NAPPANEE —
Leadership doesn’t always have to come from seniors.
For an object lesson in that, just take a look at the NorthWood boys golf team.
Juniors Payton Grubbs and Dylan Gessinger have traded the No. 1 and No. 2 spots for most of the 2012 season.
Friends since age 4, there is a friendly competitiveness between the two Panther golfers.
“We used to hit balls to each other across a park,” Grubbs recalled with a smile before a recent practice at McCormick Creek Golf Course — NorthWood’s home course.
The two have usually found themselves in the top tier of the Panther golf program, starting in middle school.
And while the phrase “there’s no ‘I’ in ‘Team’” is a platitude to some, it’s something Grubbs and Gessinger have tried to live by as they set an example for their teammates.
When it’s time to hit the links, both said they don’t spend a lot of time worrying about who plays No. 1 and who’s No. 2.
What’s best for the team is paramount.
Gessinger was the Panthers’ No. 1 last year as a sophomore, and earned team MVP honors.
A solid team
Grubbs said the panthers are solid up and down their lineup this season, and that takes pressure off he and Gessinger.
“We all know if one of us has a bad round, one of our teammates will pick us up,” Grubbs said.
The team chemistry among the NorthWood players is good, Grubbs said, and the players sociallize and play golf together outside of school.
“We have a chance to do something really special,” Gessinger said.
The 2012 postseason has arrived, and the Panthers started it off last weekend finishing second to Warsaw at the NLC tournament.
The sectional tournament beckons next, and Grubbs and Gessinger feel the Panthers have the talend to make some noise. The sectional is slated for this Friday at Black Squirrel Golf Club in Goshen.
Setting the example
After last weekend’s NLC Tournament, Grubbs said he and his teammates have some work to do. The focus in practice this week was on making better decisions on shots, as a stroke or two can make the difference between advancing to regionals or staying home.
“We don’t want to put pressure on ourselves,” Grubbs said.
“But when we all play well on the same day, we can do special things.”
That hasn’t happened yet, Grubbs said.
Making it to the state tournament is the Panthers’ goal, and that “all playing well on the same day” thing will be a must at the sectional, Gessinger said.
Panther coach Brad Duerksen concurs.
“We’ll be pretty hard to beat if that happens,” Duerksen said.
The NorthWood coach said both Grubbs and Gessinger have been great leaders despite their relative youth — and he’s especially grateful that they can put the team first and not focus on who earns the No. 1 spot.
“That helps create a great team atmosphere,” Duerksen said.
“They’re more than willing to help the younger guys out, and that’s what you need from your team leaders.”
Sports
Related Photos
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Northwood golfer Payton Grubbs, left, offers swing advice to teammate Dylan Gessinger during a recent practice. DAVID VANTRESS
SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: Leaders of the pack
NorthWood’s Grubbs, Gessinger set tone for Panthers as sectional nears
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