The Union boys golf team including first-time medalist, sophomore Tyler Gates (third from left) pictured on April 27 following a dual with Sumner-Fredericksburg. PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN SLATER

When you look at the team and especially the individual results from last Thursday’s North Iowa Cedar League (NICL) boys golf conference meet held at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls, it’s evident that the NICL is one of the premier conferences in the state of Iowa in Class 2A.

A handful of strokes separated the top-4 teams who all will likely advance from Sectionals this Wednesday (May 10) to Districts the following Monday (May 15) at Fox Ridge. Two of those four teams will likely advance to the state tournament and two will have their season end, so the play will be full of suspense for all participating.

Aplington-Parkersburg ended up coming out on top at this first test and captured the NICL Boys Conference crown by edging out Waterloo Columbus by a mere two strokes.

Hudson was in third with a 319 and Grundy Center took home fourth with a 322 and were led by overall medalist for the meet – freshmen Judd Jirovsky – who shot a blistering even par 72.

Two strokes behind Jirovsky were a trio of players that included sophomore Ethan Anderson of Oelwein who was runner-up medalist due to winning the cardback, senior Will Steege of Aplington-Parkersburg, and another freshman, Cody Weaver of East Marshall.

The Union Knights took seventh with a 335 team score just behind Denver.

With the number of underclassmen posting impressive low scores, our conference will continue to be strong for years to come.

1) A-P 315

2) Columbus 317

3) Hudson 319

4) Grundy Center 322

5) Oelwein 325

6) Denver 332

7) Union 335

8) AGWSR 336

9) DNH 336

10) Jesup 343

11) Sumner Fredricksburg 359

12) South Hardin 384

13) East Marshall 398

14) Gladbrook Reinbeck 399

15) Wapsie Valley 403