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Sports

USC Varsity Golf Team Completes Historic Season

The Upper St. Clair High School varsity golf team won their first ever Western Regional Championship and followed that up with an impressive runner-up finish in the PIAA State Finals.

The varsity golf team finished their 2011 season in historic fashion; reaching second place in the PIAA State Championship.

The young squad that competed in Western Regionals and PIAA states was comprised of one senior, Tim Novic, and four sophomores, Grant Engel, Pat McDonnell, Thomas Steve and Corey Wilding.

The success began with a 15-1 regular season. It took a golfer sinking a shot from the fairway in a playoff to hand the Panthers their only regular season loss.

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The team went on to win the WPIAL Championship at Cedarbrook golf course. Junior Trey Phillips was part of that championship as six golfers were allowed to compete in the two-day team event in the WPIAL tournament compared to only five golfers allowed in the Western Regionals and PIAA Finals.

Then it was off to Tom's Run for that historic Western Regional victory. The team edged out Erie Cathedral Prep for the school's first Western Regional Championship.

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"It's unbelievable because I never thought after my freshman year we could go that far," senior golfer Tim Novic said.

The 2010-11 golf teams was expected to win the WPIAL Championship last year, but they didn't. If the Panthers wouldn't have won this year, Tim would have been part of the first senior class in 15 years to graduate without a WPIAL championship.

Next came the PIAA State Finals at Hermitage Hlls Golf Resort in York, PA.

"Did I ever dream we'd be in the state championship? No," head coach Todd Flynn said. "It's been fun watching them grow as individuals and count on each other. Team golf is different than individual golf...it's what do I need to do to try and help the team win."

The team finished runner-up to Manheim Township in the PIAA State Championship, finishing three strokes behind. It was an amazing finish to a memorable season.

"All five kids were represented by at least one parent at states," Flynn said.

That meant a lot to him because he said golf is not just a sport.

"It's not just golf, a lot of life lessons are to be learned," he said.

Flynn retired from teaching world history four years ago, but has continued coaching the golf team because "it's in his blood." It may be the most stressful two months of his year because he wants the kids to succeed so badly, but he said it's all worth it.

"I still like being around kids and seeing them do well...it's exciting watching them succeed," Flynn said.

"It was a cinderella year, we didn't really expect much," said Bill Novic, father of the only senior on the Western Regional and PIAA Finals team.

Bill has watched his son come so close to winning for four years. That is, until this championship-winning year.

Tim may have been the elder statesman of the team, but he said he never viewed himself as the "leader."

"Everybody was on the same page, they didn't need advice, they knew how to compete," Tim said.

Now it seems a few schools are competing for Tim's services on the golf course at the college level. Washington & Jefferson, Allegheny, Robert Morris and St. Francis are interested. Tim is still deciding which college is best for him, but one university or college will be lucky to have him on their golf team.

Matt Barone, Pat Jonnet and Nelson Zacur are other members of the golf team not mentioned, but were a big part of the team's success. The playoffs limit the number of golfers that can compete and their contributions to the squad should not go unnoticed.

What also will not go unnoticed? The 2011 USC golf team—especially in the trophy case.

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