While most high school athletes were enduring their first week of official practice for the 2021 season, high school golfers across the state were already on the course in competitive matches.

Salisbury was one of many teams that opened its season on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The Falcons picked up a 464-536 win over Wilson in their opener, but have since dropped matches to some of the top teams in the Colonial League in Saucon Valley (399-503), Notre Dame (415-456) and Southern Lehigh (380-486).

After a 2-11 record last season, the Falcons are halfway to matching that total with most of the season left in front of them.

“I think we’re going to have a pretty decent season,” said coach Mike Pannella.

The Falcons’ top returning player is senior Nick Jewell, who has been the team’s top player in all of its first three matches with scores of 85 or lower in each match. Sophomore Ava Smarch, who missed a few early matches, could be able to shoot in the 80s this season as well.

After the top two players, Salisbury has a long list of others who could contribute. Back from last year’s rosters are senior Hunter Rothrock and sophomore Jake Zellin.

Newcomers out for this year’s team include seniors Kyle Artis, Hunter Bleam, Jackson Lopez and Tyson Utesch and freshmen Owen Fogel, Joshua Holler, William Kocher, James Scialla and Nathan Staack.

“The freshmen look really solid,” Pannella said.

Thanks in part to the large freshman group, Salisbury has its largest roster in at least 10 years, Pannella and coach Greg Laub said.

Rothrock has been the team’s number two player in two of the early matches and Fogel was in another. Some other players who have figured into the Falcons’ top five scoring this season are Artis, Zellin, Bleam, Scialla and Holler.

In the Colonial League as well as in District 11, high school golf can be a sport of haves and have nots. Some schools have a wealth of players who grew up around the game and are club members. Other schools have teams made up mostly of players new to the game. Salisbury is one of the latter.

The Falcons are looking to win as many matches as they can, but the coaching staff is also aware that a number of its opponent are nearly unbeatable.

The team’s goals are not all about wins and losses. The Falcon coaches are looking to teach their players a game they can enjoy for a lifetime while helping them improve at it and learn from it.