By Will Herron

For the first time in McDowell Boys’ Golf history, the team qualified all five of its starting players for the District-10 Individual Championships. The five who qualified included seniors John Ferretti, Jack Mucha, and Bryce Peterson along with sophomores Tyler Allen and Ethan Bock. 

Only the top eight out of fourteen moved on to day two to compete for one of two spots in the state championship at State College, PA. Of the five McDowell participants, only two, Ferretti and Peterson, advanced. 

After day 1 of competition, Peterson was in seventh following a 6-over 78 and Ferretti was locked in a four-way tie at second after shooting a 75. 

This was a massive step up from last years’ districts, in which McDowell qualified just three golfers and they all missed the cut after day one. 

While Ferretti was intimidated by his competition, all of whom scored better than him throughout the season, he had that extra bit of motivation as he “really wanted” to qualify knowing that this was his last chance in his senior season. 

Coach Mike Dombkowski believed in his team, “I know their confidence was high and their goal was to play their best to advance.”

However, this would become tougher as earlier in the morning, Peterson, who was down six strokes, exploded and shot a season worst 93 on day two, killing all of his chances of state playoff contention. That left it all up to Ferretti, who was coming off of a season-low 3-over par and was feeling as confident as ever. 

So, as he teed off of the 528-yard par-5 number one, he recalled the conversation he had with coach Dombkowski. Dombkowski said they “…talked about course conditions, tee and pin placements. We also talked about how it’s a new day on the golf course and to have a plan for each hole.” Ferretti was calm having been in this situation his sophomore year.

He had to play more aggressively on this day as he was tied for second, three back from the lead, with Cathedral Prep junior Cooper Wierzchowski, Warren senior Brady Berdine and Erie High senior Eli Nicklas, all of whom Ferretti believes had better performances than him throughout the season. 

This made him want to play “more aggressively” and thought it was a hard course with many hazards, but the picture perfect conditions made it much easier to maneuver. 

However, his hopes wouldn’t prove to be true, as the lone leader throughout the tournament, Braddock Damore, put together yet another great round shooting a 72 on day one and a 76 on the final day. As for the remaining seven, Prep’s Wierzchowski took the remaining spot for states matching his day one score of a 75. 

Taking third was was Berdine with a 76, fourth was Cathedral Prep sophomore Connor Laird, who shot a 76 on both days, fifth was Ferretti with an 80, both of these scores being multiple strokes under his season average,  sixth being Nicklas with an 86, seventh was Meadville senior Alex burgess, who shot a 79-87, and eighth was Peterson, with a 78-93. 

All in all, the season was a success for McDowell’s golf program. “I have been extremely happy with this season. Although we came up a little short in Districts, I am proud of the whole team for how they practiced, played in tournaments, independent matches and overall region play” Dombkowski said., “I am excited to see what next season brings.” 

Even Ferretti was happy about how this season finished, and said that the two days of District Championships he shot “some of [his] best scores all season.”