By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARSHFIELD — The Marshfield boys golf team finished fifth in the 2015 Wisconsin Valley Conference standings. With three juniors returning, two new juniors, and a strong group of underclassmen, the Tigers are hoping to move up in the standings this year.

Marshfield kicked off its season with a 15th-place finish at the highly-competitive Wisconsin Dells Invitational on April 9 and followed that with a second-place finish at the Wisconsin Rapids Quad on April 12.

Juniors Derek Michalski and Grant Michaelis, the Tigers’ two full-time varsity performers from last year that have returned this season, led Marshfield in those events, and coach Paul Foegen said they will be the leaders going forward as well.

“We have a nucleus of five juniors that should make up our varsity squad for this year,” Foegen said. “They spent countless hours this summer playing tournaments and working on their games.”

Joining Michalski, a WIAA Division 1 regional champion last spring in the meet at Marshfield’s home course of RiverEdge Golf Course, and Michaelis will be fellow juniors Zach Hanson, Brendon Schneider, and Joe Kirschnik.

Hanson saw limited varsity time a year ago, and Schneider and Kirschnik played their first varsity rounds at the Wisconsin Dells and Rapids meets this season.

Sophomores Brandon Miller and Ethan Allar and freshmen Reed Miller, Ben Baur, Nate Boson, Brandon Berg, and Logan Cerney will also compete for varsity spots and man the JV squad.

“I am looking for big things from them this year,” Foegen said. “We hope to challenge Stevens Point for the top spot in the Wisconsin Valley Conference.”

Marshfield is scheduled to host a five-team meet on Tuesday and will host its portion of the Wisconsin Valley Conference Tournament on May 17 in the sixth leg of the seven-meet tournament.

Paul Lecker is publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com, a contributor to Hub City Times Sports. You can reach him by email at paul@marshfieldareasports.com.