It’s a great day to learn Townnews

Published 4:29 pm Monday, November 24, 2008

For the first time in school history the Mercer Island boys golf team heads into the fall season as the defending state champions. But along with that prestigious moniker, the team will have to endure being the biggest target in the state.

“I don’t feel pressure,” said Islander junior Paul Mitzel. “I am just going to play.”

Not many players have overcome the amount of pressure or emotional distress Mitzel or teammate Jason Tolkin had to endure during the state meet last year. With, then head coach, Gary Adrian was admitted to the hospital, the team had to deal with the pressure of state along with worrying and playing for the team’s long-time coach.

“We know how to play under pressure,” said Tolkin. “How to sink that putt to win it.”

In Adrian’s place during the meet was Tyson Peters. The high school history teacher is now the team’s full-time head coach and ready to lead a talented team back to state title contention.

“He did a good job at state,” said Mitzel who added that having a new coach is an adjustment. “I had Gary as coach for two years and Coach Peters has a different style. But it is good.”

Coach Peters wants more team interaction and more camaraderie.

For Mitzel and Tolkin, a bond was formed in that two-day tournament and the preceding season that will last for years.

“We have started to play more together and we will be partners for the season,” said Mitzel.

Another huge loss for the team will be the club of Shawn Tonkin, who fulfilled the promise of bigger things when he started for the varsity as a freshman. But with Mitzel and Tolkin, one third of the starting varsity golfers placed at state last year. The team also loses four other seniors from last year’s team.

“We have a really strong returning four,” said Tolkin. “Our approach will be the same — take each and every match the same.

“The top five are pretty solid and could go pretty deep (into the post season),” said Mitzel. “We are still looking for a sixth.”

Along with Tolkin and Mitzel, the Islanders will have senior Brian Naden, and juniors Daniel Kern and Brian Tolkin.

“It is going to be business as usual,” said Tolkin. “Nothing changes.”

Jason and Brian will both play on the varsity for the first time together this year, a situation that does not faze either player.

“We both have to shoot low and score well,” said older brother and captain, Jason Tolkin. “I am going to treat him like I treat everyone else on the team.”

With all that the team achieved and overcame last year, one goal remains.

“We are out to get KingCo,” said Tolkin. “We are still missing that banner.”

Earning that 3A KingCo banner will mean playing well in every match. The team’s home course of Fairwood in Renton, will be crucial to the team’s success or failure. The comfort of having Fairwood as the team’s home field during the past two years means that most of the starters will play in familiar surroundings.

“I am used to greens and where to place the ball,” said Mitzel.

But no matter where the ball goes off the tee, it must end up in the cup, something that the Islanders did better than anyone last spring.

“We are hoping to pick up where we left off,” said Jason Tolkin.