Trojans have no seniors, but still expect to be competitive

FINDLAY – The members of Findlay High's girls golf team picked up quite a few accolades in 2024.The one thing the Trojans did not pick up a lot of was diplomas.For the second straight season, Findlay fielded a young lineup. Ava Metz was the lone senior in the rotation; Josie Weihrauch was the only junior on the roster.Metz did pick up her diploma, but everyone else is back. Most will be two- and three-year letter winners from a group that placed third in the Buckeye Division of the Northern Lakes League and qualified for the district tournament.The newest face in the program is actually well-versed in the history and tradition of FHS girls golf as Suzanne (Short) Neiling steps in as head coach. Neiling earned all-league honors and was a Division I district qualifier during her prep career at Findlay High. She went on to earn four varsity letters at Ohio Northern, and was an all-Ohio Athletic Conference selection for the Polar Bears in 2017.Metz will be a key loss for the Trojans. As Findlay's No. 1 player, she carded a score of 89 and was third in the NLL tournament medalist standings. She followed that up by winning medalist honors in the Division I sectional.In Weihrauch and Lainey Ricker, Neiling has two returning all-league players As a sophomore, Weihrauch placed fourth (92) in the NLL medalist scoring and joined Metz on the all-NLL first team. Ricker was second-team all-league.Sophomores Claire White, Lydia Cleland and Alaina Lenhart and freshman Brynn Wells round out the 2025 lineup. White lettered last season, while Wells has made an immediate impact for the Trojans, shooting an 86 and tying Ricker for Findlay's best score in the season-opening Eagle Invitational, then placing second to Weihrauch's 89 in team medalist standings at the Lady Trojan Invitational.While the best may still be ahead for the Trojans, Neiling feels the talent on this year's roster can produce positive results right now."Being a young team with no seniors, I think we can still be competitive this year," Neiling stated about the Trojans, who opened the season with fourth- and fifth-place finishes in two big tournaments."As always, the end goal of any sports team would be to make it to the state tournament. But in the meantime, we look to be putting up good scores, being respectful athletes and making the best of each match."I see great potential this season, and I'm excited to be here to help the girls along." GIRLS GOLF ROSTERJUNIORS: Lainey Ricker, Josey Weihrauch. SOPHOMORES: Lydia Cleland, Alaina Lenhart, Claire White. FRESHMAN: Brynn Wells. GIRLS GOLF SCHEDULEAug. 2 – Eagle Invitational, South Toledo Golf ClubAug. 4 – The Trojan Invitational, Sycamore SpringsAug. 7 – Versailles Lady Tigers InvitationalAug. 11 – Colonial Invitational, Colonial HillsAug. 12 – Lady Knights Invitational, Fostoria CCAug. 14 – Sylvania Northview, SycamoreAug. 19 – Toledo Whitmer, at Bedford HillsAug. 21 – BVC Dual, SycamoreAug. 26 – Perrysburg, at SycamoreAug. 28 – Archbold, at Findlay CCSept. 2 – Sylvania Northview, at Whiteford, ValleySept. 6 – Lady Bluestreaks Invite, at IronwoodSept. 8 – Anthony Wayne, at Findlay CCSept. 11 – Napoleon, at Findlay CCSept. 15 – NLL Championship, TBDSept. 16 – NLL Championship, TBDSept. 18 – Fremont Ross, at Fremont CC