The men’s golf team added another great finish to an already impressive season, finishing fourth at the state golf tournament at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City. The Cougars were lead by Cody Bell, sr., who tied for sixth with a two round total of 154. The team shot 319 on the first day, putting them into fourth place going into the final round. They held their ground Saturday with a solid 315. The team shot 634 total, making it four straight years with a top four finish in the state.

“I think we competed with the teams in the field…I feel like we could have done better but I’m still pleased,” Bell said. The golf team ends a season in which they went 88-8, culminating in their fifth straight MVC and CRANDIC championships. They also won their second straight Johnston Invitational, where many of the top teams in the state tournament competed, including state champion West Des Moines Valley. Six golfers made first or second team all conference; every Kennedy varsity golfer earned the honor. The team was lead by many seniors, with Bell, Brigham Stewart, Mitchell Martin, Tyler Kalina, and Jake Wilding making up for five of the six members of the state team. The lone junior was Harrison Moore, who shot 159 at state for 18th place and was second team all conference and all metro.

Next season the Cougars lose a lot of talent, but will be ready to compete again. They will be looking to younger talent in hopes of continuing their great tradition. “We have three freshman that saw significant playing time on varsity. We have a good nucleus coming back. We are absolutely reloading,” Coach Mark Wilden said. With high hopes the team should be back and ready to go next season.

Photo provided by Cathy Thompson