With returning players and emerging talent, Lone Peak golf prepares to finish off a strong season
By Carli Johnson SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Lone Peak High School’s golf teams are swinging into the season with optimism and ambition, particularly the girls varsity team, who return as defending state champions from last year’s impressive run.
Coach Jenny Wilcynski spoke with EBS to catch up on how the season is going so far. Wilcynski noted that she is excited about the potential and growth evident in both the girls and boys teams this spring.
The girls varsity team’s returning juniors are Olivia Kamieniarz, Dylan Manka and Maddie Wilcynski, who all participated in bringing home the state championship last year. Although one key player from the 2024 team, Cate Leydig, enrolled in a golf academy in South Carolina, the core group remains strong and competitive.
“They’re pretty competitive, and they’ve worked hard year-round on their golf game,” Wilcynski said. “We had to take some of the girls that were on JV last year and get them ready to participate at the varsity level.”
With the varsity format requiring four out of five scores to count in Class B competitions—a step up from Class C, where only three out of four scores counted—the team has been proactively preparing younger athletes from the junior varsity ranks to step into varsity roles.
Currently, eight girls are part of the Big Horn golf program, with two sophomores, Penelope Brooke and Sabine Hurlbut from last year’s JV team showing promise and readiness to compete at the higher level.
Recent competitions confirm their potential, with Lone Peak securing victories at tournaments hosted by Manhattan Christian and Ennis. At Ennis, the Big Horn girls dominated, finishing with a team score of 125 over par, notably ahead of the runner-up, Three Forks, which finished at 148 over par.
Meanwhile, the boys team is experiencing growth, featuring two returning players Isaac Bedway and Mac Bertelson. Along with three freshmen new to the team, Elijah Harder, Syd Leydig and Carver Liedberg. Although some of the athletes also compete in baseball and competitive skiing, the boys have shown promise.
“It’s really fun to see them get out and play and put it all together,” Wilcynski said.
Recently, the boys secured a sixth-place finish in a competitive nine-team field, just a few strokes behind a higher placement.
Practice conditions in Big Sky present unique challenges, given the cold and snowy spring conditions and limited outdoor access. The team primarily practices indoors, focusing heavily on putting, chipping and swing mechanics.
Wilcynski credits the community support and facilities, like Moonlight Basin’s golf simulator, for significantly aiding in preseason preparation.
With the postseason quickly approaching in early-to-mid-May, Wilcynski is optimistic about fine-tuning the teams’ skills outdoors as warmer weather arrives.
The Big Horn golf team will be competing in divisionals on May 5 in Billings, and the state tournament May 13 through 14 in Shelby.
