Freeport moves through postseason after perfect section record

By: Ted Sarneso
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | 12:01 AM

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If all the seasons of Freeport boys golf could be compiled into a book, and each season had its own chapter, the 2024 team’s season would have the heading of “Unique and Special.”

The Yellowjackets finished the season 14-2 overall and, for the third consecutive season, went undefeated in section play (12-0).

“The players on this team were very vocal about going undefeated in the section,” coach Joe Sprumont said. “They made it one of their goals for the season. They really wanted to continue the streak.”

On top of that, Freeport sent three boys — seniors Stephen Evans and Cam Zigo, as well as junior Ethan Crooks — to the final round of the WPIAL Class 2A individual championships Wednesday at Sewickley Heights Golf Club.

“No prior team in my 15 years as coach has ever had three boys make it at the same time,” Sprumont said. “We’ve had a mix of two boys and one girl in a season but never three boys.”

Those three golfers made the first-round cut after shooting matching scores of 12-over-par 84s in the first round of the WPIAL individual championship Sept. 23 at Youghiogheny Country Club.

None of the three golfers had played the course before, which accounts for the double-digit over-par scores. But Sprumont said each studied the course in a practice round the day before.

“They really did their homework,” Sprumont said. “They didn’t simply go through the motions. One of them was writing down a lot of notes for the three of them.”

The trio will apply the same sort of approach when it comes to the final round.

“They’ve been talking to people who have played at Sewickley Heights, looked at the course’s website,” Sprumont said. “Just like Scotty Scheffler would do for an open, they’re getting as much information as they can.”

That sort of dedication runs throughout the entire Yellowjackets roster. Sprumont said his team is truly in love with the game, and he has seen it first-hand.

“If I go out to play our home course, Buffalo Golf Course, on any given day, I’ll see one or multiple of my players out there playing the course by themselves,” he said.

The players’ love for the game is what gave Freeport the results it was looking for this season.

The team’s best score was a 190 on Aug. 12 at home against Highlands. It also shot a pair of 191s in wins at Valley on Aug. 26 and at Knoch on Sept. 12.

But in Sprumont’s eyes, the Yellowjackets’ best win was Aug. 19 against Riverview at Green Oaks Country Club.

“It was our first section match,” Sprumont said. “Riverview is young and a team on the rise, so we knew it was going to be tough. We won 209-214, which, if you do the math, is a shot per golfer.”

Of course, every season has its ups and downs and for Freeport the one that got away was a 212-217 loss to Hampton on Sept. 4 at home.

“We shot our worst score of the season on our home course,” Spurmont said. “And on top of that it was our worst team score at Buffalo in two or three years. Normally we have a deep team where if one guy has an off day someone else picks him up, but I was just one of those days.”

The team was disappointed in the loss but used it as a way to refocus its effort.

“They actually took away some positives from that match,” Spurmont said.

One of the real positives on the Yellowjackets team has been senior Stephen Evans, who was Freeport’s first outright section champion since 2015.

He shot a 74 on Sept. 16 at Buffalo.

“He finished second in the event as a sophomore,” Sprumont said. “He said at the end of that year he wanted to improve and finish first the next year. He ended up tied for first last year and was dead set on winning it outright this year.”

Crooks finished third in the section qualifying with a 77, and Zigo was fifth with an 82, just making the cut.

“They don’t wish for things to happen,” Sprumont said. “It’s a major credit to them all on how hard they work, which in their eyes really doesn’t feel like work.”

Others also have made contributions to the Yellowjackets’ success this season.

Juniors Aiden Bauman and Carson Kane were in the starting lineup all year. Kane started playing competitive golf this season.

“Carson played football the last two years and plays basketball as well,” Sprumont said. “His scores had improved so much over the season that he forced himself into our starting lineup.

“Aiden has been one of our top golfers for the last two years and is a major factor in our success.”

The fivesome will look to continue its success in the WPIAL Class 2A team championships, which begin with a semifinal round Tuesday at either The Links at Spring Church in Apollo or Pleasant Valley Golf Club in Connellsville.

“It’s a very deep field,” Spurmont said. “Which means most teams, if not all, are pretty good. It’s very difficult to advance.”

Freeport will compete against eight other teams in the semifinals, and only three move on to the finals. The Yellowjackets have failed to advance the last two years.

“It’s a real challenge,” Spurmont said. “But I want our kids to continue what they’ve done all year: go out, have fun, prepare the way they have all season, do their best and hopefully it works out. Whatever happens, they have a lot to be proud of.”

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