using that experience as motivation for this season,” he said.

The team last year definitely exceeded their expectations. “It was one of our best seasons yet,” said Coach Minogue, reflecting on last year.

This season, the team is seeing new leaders step up. Seniors Michael Schwarz, Marty Wilmes, and Conor McClelland along with Pilotto and junior Evan Mielnicki are filling the shoes of last year’s graduating players. “The hardest part is getting used to playing as part of a team again,” said Schwarz, who has been competing in individual tournaments for a few years. “You can’t focus only on your own score — your teammates are counting on you.”

Pilotto agreed, saying, “It’s great to be out there with my friends. Last year, we took third place, and it was an awesome experience.”

Recently, the team competed in a tournament at Glenwoodie Golf Course, led by top performers senior Conor McClelland and junior Evan Mielnicki. Both finished second for individual scores out of one-hundred twenty-two players, while the team secured second place overall. This is the start the team needed to begin the 2024 season.

Players have shown confidence in the team’s potential, and they believe all their hard work in the off-season will pay off.

“We have a lot of guys who worked really hard this summer,” Coach Minogue said, reflecting on the team’s recent performance at a St. Rita-hosted tournament, where they still performed well despite Schwarz having to withdraw due to illness.

Golf being a mental game, both Schwarz and Pilotto are focused on improving their mental toughness. “The mental game is always a struggle,” Schwarz said. “When you mess up on a hole, it’s easy to let it ruin your round, but you have to stay focused for the sake of your team.”

Golf is known to be a difficult sport, so keeping composure is key to playing well. “I try to stay calm,” said Pilotto. “Everyone hits bad shots. If I get in my head, it will affect not just me but my teammates, too.” 

Despite the small obstacles, the team was able to bounce back. “I was very happy that we still performed well, even with this setback,” said Coach Minogue.

As for their goals, both players are determined to return to the state championship and aim for a 306-stroke round, a target they nearly hit already by shooting a 310 at the St. Rita South Side Shootout on September 7. Another goal is to have more players consistently finish in the top ten of tournaments.

When asked about new players to watch, both Pilotto and Schwarz quickly pointed to Mielnicki and McClelland.

“These two guys worked really hard in the off-season and have earned starting spots,” said Schwartz. “Evan played JV last year but wanted to be on varsity. He worked hard and now is looking very strong going into our last half of the season. Connor has improved the most. Not playing much at all last year, he decided after our season he really wanted to work hard to start. Now, in his first 18-hole event, he got second place shooting his career-low 74.”

Though he’s not new to the team, his increased playing time this season will make a significant impact. “He’s not new, but he will be playing a lot more this season and he will be a great addition this year,” said Pilotto.

Looking ahead, the golfers are confident that if everyone plays their best, they can make it back to the state championship.

“We’ve got the talent and the work ethic,” Pilotto said. “No team can beat us if we’re on our game.”